June 4 Weekend Rides

[Crankin]

OMG, Reesha, that is Depot Road. No, that was not it, but I used to live in Tyngsboro, right on the Westford line, and took that road every day, to get to work. I would hate to ride it, because of all of the traffic from people using it as a cut through from NH.
The road is Littleton County Rd., in Harvard, which starts out off of Taylor Rd. in Littleton, where it is called Whitcomb Rd. It ends up on Rt. 111, near the Harvard/Boxborough line. I am sure you have ridden in the area.

[m.eliza]

30 miles commuting yesterday. Today was supposed to be a very slow 50, but my new neighbors (I live in a two-family "stackable" home) woke me up at 1am by ringing my doorbell repeatedly (I think either their friends didn't understand which doorbell was which, or they locked themselves out and needed me to let them in, but that's not my problem at 1am!). Then they proceeded to blast music, bass shaking my bedroom floor, until 4:30am. I put my fan on high and my iPod in my ears but it didn't block out the noise. So today, instead of riding, I'm on the couch with a migraine.

However, I decided I'm no longer going to get upset when my rides don't go the way I planned. Instead I'll take a well-deserved rest day and say next weekend will be better

[Reesha]

I'm so proud of myself... did 50 miles alone at my own pace through West County. Saw a black squirrel, a very cute chipmunk, about 80 other bicyclists, met a fellow teacher from another school district and discovered that a locust invasion sounds eerily like light rail.

This ride, I was very careful about fueling throughout. Started the day with a 2 banana, 3 scoops of choco protein powder and PB smoothie. Also ate half a larabar, 1 24 oz bottle of orange sports drink, 1 naked green machine and a little lifeway mango lassi at the end. My legs weren't ready to be fast throughout the ride, but considering I finished feeling good after just 350 miles this year, I am glad

I'm going to do a search momentarily, but near the end, I felt like my muscles were tugging awkwardly on my tailbone area. Like my glutes are stressed and are pulling on a weird spot. Anyone familiar with this?

Also I think it's time to shop for new saddles.

[Catrin]

....
I'm going to do a search momentarily, but near the end, I felt like my muscles were tugging awkwardly on my tailbone area. Like my glutes are stressed and are pulling on a weird spot. Anyone familiar with this?

Also I think it's time to shop for new saddles.

Good job, and I like the sound of your smoothie! I need to find an inexpensive source of protein powder for such things.

When I injured myself last year, I had something that sounds similar to what you describe. While I am sure that different things can cause similar symptoms, for me it was my hamstring - it was tight at both ends and would cause that sensation before I actually pulled the thing (in multiple places). I am sure that you did, but did you stretch well after your sweet ride?

Also, welcome to the loads of fun to be had in saddle shopping

[Trek-chick]

I did 17.5 miles at the local park, which was three laps around. My average speed was 14.5 mph which is my personal best I feel so fast on the true road bike as compared to my touring bike....what fun it is to go fast!

I have decided that the stock saddle on my Bianchi is going to have to go. I plan to get a Terry Butterfly, if I can find a white one.

[Reesha]

Good job, and I like the sound of your smoothie! I need to find an inexpensive source of protein powder for such things.

When I injured myself last year, I had something that sounds similar to what you describe. While I am sure that different things can cause similar symptoms, for me it was my hamstring - it was tight at both ends and would cause that sensation before I actually pulled the thing (in multiple places). I am sure that you did, but did you stretch well after your sweet ride?

Also, welcome to the loads of fun to be had in saddle shopping

You know, I've only been home about 45 minutes. I'll stretch those hammies good and elevate my legs. Thanks for the tip!

[Catrin]

You know, I've only been home about 45 minutes. I'll stretch those hammies good and elevate my legs. Thanks for the tip!

Part of the reason behind my wide variety of over-use injuries last year was that I never stretched after a ride - I thought I didn't need to do so as I felt fine...until it was too late and then my stubbornness kicked in and a bad situation became much worse & took me off the bike for something like 3 months.

My stretches only take a few minutes but they are very helpful. I stretch quads, hamstrings, and calves after every ride.

[Reesha]

I had the BF help me with some stretches. He's so helpful!!!

[7rider]

Yesterday was the Great Frederick County Wine Tour (well...I named it that!).
Some of the N2 Crew got together to ride up Sugarloaf Mountain, then on into Frederick County (Maryland) to hit 3 wineries for tastings, then finish at Mt. Airy for a HUGE dinner (ordered off the menu, but we really ate "family style" with all sharing dishes and not a drop of food left over - even the desserts!). After 62 miles and many hours on the road - we were pretty hungry!

