Memorial Day Weekend Rides

[goride]

Friday evening rode 27 miles with a friend. We made a stop at our LBS for her 100 mile tune-up. Yesterday I took the day off from biking as there were intermittent rain showers, but spent about 4.5 hours digging up my garden and planting my annual flowers and some tomatoes. Today did a hilly, rural 38 miles with some friends. Planning on another 25-30 miles tomorrow on a paved rail trail. I really need to NOT do hills tomorrow, so the trail will be perfect. We will go out early before it gets crowded.

[owlice]

Just in a bit ago from a 13.5 mile ride on my usual trails. Had I realized that the fitness challenge I'd signed up for at work went through today, rather than ending last night at midnight, I'd have gotten out earlier and taken a longer ride, dangfraznabbit!

Average speed was 12.0 MPH, but only because the computer was showing 11.9 when I got back to the car so I rode up and down the neighborhood streets fast (for me) until I got the MPH bumped up to 12.0

81° when I left, and humid. Saw deer and little hoppy frogs (hope I didn't run over any...), one rabbit, geese and goslings, and a lot of people who don't know which side of the trail to walk on, poor dears. Then again, I don't know what side I'm passing some folks on, and called out, "Bike on your right!" when I was passing on their left. They corrected me, I thanked them, we were all laughing as I rode up the trail.

No bats. Lots of bugs. Off to wash them out of my eyes.

[Reesha]

On a whim went out for a leisurely, ~10 mph helmet-less ride around the park for five miles or so. I'd forgotten how nice it is to ride like that with the breeze in your hair-- haven't been riding without a helmet since I lived in Belgium. It was divine!

[emily_in_nc]

I did the Indian Valley Century (metric) on Saturday. Longest single ride I've been on, at an altitude WAY above what I'm used to, lots of small hills but I am totally new to hill climbing. And on the way back, for the last, oh, 20 miles, it was 40 degrees and raining - eventually sleeting/hailing, VERY painful - and I have never ridden in the rain. And did I mention I was wearing shorts and fingerless gloves? Thankfully I had 5 layers on top and a waterproof windbreaker. My boyfriend, who did the full century and got up to the elevation where it started snowing, did not have any wet weather gear on and came back soaked and almost hypothermic

I felt pretty bad-*** for completing the ride, especially under those conditions...and considering I have only bee riding for 3 months

You are a bad-azz! Wow, riding in sleet/hail. Yet another reason to wear a helmet, right?

Hope your bf has recovered. We did the Seagull Century in MD years ago, and it absolutely poured a chilly rain. We were soon soaked to the skin and quite cold, even with it just being rain (not snow). DH's lips were turning blue and quivering with about 10 miles to go in the century, and I got pretty scared. We were riding a tandem, and the cold wasn't bothering me quite as much as it did him (probably b/c he was in front breaking the wind for me). We were not dressed warmly enough b/c it was not supposed to start raining until mid-afternoon (when we would have been done w/the ride), but instead it started at 11am and rained from then to the end.

This is one downside of events -- we feel compelled to finish no matter what the conditions. Glad you did, but doesn't sound like fun!

[MojoGrrl]

Thanks Emily Luckily, since I got back before him, I was waiting at the finish with a blanket and dry clothes and a car with the heater on. But yeah, there was a moment when both of us weren't sure he was going to be alright. Apparently, some riders did have to get treated for hypothermia. Same situation as yours - it wasn't supposed to rain until the afternoon, and not everyone was prepared.

[Catrin]

I was going to ride my age (23) today, as I owed myself a birthday ride from October. I somehow added an extra mile. (So an early birthday ride for this year?)

Sounds very nice, especially being chased by non-biting wildlife

I really want to ride today, but my hip and sartorious is twinging a bit this morning - yeah - THAT leg, and the other quad is a little tender. I really have hit it much harder these past couple of days than the weather has allowed me to do so far this year so I need to take a rest day It is just so beautiful this morning & I want to RIDE. I COULD, it is pretty minor, but am trying to be better this year...

I rode Friday, hiked/mtn bike trail maintenance Saturday, 30 mile hot/windy ride yesterday...hmmmm, guess I can't complain. Will go for a gentle walk with a friend today and do my usual stretches. She can only go for easy hikes, and refuses to walk alone so we go when I need a recovery day. I've had some nice rides this year, but not more than 2 days in a row due to the weather - being so active for 3 days in a row was fantastic!

I had planned on taking the mountain bike to the Canal Towpath, it is a 5.5 mile crushed limestone trail that connects to the White River Parkway which would take me all the way downtown and back again and help to further break in the rear suspension. I suspect it is pretty flat and would have been an easy shortish ride but will do that next Saturday morning as I want to go in early AM to avoid foot traffic.

Rest today, ride tomorrow Part of me says that I am being overly cautious and I should just go for it - but of course that little voice is to blame for my assorted over-use injuries last year...