Memorial Day Weekend Rides

[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...