Here are DH and me at Linganore Winecellars, where we stopped for a picnic lunch and tasting.


Here are four of us on the road. The road started up high - where the photographer is - and arced down into a graceful curve to the road upon which we are riding. A few stayed up to take pictures, but some of us couldn't bear to wait, s the road just looked like too much fun to ride. And it was a beautiful little stretch of road. Fun stuff!


Here's the group on the road. After a friend of mine left, I was the only woman rider. Fortunately, the ride was relaxed and all about having fun, so I could enjoy the companionship and not stress about getting dropped from some paceline. That's me in the white/red jersey. DH is behind me in the black/grey.



Today's ride was just an easy 36 mile training ride through Rock Creek Park on the new/old Cervelo TT bike. Still learning the geometry and handling and trying to get some miles in on it before I try racing it at various Du's and Tris.

[Crankin]

Did a relaxing 22 mile ride into Carlisle and Chelmsford, going up a couple of streets we never seem to go on. One of those is a very steep hill I discovered when we first moved to Concord, that I hadn't ridden on since 2007.
Dare I say I actually felt good for the whole ride? Our intent was to go slow, as DH was hurting a bit after yesterday's 42 miles. But then we had to pass a guy, so for about the first ten miles, we pushed it, slowed down in the middle and then pushed it again when we had to pass a couple on Lowell Rd on the way back. They were riding side by side on this busy road, where there are tons of cyclists and a nice little white line you can easily ride inside of. DH said "on your left, and by the way, you are making it difficult for the cars here," (there's also construction going on, they are building a sidewalk) and when I rode by, the guy was yelling his head off at us. After that, we had a series of angry motorists, who, I am sure were annoyed by this guy out in the middle of the road.
Here's a picture when we stopped for a snack on Curve St. in Carlisle...

[nscrbug]

Well...when I woke up this morning, I certainly didn't plan on riding 100 miles today, however that's how things ended up. Actually it was 101.5. I'm exhausted...both physically and mentally. It wasn't quite as hot and humid as it was yesterday...but was still in the low 80's when we finished. My DH got a flat, as well as the other guy riding with us. Somehow, I escaped getting a flat despite riding straight through the same pile of glass that doomed DH and friend. Must have been my lucky day.

Linda

[Orange utopia]

I have been doing a weekend series with the Baltimore Bicycle Club called the Instructional Series. I thought it would be a good way to ease back into the sport after such a long absence. They have a good mixed group from expereienced, faster road riders to newbies that haven't been off of the paths and on the road before. I seem to fall somewhere in the middle of the pack I think.

Today we had a great ride around northern Baltimore county. Lots of hills on back country roads. My group only did 16 miles but it was a wonderful ride. Next week we will do the same route only make it longer.

[grey]

I want a wine country ride! That sounds like my kind of fun. There's a loop outside St, Louis that starts at the Lau Nae winery in Red Bud, IL and goes to St. Charles, MO. Plenty of wine there! *begins planning trip to see Grandma* Who's with me? LOL

Today I did an old 20 mile loop that I haven't done in about 10 days. I love it when you can see massive improvement in hill climbing/long stretches, today was one of those obvious "hey look, improvement!" days. I'm more of a masher, though I do keep a cadence going most of the time, I prefer to hang out in the big ring. Hills are getting easier, I'm climbing them pretty quickly now and most times, am still in the big ring unless they are steep. I keep adjusting my saddle & handlebar placement, and for the last 2 miles there was a bit of a back ache but prior to that, I felt great. Hoping it's a strength building issue, otherwise, I feel ready to jump back into 40 mile rides again! Woohoo recovery!

Meanwhile, it was HOT... and my puppy thinks i am a big salt lick. Shower time.

[indysteel]

Gosh, everyone's having a great weekend of riding! I want to do a wine tour, too!

DH got most of the mulch down this morning! Woot. Our flower beds look really nice From there, I took my mountain bike out for a tool around town. Then DH and I took our relatively new touring bikes out for 15 miles. We're still tweaking things on both bikes. I'm so used to my road bike, it's hard to get used to something heavier.

[okraftw]

I did 12 miles today. I am trying to get my friend into biking, so I gave her my old bike, and today we bike down the Schuylkill river trail to watch the pro racers come through (Philadelphia International Championship.) A lovely six miles ride down, we watched the peloton ride by (Awesome!) A lovely six miles back! I think it worked.