Rain Rain Go AWAY!

[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

[MM_QFC!]

Hi there...Sue, you're right, it's usually a zoo at the start...and I am sure that you're probably already aware, but Cascade is having the start line (and parking) on the East side of Marymoor park this year; I think that the Cirque du Soleil presence as well as other events is figuring into that change.

Whatever it is, it's best to not even go near the West Lake Sammamish Parkway entrance to Marymoor - unless, of course, you like sitting in traffic gridlock

here's the info, map and directions from the Cascade site:

http://www.cascade.org/EandR/flying/FW_Details.cfm

It's going to be a gorgeous day - ride safely and have fun!
Mary

[XMcShiftersonX]

Well.... Robbie and I did the Lake Wa loop today, it was the first time I've done the whole route. It was an all right route. It's weird though because the last couple long rides I've done, I've felt like my body gets really stiff early on (my low back hurts more and so does the front of my crotch. We just flipped the stem on my bike over so my handlebars are lower, I don't know if this is the problem, or if it's just a matter of getting used to the change), it seems like I start feeling my muscles cramp around 40 miles, and my average was only 13.9, which is better than my last ride, but is not the 14.something I was averaging a month or so back, with more climbing! The climbing was only like 1900 today, WTF??? I felt really tired after and it was only 50 miles. It's frustrating because I was doing 40 mile rides with this much climbing in January, and thought I was doing good. And I just know that if I was able to keep that up, if the weather had been nice these last couple of months, I would be able to do the century no problem! Argghh... Needless to say, I think I'll be sticking with the 65 miler on Saturday, and hope I won't die. Sue, do you just want to call my cell a few minutes before you start, and hopefully I'll also be ready. If my pace is slower than yours, feel free to go on ahead. Given today's ride, I'm not going to be pushing myself very hard, so I don't wear myself out.

[Susan126]

I think the problem is not enough rides this spring! And it's been a tough spring with this dang wet rainy weather we've been having. I know I would have liked to bike a lot more than I have been. The last long ride I did was the weekend before Memorial Day. I did 85 miles and I felt great! Since then I've only done a few 15 to 35 mile rides. I'll see how it goes at the turning point (right for the 100 mile course and left for the 65 mile course) on Saturday. I did get out yesterday after work and did an out and back with a total of 31 miles. I had a strong headwind (last night's storm) blowing in on my return but I pushed through it. I felt fine but after dinner my legs began to feel heavy. This morning they feel okay again. I will do that Jessica. I will call you a few times on Saturday morning. It would be fun if we could ride the first 32 miles (and maybe the enter ride) together. Like I said at mile 32 (decision time) I will see how my legs and I feel. I'm watching the morning weather report right now and Saturday looks GORGEOUS! Sunny with a high of 77. Sunday even looks better reaching into the 80s they say.

Mary you aren't doing the Flying Wheels this year? Oh you know I will be there early to beat the traffic. I learned my lesson last year!

[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

[XMcShiftersonX]

So it's our big day tomorrow Sue! The more I think about it, the more I want to wait until the decision point and still keep the century a possibility. That may be crazy, but I'm going to bring enough stuff for 100, and just see how it goes. I had my heart set on the 100 awhile ago, so it's hard to let go of my goal! I'm planning on waking up at 5:30 tomorrow, leaving by 6, Getting to Marymoor at about 6:30, allowing myself an hour to park (like you guys recommended), and the earliest I can register looks like 7:30. So I plan to be put together before then, and hopefully be ready to ride by 8. I'm going to look silly but I plan to to be wearing my orange sleeveless jersey, and black assos shorts, possibly with arm and leg warmers. It looks like it'll be cool in the morning, but heat up pretty quick, and I don't want to bring a bunch of clothes with me! I look forward to seeing you there!

-Jessica

[Susan126]

Good morning! It is gorgeous this morning. It looks like it is going to be a perfect day for a ride. I'm drinking down my coffee and eating breakfast and then I will be off for Marymoor. I'll call you when I arrive Jessica!

[XMcShiftersonX]

It was a great ride today Sue! Thanks for sticking with me and motivating me to complete my goal of doing the century! I'm so glad I did it.

[Susan126]

It was a great ride Jessica! Thanks for riding with me too! I really enjoyed your company! You are definitely ready for the STP! After all those hills the rolling/flat ride of the STP will be a cinch! I'm glad I finally got my century in too. This weekend's CATS ride (73 miles) will be breeze after riding the 100 mile Flying Wheels Summer Century!

Now I just need to get out after work this week and do some 20 milers. It looks like our weather pattern is improving. So happy about this good news.

[XMcShiftersonX]

Aww I wish I could come this weekend for the CATS ride... it would be nice to do a long distance ride with the group that felt easy, haha! I'm planning on doing a 22 mile flat ride at a slow pace today to recover (hopefully I'll actually make it out there). Maybe I will also ride tomorrow, something a little harder than today's ride but still easy, like the S. Lake Wa loop or something.

-Jessica