Thursday 8/27 rides

[DDH]

Well, I had a nice 8.5 miles ride today. I tried to push a little more today and I tell you by the time I got home, my legs were like rubber. I didn't think I was going to make it in the house. LOL

I had the nicest things happen while I was riding though and must tell you all.

I had turned around to come back and was just passing the airport and picking up my speed a little and a car pulls up beside me with his passenger side window down. My first thought was "oh crap, what does this guy want".
Then he begins to speak and throws me a thumbs up and starts telling me what a great job I was doing and to keep up the good work, and how proud he was for me and then he says "stay motivated" and drove off. I was very appreciative and told him thank you several times. I was shocked actually. He was a young G.I. and had I had my wits about me I would have told him thank you for your service as I try to make it a habit to tell them thank you when I see an opening to do so. I was so surprised however that I never spoke up other than to thank him for all his compliments and encouragement.
There's no shoulder on that part of the road so I have to ride actually in the right lane of traffic so I really thought he was going to tell me to get out of the road or something. I have never had any real bad experiences with traffic other than them passing a little to closely at times, but to have such a positive experience just really made my day.
I tend to get a little synical at times, and I need that jolt once in a while to help me realize that not everyone around her are jerks or stupid. LOL

[Crankin]

An absolutely perfect New England day! Was actually wearing arm warmers for the first 10 miles. I rode 29 miles with my friend, who now is a "cycling friend." It's funny how someone from my "regular" wold has integrated into my riding world. I took her through Stow, Harvard, Bolton, Hudson, and back, going on a route that I used to commute on. She did great on all of the climbs. She's really improved in all of her skills, too. While she is not training, she is trying, which is more than I can say for my other friends. I had a nice recovery ride and didn't have to use my granny gear at all on the climbs.

[redrhodie]

Yes, it was lovely here today! It was in the 60s when I left early this morning. I rode my hilly route, which I haven't felt like doing at all in the summer humidity. I had a good tailwind helping me up all the steep ones! Gotta love a north wind!

[Tri Girl]

Great job, Donna. How sweet that the young man complimented you. I, too, would have been nervous if a car pulled up and started shouting. How nice!

[Crankin]

This is what my friend just sent me in an email:

"Thank you so much for being my friend and going for these great rides with me. I am really enjoying the time outdoors and if it weren't for you I do not think I would have ever gotten rid of my old bike, gotten this new one, gotten the proper clothes and shoes, etc. and gone for such great outings. Really, it's all your fault!"

It brought tears to my eyes!

[emily_in_nc]

This is what my friend just sent me in an email:

"Thank you so much for being my friend and going for these great rides with me. I am really enjoying the time outdoors and if it weren't for you I do not think I would have ever gotten rid of my old bike, gotten this new one, gotten the proper clothes and shoes, etc. and gone for such great outings. Really, it's all your fault!"

It brought tears to my eyes!

Wow, that was really nice! I'd love to get an email like that!

[Miranda]

Steady rain here in the midwest. Riding partner canceled. Went out alone in the rain to train anyway. Sun isn't always shining on event day, now is it?

Cut it short less than 20mi after an incident approaching a stop light when a speeding motorist turning left towards me did a 360 and skidded to a stop as I braked in the wet. Another 5' and she would have hit me head on at high speed.

All I gotta say is: "what the he$$ is wrong w/people?!?!... haven't they ever heard of the saying *slippery when wet*???" Grrrr.

Happy to be in one piece to type this post to my TE friends.

[Miranda]

This is what my friend just sent me in an email:

"Thank you so much for being my friend and going for these great rides with me. I am really enjoying the time outdoors and if it weren't for you I do not think I would have ever gotten rid of my old bike, gotten this new one, gotten the proper clothes and shoes, etc. and gone for such great outings. Really, it's all your fault!"

It brought tears to my eyes!

Wow, that was really nice! I'd love to get an email like that!

+1 That about makes me cry just reading it and she's not even my friend lol. Good for you, Crankin.

[owlice]

I took a nice ride after work, almost 19 miles, to the lake and back twice, with an additional short trail after the first out to the lake. The first out-and-back I was pushing myself to ride faster than I usually do. This is, I know, slow for most, but for me, my 11 MPH (w00t!) average on the first 10+ miles is fast fast fast!

My second out-and-back was more relaxed, but even so, my average speed for the whole ride was over 10 MPH. And that just never happens!!

I've had a migraine all day, but didn't notice it at all while I was riding. I felt really good out there, even though it was 90 degrees when I started my ride.

[owlice]

Cut it short less than 20mi after an incident approaching a stop light when a speeding motorist turning left towards me did a 360 and skidded to a stop as I braked in the wet. Another 5' and she would have hit me head on at high speed.

OMG. Just reading about this is scary. Yikes!

Please, have a glass of wine (or a shot of bourbon) on me! (I rarely drink, but think I'd want a double!!)

[Miranda]

OMG. Just reading about this is scary. Yikes!

Please, have a glass of wine (or a shot of bourbon) on me! (I rarely drink, but think I'd want a double!!)

Thx. It was like being in one of those old Looney Tunes cartoons starring Bugs Bunny. Only it was the ones with the Wylee Coyotee and the Road Runner. Every time the coyotee is falling off a click he just hangs there in slow motion--knows what's coming--but can't do anything about it... except wait.

[7rider]

I'm up in Gloucester, on the north shore of Massachusetts this week for work.
DH is with me, and we brought the bikes.
This is my ol' stompin' grounds and after my meeting ended on thursday, my boss let me beg off a late afternoon conference call (yay!!!), and DH and I went for a ride off Cape Ann into Ipswich and back. Then, we rode out to Eastern Point in Gloucester - filled with lots of "Private" signs, but it's really not and you can ride there freely. DH was sooo angry at the folks (the uber-wealthy) who posted these signs. There are some wonderful sites out there - including the popular breakwater - that I'm sure the more timid tourists miss because of those signs (and the quasi-guard they post on the weekends). And DH says he saw a mink (or an otter or something large and mink like (but likely not a fisher, thankfully!). I missed it tho'. Bummer.

[redrhodie]

I see minks all the time around here, so it was probably a mink. I also saw a fisher cat once, in daylight, which is highly unusual. He just went on about his business.