Memorial Day Weekend Rides

[Blueberry]

Yay Emily!! Ah yes - such a lovely place to stop Was the other Bike Friday purple? Just curious if it's who I'm thinking of....

(and I would BET you're not slower than I am....)

[Duck on Wheels]

Lovely day for it. Sunny, not too hot, bit of a breeze. Trek and I rode from home (her place) south to the Alameda Creek Trail, then up the trail to Mission Blvd and up Mission to Mission Peak Coffeeroasters for our first stop. About 15 miles altogether? Almost all of it uphill, but only the last couple of miles steep at all. Thought the return ride would be a breeze, but the breeze was blowing the wrong way and building up speed. Headwinds all the way home. Even had to pedal down the steep bits. Oh well. A good 30-mile workout. And was that LeeBob who raced past us just as we got back on Hesperian for the home stretch (which we shortly thereafter interrupted for a second café stop at Paddy's)?

[owlice]

All this talk of slow.... sheesh!!! I averaged 11.5 MPH on my ride yesterday, so there! I hope that makes some of you feel better, and if it doesn't, I averaged 10.8 MPG when I was riding around the ginormous parking lot. I'd love to be able to sustain 15 MPH so I can do a century; at my usual average, I'm too slow to try one.

And those averages are on flat trails!

[TrekTheKaty]

Rain all week and I had to work on Sat (and Mon) so today was it. We opted for a hilly 32 instead of riding long. DH dilly-dallyed around the house until it heated up and the wind kicked in. He promptly dropped me and then I hit a bump and dropped a water bottle. I had a 50/50 shot of guessing which way he went--and guessed wrong. Instead of calling, he backtracked. By the time he called, he was almost home! He finally caught up. I thought I was taking it easy on the way out with a good average speed. However, I bonked right after we turned around. Crawled home in my granny gear--into the wind. No money for a soda at McDonalds almost made me cry Probably dehydrated and should have taken Cytomax instead of Nuun--plus it was only our second "hot" ride (into the 80's, high of 90 today and HUMID). Gotta dig out the camelbak.

But at least I got out there! I'm still happy

[Trek420]

Duck just figured out in Mapmyride (because my computer's out of batteries) that we did 35. Longest ride I've done in who knows when. Duck's training for a half marathon so might have been easier for her.

[evangundy]

All this talk of slow... I averaged 10.8 MPG when I was riding around the ginormous parking lot. I'd love to be able to sustain 15 MPH so I can do a century; at my usual average, I'm too slow to try one.
And those averages are on flat trails!

My first century about 14 or 15 years ago, was about 10mph average for the day. And a long day it was. Began at 7am and finished about 6pm - lots of stops to rest. Pulled back into the parking lot as the trucks were loading up the port-a-potties. We were last in on the ride, but there were quite a few that had finished just ahead of me.

And now, after becoming a much stronger rider, my fastest century so far has been about 7 hours but I don't remember my average speed. I've never been fast and probably won't ever be, but I don't let that stop me from doing those long organized rides. They are fun, no matter your speed. At a 10mph average, it would take you 10 hours. If you build up your "distance" so you are able to ride that many miles, you'll be able to do it, just at your own speed.

Just pick a century ride that you want to do, register for it so you are committed to riding it, and start increasing your distance a little each ride. There are lots of good training guides out there - I used this one while training to ride a two-day STP: http://shop.cascade.org/content/even...gested-mileage - and if you'll notice, it mentions mileage, NOT how fast you ride those miles :-)

Have fun :-)
Edna

[owlice]

Edna, thanks! I think I should be faster on the shorter rides, because I know on the longer rides, I will be slower. I don't think I'd have a problem actually riding a century from the standpoint of mileage; it's just from the standpoint of spending that much time in the saddle and finishing so late, I want to be faster. I did a metric last year and was dead last for that. I don't mind being dead last, but would like it to be before my friends have given me up for dead, turned in a missing person's report, driven several hours home, and been asleep for half the night before I finish, as would likely be the case for a century at this point.

If I can sustain 15 MPH regularly on 20-25 mile rides, I have a greater chance of averaging at least 10 MPH over 100 miles. I'd like the greater chance!

I've been thinking about buying a lighter, faster bike, but it occurs to me that what is on the bike could be lighter by way more than the difference between my current bike and any I might buy, so maybe I should concentrate on that, and simply pushing myself to ride faster, even if I do buy a lighter, faster bike!

ETA: Probably no riding for me today unless it's near/after sunset, as we are under a heat advisory.

[emily_in_nc]

Did a little 16.5 mile solo recovery ride this morning, concentrating on not pushing, using easier gears than I might usually, and just enjoying the scenery and quiet roads. My legs actually felt just fine, but I am feeling my chronic saddle sore start to get irritated. It's been fine up til this point, not giving me any grief, but I think the increasing heat/humidity and resulting sweating, plus longer rides, have finally awakened it from its winter slumber again.

Happy Memorial Day, everyone!

[ASammy1]

We rode "Bike the Drive" in downtown Chicago yesterday. 20 cold, wet, and foggy miles on Lakeshore Dr. It was so foggy, you couldn't see any of the skyscrapers or Lake Michigan It was nice to ride in the city without having to stop every mile or so though...

[emily_in_nc]

Yay Emily!! Ah yes - such a lovely place to stop Was the other Bike Friday purple? Just curious if it's who I'm thinking of....

