Rain Rain Go AWAY!

[XMcShiftersonX]

Yeah Jessica! So happy you got out yesterday and rode! It was a beautiful day. I wish I could have gone out first thing in the morning but I had to work. But I did go for a quick 20 mile ride immediately after work. It does look like Monday and Tuesday will indeed be very dry days.

I only have two more weeks of work and then bring on my summer break! I can't wait!

Ahhh! That's so nice... I wish I could have a summer break from work. I definitely need a mental break. I'm taking a week off during STP, and then another week in August.

[XMcShiftersonX]

Sue - how did the Peninsula ride go?

[Susan126]

Jessica I didn't go! I woke up at 5:00 AM this morning to a down pour outside my bedroom window and said, "NO WAY!" and went straight back to bed. I just didn't feel like riding in the rain today. I did ride yesterday, not a long ride, but I did ride. Needless to say I need to RIDE as many days as I can this week! So right after work tomorrow I intend on getting a 30-45 mile ride in and that goes for Tuesday, and Wednesday, and any day this week that's nice. It looks like a pretty decent week too.

So are you going to ride tomorrow and Tuesday? The Flying Wheels is this Saturday and it looks like it's going to be sunny. I'm looking forward to it. I want to start early. Like right at 8:00 AM and just take my time and try and finish the 100 mile course. At least that's the plan!

[Susan126]

Okay what happened to the weather? I thought today was supposed to be nice. Hmmmmm maybe by the time I get off work at 3:00 today it will be a bit nicer. Tomorrow looks like a beautiful day.

[XMcShiftersonX]

Sue -

That's too bad about the rain! I couldn't remember if the ride was Sat or Sun, I was hoping it was Saturday for your sake, but that's too bad - Sunday was awful! I was at work, but driving to work I was hydroplaning the whole way, so it definitely was not a good day for any ride let alone a 100 mile one with 7,000 feet of climbing! So good call.

I don't know what happened with the weather today. Robbie and I were going to go for a ride this morning, but it was crappy, so we didn't. However, we're crossing our fingers for tomorrow. Hopefully, we will finally do the full Lake Washington Loop, which is 50 miles, and if we're feeling good maybe add the Cedar River trail just for the mileage, since it's totally flat.

I'm leaning towards doing the 65 miler for Flying Wheels. I think I'll still register on the day of, JUST IN CASE it rains that morning. I wanted to do the 100 miler so bad, but I don't want to be miserable either. Maybe after tomorrow's ride I'll be able to gauge what I'm capable of at this point. It may also come down to the day of the ride at the point where you can either go one way for the 65 miler, or the other way for the 100. Someone told me I shouldn't decide until I get to that point anyways, so maybe it's good advice! Have you done this ride before? Do you know if all the routes start together, and then break off at different point to extend them? My other friend and her sister aren't sure if they're doing the 45 or 65 miler, but they also want to start at 8. So maybe we could all start together? I think their pace is a little slower than mine, but I haven't ridden with them in a very long time. I, too, would like to take my time with this ride though.

[malaholic]

For Flying Wheels all the routes start together; the decision point for 65 vs 100 miles comes at about 32 miles. The route gets a lot less crowded after people finally split at that point.

I have only ridden Flying Wheels once (officially - I ride parts of the route quite often), but what I remember most about it is not the ride, but how freaking long it took to park at Marymoor. Even though we were there early trying to get an early start so was everyone else. It took us almost an hour from the time we entered the Marymoor (from West Lake Sammamish entrance) til the time we actually got to park. Maybe the East Lake Sammamish entrance would have been faster. Anyway my advice would be either get there well ahead of when you want to start, or better yet, park somewhere in Redmond and ride over to Marymoor instead.

[Susan126]

Jessica it looks like you hit the jack pot. Today is going to be beautiful. Mid 70s and sunny! I'm getting ready for work right now but as soon as the clock says 3:00 (I might just have to leave a bit early today ) I'm out the door for an after work ride. Maybe 30 or even 40 miles?

I have done the Flying Wheels. Joe and I rode the 70 mile course last year. Malaholic is right, around mile 32 you have the option of turning right for the 100 mile course or left for the 70 mile course. And she's also right about the parking. Get there early. We were backed up on the ramp and then onto I405 for our exit to Marymoore last year! Cars with bike racks as far as you can see. I registered early and received my registration packet in the mail. So as soon as I park and get my bike ready I will be ready to roll. I want to start promptly at 8:00 AM. And yes we can start together if you're ready to go around 8'ish or so.

Have a great ride today. Don't forget to come and post it so we can all see how it went today. I'll post my after work ride in the evening. I'm thinking if I start around 3:30 - 4:00 I should be finished by 7:00-8:00. I love these long days of light!

Sue

[HipGnosis6]

The weather's supposed to be lovely this weekend, so all of you turning out for Flying Wheels will have a pretty nice day of it.

Sunday I'm making a dry run on my current commute route. It's a seven mile round trip. Compared to all of you talking about riding centuries, I feel like a wimp - but that's a milestone for me, since I haven't ridden much in a long, long while. I used to bike the Ballard bridge daily, so the Eastlake bridge should be a snap. It's the gently uphill return trip that makes me nervous!

[XMcShiftersonX]

Sue -

I think you're right! Doing a long ride every two weeks is not healthy! But unfortunately, seems to be the only thing I'm able to do lately. I think even if all I did was short rides but frequently I would be feeling a lot better right now. I'm sure once this weather gets better and I'm riding all the time like last summer, it'll be fine!

[Stellar1]

Would anyone like to buy a STP spot? Mr. Stellar has had some bad news and needs to go in for heart surgery next week. I'm still planning on doing at least 1/2 of the ride, not sure about the whole thing. May be quite busy with other stuff. I've been riding between rain showers as much as possible, plan on a long ride Sat or Sun. Sterllar 1