Memorial Day Weekend Rides

[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...

[owlice]

Emily, I have had good luck using Cortisone-10 on irritated bits; clears them up nicely, and I'll use it before a ride sometimes, too, to ward off developing a sore. In fact, I read a suggestion for Cortisone-10 here; looking for a solution to a persistent saddle sore is what led me to TE in the first place. And wow, was I (am I) ever grateful!!