This was supposed to be the weekend to really push some final training for the upcoming Red Ribbon Ride (local AIDs/HIV 4-day, 300 mile fundraiser), but, it was rather a tale of misadventures.

Saturday: I planned about a 50 mile solo ride through rolling countryside, however, I made the BIG mistake of donating blood the day before. Note to self: never again. So, even though it was still early, it was hot, I felt sluggish, crappy and nauseated. Decided to keep going and just try to take it easy. The powers that be decided that if I would not stop myself, they would stop me. 6 miles in, rear flat with a bent piece of metal stuck in my rear tire that I could not pull out. Call DP for ride to LBS, ride over. Rode bike home after tire fix, hopped on trainer in cool basement for a 1 hour work out followed by yoga.

Sunday: Could not get out until afternoon and again, it was hot. So, I did a fairly easy 24 miles on local paved trails and wide-shouldered rolling roads.

The 4th: 5 of us doing the upcoming RRR had planned on meeting in WI to do a mighty hilly 60 mile ride - we have a day of horrid hills in southern MN bluff country on the RRR so hill training is crucial. Two bailed because of the heat and ever climbing dewpoint. Of the 3 of us left, my friend S kept falling behind and we were afraid he was not feeling well - turned out, his brake was rubbing. So, while J and I were up the road ahead of S, and a mere 8 miles into our ride, J's seat suddenly flies off his bike while riding up a hill. The seat bolt snapped clean in two and now we had a dilemma. J trotted over to some local friendly looking farmers and they helped him jerry-rig his seat on with another bolt, but it looked rickety so we decided to turn around and get him back to his car. Meanwhile, S fixed his brake. On the way back, J's seat comes off again. We got his car and went back to get him. His day was done. S and I figure, we came all this way, we've only gone 16 miles and we need more hill work! We found hills, BIG hills on a 9 mile out and back route. Did it twice, drained our gatorade, low on water, called it good and went home where DP and I grilled salmon and asparagus and watched the day's TDF. Yay Tyler!