Rides: Dec. 6th-12th

[owlice]

Ritamarie, thank you! Much appreciated, and as you find new and more and better things, please please please keep me posted!!

~~~

Today's ride was very much like Friday's ride, except it was colder out: 43°F and cloudy today. I was definitely chillier today than I was on Friday; 6 degrees makes a difference! I wore biking tights and thin sweats, and a turtleneck with a regular t-shirt over it. I was kind of wishing for one more or one warmer layer on top, and I definitely have to get full-fingered gloves.

But to the ride.... again up to the Lincoln Memorial, down the Reflecting Pool, and then over to Hains Point. Rode around that twice plus some; I was coming up the west side when I saw what I thought was a Bald Eagle, so I cut back over to the east side -- yes! Definitely a Bald Eagle! -- and rode around the point again as a result. And then eventually back.

In addition to the Bald Eagle, I saw a red fox (oh, so so so pretty!). He crossed the road in front of me, picked up something at the street's edge, and then ran back to the broad flat grassy area that is in the center of the point. Watched me bike past, he did!

Very few people out. I think only one cyclist passed me (and he was all excited about the red fox, too). I did see a few more, but they weren't doing laps on the point today.

Slower than Friday; I wasn't feeling the love for most of the ride. 11.6 miles, average of 10.8 MPH.

Am still glad I rode, though.

arielmoon, I hear your cry about losing conditioning; I'm riding so much less now... and I can tell I'm not riding as strong as I was two months ago.

[Red Rock]

To all of you who are braving the cold winter weather, congrats on all of your rides! I hope that you enjoy your time on the bike. You all are much better and more tolerable of the cold than I would ever be.

Red Rock

[Ritamarie]

Went for a 26 mile hill ride today. Fun! It was sunny to start and 40 degrees but got cloudy and dropped a couple of degrees by the time I got done. I felt pretty good climbing. One good thing about my hill loop is that all those hilly roads don't really go anywhere so the traffic is light, especially in the middle of the afternoon. I only met up with 3 cars and one tractor in the first 18 miles. After that I have one road that's a little more heavily traveled so I stopped counting, but the first 18 miles were gloriously traffic free.

I've decided 25-30 miles is about my limit for an enjoyable solo ride. After that I get tired of talking to myself.

Owlice, one thing I thought of to tell you... one of my best cold weather discoveries is the front handlebar bag. I can put an extra layer on to get me out the door, and shed it five miles into the ride.

[redrhodie]

I woke up grumpy, and after biting the head off my poor bf over nothing, I decided I needed to ride before work. Jeez, it was cold out. I thought the weather man said it was above freezing, but every frozen puddle said he lied. I decided I couldn't do my easy route, since I knew one hill would be too icy to climb. So, I went north instead.

The ride just didn't feel anything but hard the whole time, like my brake was rubbing, but it wasn't. It was a beautiful, sunny, clear day. Don't know what was up with me, other than I was really cold, and the wind was from a hard direction (headwind on every hill, yadda, yadda, yadda).

As soon as I got home, since I was so slow on the ride I was now rushing to get to work, I jumped in a hot shower right away. I've never experienced this before, but I guess my extremities were too cold for the moderately hot water, and I turned bright red, kind of like heat rash, and got this weird creepy crawly feeling. It was pretty horrible. Next time, I'll let myself warm up a little first.

20 freezing miles. Not my most favorite ride, but I felt better when it was over!

[Ritamarie]

Don't know what was up with me, other than I was really cold, and the wind was from a hard direction.

Ugh. I'll take hills over wind any day! It'd be okay if you could quantitatively define it like miles or feet climbed. "I pushed "x" kilograms of wind today!" If I could write in in my log I would feel a lot better about it. But anyway, I bet you're glad tonight that you rode that 20 miles this morning!

[jesvetmed]

We are freezing here, too -- in the mid 20's all day. Never thawed out.
Got a quick Mtn Bike ride (maybe 4-5 miles) around the suburban "planned trail network"... not the greatest, but quick and it was great to be outside. I was completely frozen at the end -- except for my hands and my upper body, where I have purchased REALLY great stuff! Now to get great stuff for my bootie and head! It's a process!

[arielmoon]

Between doctor visits, an MRI and CT scan, therapy sessions and bad weather there has been very little time to ride. This makes me very grumpy. Hopefully today the weather will hold!

[kenyonchris]

It was tough; took a few rest breaks. I was very glad when I was done.

Yes, I watch TV or DVDs. Today it was episodes 8 & 9 of Dexter.

Man, you are my hero. I have a hate/hate relationship with the rollers. I am battling it through with the mantra, "this is making me better, this is making me better" while I spin along thinking I am going to die. I hang with group rides, average 18-25 mph depending on the ride/wind/hills, ride 45-100 miles easily, but 10 miles on the rollers kills me. How is this? I am hanging in there, working up by 5 minute intervals every day, but UGH. It is way too cold and windy and rainy outside.

