Sunday 8/30/09 rides

[Kano]

Not at all pathetic! 12mph is a lovely average! Mine was a whopping 10.6 today, for our ride into town for Sunday morning coffee. Round trip was about 17 miles -- half downhill and half up!

I had more miles in me even though today is a "cranky knee day," but DH was having a "dragging butt day" -- he's had way too many of those lately! -- and HE wouldn't go any farther.

It's a bit chilly here too, considering -- friday was 102, and this morning, upper 50's, a wee bit of rain, like ten drops, not even worth taking cover from! I think I'd better get that bolero I've had cut out for months now stitched together! Gonna need the sleeves soon!

Karen in Boise

[bmccasland]

I did another MS training ride today - 50 miles, flat to gentle rolling hills, back to flat, average speed was 15.7 mph. About 200 riders total out for the ride.

Unfortunately about 8 miles into the ride, a rider in the paceline in front of me taped wheels with the rider in front of her, and she went down. No one else crashed. Somehow a chunk was taken out of her helmet just above her eye. We got back on the road after she was loaded into the ambulance. I haven't heard yet how she's doing. Pretty much pain on every bumpy part on her right side (head, shoulder, elbow, hip, knee).

So a group of us that should have been riding the middle of the pack, were in the back. When I rolled into Rest Stop 1, I was the last rider in. As it was very humid, and folks were burning yard debris, my lungs weren't too happy. I had trouble keeping up.

(Bonnie Cat, is trying desparately to get my attention, and is currently lying on top of my left hand)

I took one short cut, shaving 5 miles off the full route as I spent most of the time riding by myself. Riding 50 miles solo is completely different than being in a paceline. I prefer a paceline

[alpinerabbit]

Yesterday we climbed Passo dello Stelvio, see my other posts.

Today I seized the spotless blue sky (autumn temperatures and smells already in the air.... sadness....) and rode a flat 50K ... I faded fast after 25.

some ar$e shouted at me out of his window.
I tried to report him to the police, no luck.
I got his number. I am pondering calling him up as I now know who he is. From a payphone of course.

[nolemom]

Rode 63.2 miles before calling it quits today. I had a difficult ride yesterday due to the heat and humidity, but thought I had recovered sufficiently for today's assault on our "hills". I was only 10 miles from home, but I felt horrible and actually had goosebumps despite the temps being in the mid-90s.
I decided it wasn't worth it to keep my pride so I let my DH ride on and bring the car back for me. Luckily, one of our bike club members was kind enough to recently move to a home along our route. I waited in his shaded yard, took advantage of his waterhose and had pretty much recovered by the time my DH was back.

[KathiCville]

Rode just over 33 miles today on hilly roads, so got a good workout. A local club ride passed me doing the same loop in the opposite direction so I had plenty of opportunities to nod, wave or say hello.....I was wearing my TE "She Loves Hills" jersey, which seemed appropriate for the terrain/route... Boy, was I tired when I got home---the ragweed is in bloom and seems drag my energy level down by about half this time of year!

[Biciclista]

40 miles, no photos today; too bad.
We left right after lunch, rode over to Alki, which overlooks puget sound. the weather was incredible, about 70 degrees with a slight breeze. We could see fog on the water.
Next we headed south, overlooking Puget Sound, riding on nice roads and then a park -- like path to the Vashon Ferry Terminal near Lincoln park.
Next we headed a little further south, where Raleighdon was captivated by a table at a garage sale; fortunately (?) he had no money, so we couldn't buy it.A block later we came upon a bakery with a bathroom. Snack time he says; after this we have some climbing to do. So I take him very seriously and pick out a cookie. the man behind the counter said "I baked everything here this morning" I felt this incredible nostalgia; why is this so rare? The last hand baked cookie I had was done in someone's home, this guy was selling them; so we ordered a dozen chocolate chip cookies. he says "Let's make that a baker's dozen" I almost cried.
Then we started climbing. ooof up, up, up, and then down and then up and then down - who knows how many times; but you can't NOT find hills if you go east or west in the Seattle area.
We had a splendid ride, no traffic woes, no nasty drivers, lots of trails, dead ends and under driven roads.
We hoped to stop and pick blackberries, but alas, the crop is now too far gone.

[owlice]

I had a bifurcated ride. I started out on a trail I usually like, but today I was not feelin' the love, so stopped riding after 20 miles, got gas, got something to eat, stopped by my house for a few minutes, and then rode my usual trail for a little over 9 miles, so 29 miles for me today, making 50 for the weekend.

I didn't hit the second trail until almost sunset, and wow, was the sunset gorgeous!! The trees in the swamp were nicely silhouetted against the pink and blue of the sky, and a frog chorus was just getting underway. I just got lights, so tried them out tonight and was happy.

I saw a doe and her fawn at the park where I left my car; they were grazing in the open field there. While riding the first trail, I saw a Great Blue Heron in the creek; I cannot recall EVER seeing a Great Blue in that particular creek, and that creek and I go back decades! (I remember fish spawning in that creek when I was five years old; by the time I was ten, no more spawning fish. )

And I saw a Green Heron bebopping along the creek by the other trail. I see them in the swamp, but not usually along the creek.

Oh, and on average speed, I'd be THRILLED if mine were 12.anything! Today's average was 9.1 MPH. The first trail had a few little hills; I was going up one of them, and passed a mom pushing her daughter's little bike up the hill. As I passed the mom, I said, "I'm not having nearly the fun I thought I'd be having!" She felt the same! The 2 or 3 MPH I was doing up some of the hills ... yeah. At least I didn't start sliding backwards!!