(and I would BET you're not slower than I am....)

Thanks! I was actually surprised not to find more cyclists at Maple View while I was there, but I did see several cars with bike racks parked along the road there. A couple of weeks ago when we did a similar ride, it was packed with cyclists.

The Bike Friday was a black NWT. I talked to the man (and his wife) who owned it. There's a woman around Chapel Hill we see quite often riding a Friday with really, really high handlebars, and it might be purple. Can't recall.

My speed actually isn't that bad, but is a lot slower than I used to be on my Aegis Swift. Not sure if it's the bike or the engine - probably a bit of both. I feel pretty strong, but I am definitely not as fast as I used to be. On my Aegis, before my accident in '05, I averaged between 15-18 mph. On my Friday I'm usually doing utility rides so generally average between 11-13 mph. Today was 14.2. There, I said it.

[emily_in_nc]

My speed actually isn't that bad, but is a lot slower than I used to be on my Aegis Swift. Not sure if it's the bike or the engine - probably a bit of both. I feel pretty strong, but I am definitely not as fast as I used to be. On my Aegis, before my accident in '05, I averaged between 15-18 mph. On my Friday I'm usually doing utility rides so generally average between 11-13 mph. Today was 14.2. There, I said it.

Sorry to reply to my own post, but I think I figured it out, at least in part. After posting this, it got me thinking, so today after my ride, I weighed my Bike Friday. It currently has a rear rack on it, but I'd left the rack trunk (Arkel Tail Rider) off and just put on a small seat bag with an extra tube, tools, and a CO2 cartridge and chuck, plus my cell phone, lip balm, and keys. Weighed the entire thing: 25 lbs. Not bad, but...my Aegis, with similarly equipped seat bag, came in at around 21 lbs, if that. Doesn't seem like a huge difference, but since I am very light, it's definitely a higher % of my body weight and could certainly explain away most of the speed differences I notice.

But I'm really not a speed weenie any more, just enjoying the ride!

[rubysoho]

43 beautiful miles between yesterday and today.

Yesterday I rode with a friend along the river and had a nice break watching airplanes landing overhead (one scared me because the wing was dipping down low on one side and from my angle I thought it might crash into me!!! ). First time riding with a friend and he and I had some fun competitive moments.

Today i went out before it got too hot but it was pretty muggy still. This was a solo ride and I had planned to take it easy because yesterday I doubled my longest ride. Well, ended up putting in another 20 miles today with a lot of time spent between 15 and 20 mph. Definitely had to push myself the last 5 miles. My legs are spent. Can't wait until I can do a longer ride!

[Geonz]

Reading this thread makes me think that for *lots* of people this was the first weekend for "real riding" -- that 20, 30, or more that lays the foundation for longer later... and I think I *shall* endeavor to figure out a way to do the HOrseyHundred again, tho' it's 300 miles away from here. It is a fun ride and some of my friends from the SE head up there.
Saturday I led my ride and we did our usual 20, to Sidney this time. Had to pause and fix a flat so we didn't add the four miles to Philo -- and there were some relatively new riders, and it was a tad windy.
Today I'd called a Leisurely Ride to Monticello -- about 50 miles round trip (tho' I also had the ride out there). Just after I posted it I saw that the faster ride leader had posted that people would leave an hour later from the other side of town... happily, he posted a clarifying "here are your options!"
There were ten of us and the winds started at 18 from the S -- but we were mostly going West, and we spaced the four miles south so we did 'em one at a time. We got to Monticello and found all the "charming restaurants to go to Monticello for" places to eat were closed for the holiday. Subway was open... and as we were leaving the first one of the later group came by. Then as we got to the road out of town, three much faster riders with almost no clothing on went streaking (well, almost ) by the other direction. It *was* hot and sunny... backs of my calves did *not* get enough sunscreen; I'd worn capris because I knew the tops of my thighs were hopeless and... they're splotchy too. The old skin just doesn't like that sun stuff *at all* -- shold have lathered the sunscreen under the shorts, I suppose? Note to self to continue general habit of riding Early and Late... not when those mad dogs and Englishmen go out.
I stretched the ride home and got in a metric ... but these particular capris just are too much like diapers and have chafed where the padding meets the shorts.
And we averaged just about 12 mph -- somebody looked at the end. I have schooled those who ride with me about the value of learning NOT to look at the speedo when riding in the wind -- to ride what *feels* right. You MUST follow Sioux's Zen RUles!!!

[pll]

Sorry to reply to my own post, but I think I figured it out, at least in part. After posting this, it got me thinking, so today after my ride, I weighed my Bike Friday. It currently has a rear rack on it, but I'd left the rack trunk (Arkel Tail Rider) off and just put on a small seat bag with an extra tube, tools, and a CO2 cartridge and chuck, plus my cell phone, lip balm, and keys. Weighed the entire thing: 25 lbs. Not bad, but...my Aegis, with similarly equipped seat bag, came in at around 21 lbs, if that. Doesn't seem like a huge difference, but since I am very light, it's definitely a higher % of my body weight and could certainly explain away most of the speed differences I notice.

But I'm really not a speed weenie any more, just enjoying the ride!

I think a smaller wheel requires more effort relative to a bigger wheel. Each revolution of your crank will move you less distance in the Bike Friday, so perhaps you have not lost all your speed...