[HillSlugger]

Man, you are my hero. I have a hate/hate relationship with the rollers. I am battling it through with the mantra, "this is making me better, this is making me better" while I spin along thinking I am going to die. I hang with group rides, average 18-25 mph depending on the ride/wind/hills, ride 45-100 miles easily, but 10 miles on the rollers kills me. How is this? I am hanging in there, working up by 5 minute intervals every day, but UGH. It is way too cold and windy and rainy outside.

The rollers definitely feel tougher than an outside ride, even with hills. I think it has something to do with not being able to coast at all. I also liken riding on rollers vs on the road to be like walking on ice; it's just that much harder.

I think it's worth it because I feel it makes you a smoother rider and better able to hold a line.

[owlice]

Owlice, one thing I thought of to tell you... one of my best cold weather discoveries is the front handlebar bag. I can put an extra layer on to get me out the door, and shed it five miles into the ride.

Ritamarie, thanks! I carry a web bungie in my handlebar bag -- along with a windbreaker which doesn't breathe at all -- and can easily stash extra layers either in the handlebar bag or on my rack.

redrhodie, 20 miles before work in the cold...! Wow!!!

Did the rash stay, or did it disappear shortly after your shower?

kenyonchris and MDHillSlug, please forgive my ignorance: are rollers the same as a trainer? I think I am going to need to do something more than I'm doing as I get over my riding-in-the-cold-and/or-dark-and/or-bad-weather wussiness; I'm not riding enough to maintain the conditioning I've picked up this season. (Getting over the cold/dark/bad weather thing is easier when one has the right clothes/gear/outwear, which I'm gradually accumulating, but it'll take time.)

[redrhodie]

redrhodie, 20 miles before work in the cold...! Wow!!!

Did the rash stay, or did it disappear shortly after your shower?

It went away quickly. It felt like freezer burn.

Today I did around 13 miles with 20-30mph winds, and gusts of 40 (that's about my limit). I'm not kidding when I say at one point with the wind blowing off the ocean at my side, I was riding at an angle to stay upright. I love that! I remember thinking, I wonder if I'm going to lift off! That would be fun for a second or 2.

I admit to cutting it short. I was planning on 20 miles, but couldn't make myself turn into the wind once it was at my back. I took a shortcut home. Better than nothin'.

[arielmoon]

YAY! I did get to ride yesterday and although I was dodging raindrops and battling huge wind gusts it was a great ride. 16 miles. Got to get them when you can!

[HillSlugger]

Ritamarie, thanks! I carry a web bungie in my handlebar bag -- along with a windbreaker which doesn't breathe at all -- and can easily stash extra layers either in the handlebar bag or on my rack.

redrhodie, 20 miles before work in the cold...! Wow!!!

Did the rash stay, or did it disappear shortly after your shower?

kenyonchris and MDHillSlug, please forgive my ignorance: are rollers the same as a trainer? I think I am going to need to do something more than I'm doing as I get over my riding-in-the-cold-and/or-dark-and/or-bad-weather wussiness; I'm not riding enough to maintain the conditioning I've picked up this season. (Getting over the cold/dark/bad weather thing is easier when one has the right clothes/gear/outwear, which I'm gradually accumulating, but it'll take time.)

Rollers are different from a trainer. A trainer locks in the rear of your bike and holds you upright; you can pedal away without thinking about steering or balance. Rollers are 3 cylinders attached to a frame; your rear wheel sits between two rollers and the front wheel sits on top of the third. There's nothing holding you up or centered except your balance and your ability to bike a straight line. It's much harder, not relaxing at all, but ultimately will make you a better, smoother rider. (This is what I roll on)

[7rider]

(This is what I roll on)

Apologies in advance for the hijack...but this - from MDHillSlugs' link - struck me as funny:
Elite Parabolic Bicycle Roller - 068006
List Price: $159.99
Our Price: $367.99
You Save: ($208.00) (100%)

wow! Their site has you pay $208 OVER list! What a deal!!

Me....I'm in winter hibernation mode, I guess. Haven't ridden rollers, the bike, or anything other than a spin class last night in about 2 weeks. Blech.

[kenyonchris]

The rollers definitely feel tougher than an outside ride, even with hills. I think it has something to do with not being able to coast at all. I also liken riding on rollers vs on the road to be like walking on ice; it's just that much harder.

I think it's worth it because I feel it makes you a smoother rider and better able to hold a line.

Yeah, no coasting, and no momentum, plus turning the rollers as well as the bike. Much harder. But yes, that is why I do it. I am going to start to alternate it with the trainer.