Memorial Day Weekend Rides

[indysteel]

We'll have to stick around some year for the Lexington ride. We typically go back home Sunday that we can putter around home all day.

Do you like living in Lexington? I have a fantasy during the Horsey every year about moving down there. DH grew up in Frankfort (which I don't particularly care for; it's a big yawn), but I do like Lexington. In four years time, my job situation could be such that it'll be a good time to make a break for it.

[7rider]

After 2 days of riding - hard for DH, not so hard for me - and swimming and a run this morning, we decided that today would be an easy "recovery" ride down into Rock Creek Park. The park is basically flat (well, a slight grade) and well shaded and usually about 10 degrees cooler than our more exposed routes, so on a hot summery day like today it would be perfect.

So we take our normal route down, and DH shocked me. "Do you want to ride the Capital Crescent into Georgetown?" he asked. DH asked me if we should ride a MUT through Bethesda to the Washington, D.C. waterfront. Us. Committed roadies. Riding a trail (some of which was gravel) with a 15 mph speed limit on a sunny, warm Memorial Day holiday. Although it's a popular bike commuter route during the week (not mine), I've been on that trail exactly once in the 8 years I've been here. I'm not generally a MUT rider. Way too crowded - and it was today. Tons of folks on bike, in-line skates, Trail Squirrels (little kids), joggers with their ear buds turned up way too loud. It was a mad house. But, DH - who drives a turbo charged sporty car - realizes that there's a time and place for speed, and for passing, and we took it very carefully and he groused about helmetless riders who passed us way too fast and with oncoming traffic. It was very surreal. But...it was cool, b/c we stopped at Cycle Life at the end of the trail - a uber-high end bike shop that has a Cafe/Juice Bar in it and he got a vanilla shake and I got a banana chocolate smoothie. Mmmmm... Certainly not the kind of ride I'm used to, but a lot of fun. But my brain was about to explode by the end from the heat. So not used to that yet.

[azfiddle]

Got in one more long ride for the weekend. Tomorrow's going to be a DOR- maybe Weds will be too-

My DH and I took advantage of the unseasonably cool weather resulting from a cold front that passed through. It was 100 on Friday, but only about 80 degrees today. We did a 65 mile ride, through a lot of semi-rural desert and hills south of Tucson, then came back up through pecan orchards and abandoned fields, in the (dry) Santa Cruz River valley, and through South Tucson, which fields much like being in Mexico. We stopped to enjoy ceviche and shrimp tacos from a mobile restaurant (serving out of a vending truck). They were delicious!

[Catrin]

In the end I did take a small, very easy, recovery ride on my Jamis I was going walking but decided in 90 degree heat that I would rather ride and make my own breeze - and it was sweet. Very short ride, only about 6 miles or so - so short I am not logging it. I am glad that I did it however, and tomorrow night will be back to my Gunnar and a longer ride!

[Owlie]

Heh, I slept in today, and I'm glad I did. I woke up sore--not significantly, but enough to decide to give myself a break so I can actually walk, unlike last year's week of intensive riding...

[nscrbug]

83 miles for me today...windy, warm, & humid...high 80's & sunny. The heat kind of got to me today, so this was a rather tough ride to get through. I know I didn't eat enough during the ride (only had a PB & Honey Uncrustable, 210 cal.) during the whole ride. Should have eaten more, but really couldn't stomach much solid food on such a warm day. Took in 2 bottles of Nuun, but could have used a bit more fluid with the heat. I'll have to plan better next time for a hot ride.

[pll]

83 miles for me today...windy, warm, & humid...high 80's & sunny. The heat kind of got to me today, so this was a rather tough ride to get through. I know I didn't eat enough during the ride (only had a PB & Honey Uncrustable, 210 cal.) during the whole ride. Should have eaten more, but really couldn't stomach much solid food on such a warm day. Took in 2 bottles of Nuun, but could have used a bit more fluid with the heat. I'll have to plan better next time for a hot ride.

I am impressed. I struggled with a 50 mile ride, had 4 bottles of water and Nuun and felt parched. This morning, the scale says I've lost nearly 3 lbs (I did eat during the ride, 2 Clif mini bars and a banana, had nice meals). I need to acclimate to the heat!

[limewave]

I took my 5yo DD on her very first singletrack mountain bike ride!!!

3.5 miles long. I am so proud of her! She is a natural. She floated right over the sandpits and rolled over all the tree roots. She even expertly navigated a tricky downhill with a giant sandpit and 90 degree turn at the bottom. Her bike probably weighs as much as she does and only has little 16 inch wheels (she's pretty small for her age).

Best part is that she loved it and wants to go again!

[kfergos]

I did the 7 Hills of Kirkland century ride with a group of biking buddies. It was cool, mid-50s to low 60s, and overcast -- actually excellent biking weather. Averaged 17.6 mph over 100 miles with 7000 ft of climbing. It was a very fun group ride with the added bonus of periodic food stops and strawberry shortcake at the end Good day, overall.

[chryss]

Limewave, your post made me smile into my morning tea. So great!

I rode 30 flat and leisurely miles in just over 2 hours on Monday - out and back on The Road, and saw a young hare, a glossy moose in the woods, wild ducks I can't identify and dozens of these very beautiful butterflies, which I did my best to avoid hitting. They're called Canadian Tiger Swallowtail:



On the way back, I stopped off to buy Chinese take-out and transport back the chicken & vegetable yakisoba tied to my handlebars over a muddy trail. Interesting. (It is extremely fortunate that there *is* a place that will sell good & tasty food within a mile! I'm 30 miles outside Fairbanks in a 350 inhabitant village.)

The weekend was a bit messed about by a very hot Sunday ending in a downpour and a strong cool-off, and my partner not feeling that well. Well, neither of us did by Monday because the dogs became very active when the temperature dropped, and the mosquitos moved indoors, so sleep wasn't easy to come by. The dogs are Siberian Huskies so they suffer above 10°C/50°F. But we didn't mind too much. I was glad I went out and rode for a while.

[indysteel]

I took my 5yo DD on her very first singletrack mountain bike ride!!!

3.5 miles long. I am so proud of her! She is a natural. She floated right over the sandpits and rolled over all the tree roots. She even expertly navigated a tricky downhill with a giant sandpit and 90 degree turn at the bottom. Her bike probably weighs as much as she does and only has little 16 inch wheels (she's pretty small for her age).

Best part is that she loved it and wants to go again!

Wow; that's awesome!!! What a great thing for a mom and daughter to do together.

[indysteel]

I did the 7 Hills of Kirkland century ride with a group of biking buddies. It was cool, mid-50s to low 60s, and overcast -- actually excellent biking weather. Averaged 17.6 mph over 100 miles with 7000 ft of climbing. It was a very fun group ride with the added bonus of periodic food stops and strawberry shortcake at the end Good day, overall.

Boy, that's impressive!!!! Plus, any ride that ends with strawberry shortcake is a great ride!!!

[nscrbug]

Boy, that's impressive!!!! Plus, any ride that ends with strawberry shortcake is a great ride!!!

X2! That is an awesome average speed for 100 miles. The best I have ever done was 16.3...and that's a FLAT ride, no mountains in my neck of the woods.

[Owlie]

I finally got the pictures from my ride up on my blog. I hate to sound all spammy but I can't get the picture thing to work on here.