July 9-10 rides

[Owlie]

Guess I'll start:

32 miles this morning. It was ridiculously humid (to the point that my glasses fogged up when I stopped). Early on I encountered deer. One gave me the "And what do you want?" look that is so common on suburban deer. The other one was clearly nervous. I wasn't sure they were going to move, so I stopped and just talked to them for a while and they left. (They must have thought I was crazy.) About a third of the way through the ride, I realized I was going faster than normal, but my saddle and my right knee were really bothering me. I figured it was because I hadn't ridden for a week (the knee), and that I may have to go saddle shopping again. I also noticed I was "ankling", which I never do.
I stopped off at my southern turn-around for a restroom break and noticed that the LBS had lubed my seatpost for me. Then I realized that there was a ring of dirt that was about an inch above the seatpost clamp! I guess my marker didn't show up or had rubbed off, and they'd guessed. It works better in terms of power transfer (I set some personal northbound speed records today), but was not so great for my hip, foot, knee or girly bits. I don't have the leverage I need to undo that bolt with the multitool, so I toughed it out until I got back.
There were no crazy chipmunks on this ride, just a cat. It looked like it wanted to cross in front of me, so I yelled at it. It gave me the "What? I'm cute! Don't yell at me!" look. Silly kitty.

[Marquise]

I started the weekend early and rode 30 miles out in the country yesterday morning. A few miles in, I rounded a curve to see a doe and a fawn standing in the road not far off. When they saw me they calmly exited to the woods on my right. Then a second fawn came from the left and did what looked like a happy skip while crossing to join the others.

About 10 miles later on an open stretch of quiet road, a badger emerged from the ditch on my right just ahead of me. By the time I was passing, the badger was at the left edge of the road and turned and hissed at me. It's unusual to see badgers. I grew up in the country but never saw one before. They can be nasty so I was glad I was on the bike and moving but also glad I got to see and hear it hissing!

[Catrin]

No road riding today, spent 2 hours riding a couple of beginner trails, and had fun (will post more in the mtn bike section). It was interesting to see how much higher my heart rate was on the mountain bike than on road rides - not a surprise- but interesting. Tomorrow I hope to get in an easy 20-25 road ride in if I am not sore. I don't expect to be, but we will see!

[azfiddle]

My DH and I rode with a group today- they had a choice of long (55) or short (34) mile rides. It was overcast, and therefore really pleasant for a July desert morning, and although we planned to do the short ride, when we got to the turn-around point, we decided to go further. We ended up going about 42, and the clouds didn't dissipate until the last 2 1/2 miles so it was pretty nice. Although the first half of the ride was suburban, the second half goes through upper Sonoran desert, which is greening up a bit since our summer monsoons have started.

We must have passed 25 or 30 dead giant Sonoran Toads, 5 tarantulas and sadly, a roadrunner that had been hit by a car as well. The toads and tarantulas both come out with the rains.

Happily, my leg/hip issues were almost completely absent today.

[solobiker]

Got in a nice mtn bike ride this am up on one of the passes. The trail was a mix of nice flowy trails inter mixed with rocks and roots and a fair amount of climbing. We got in about 15 miles with close to 1500 of climbing. Some of the climbs were challenging for me for various reasons...being at altitude, some of the climbing was steep with rocks and roots on the trails. I have gotten better and more confident with stepping out of my comfort zone with trying to negoitiate obticles this year. I have also lost about 20# this past winter which I am sure has helped with my biking. I hope to go for a short 20 mile ride tomorrow before the rain hits again.

[Owlie]

My DH and I rode with a group today- they had a choice of long (55) or short (34) mile rides. It was overcast, and therefore really pleasant for a July desert morning, and although we planned to do the short ride, when we got to the turn-around point, we decided to go further. We ended up going about 42, and the clouds didn't dissipate until the last 2 1/2 miles so it was pretty nice. Although the first half of the ride was suburban, the second half goes through upper Sonoran desert, which is greening up a bit since our summer monsoons have started.

We must have passed 25 or 30 dead giant Sonoran Toads, 5 tarantulas and sadly, a roadrunner that had been hit by a car as well. The toads and tarantulas both come out with the rains.

Happily, my leg/hip issues were almost completely absent today.

I'm a little jealous. (Apart from the fact I don't handle heat at all well... ) And yay for no hip or leg issues!

[7rider]

I had planned to ride an easy N2-modified route with my friend, Trevor, while DH did the group ride all the way to Poolesville. My legs were (are) aching from doing a Nike Training Club i-Pod workout on Friday morning. I do them too infrequently for them to not hurt each time I do them!
But a little miscommunication on our part had Trevor turning back early after getting dropped off the back, and me hammering on trying to hang with the group to the first rest stop at a store. Got there...No Trevor. Voice mail from him that he was turning back.
Welp. Looks like I'm goin' to P'ville with DH and the Hammerheads. So I did. Got dropped, picked off those who blew up later. I can cruise for hours on end, but lack power for sprints and jumps. Gotta work on that. DH waited for me at a turn. Saw a bluebird on a wire (adding it to my life list, as it's the first one I've ever seen in the flesh! ).
All in all, although getting dropped is par for the course, it was a good ride.
55 miles at 17.1 mph.
We went out for ice cream after. Mmmmmmmm....

[redrhodie]

I did the lbs slow ride again today. We averaged just over 18 mph for 30 miles. I really like this ride. It's nice and flat, easy pace, fun people. All we need to make it perfect is pie at the end. I may have to fix that myself.

It had been raining overnight, so I rode Puddin'. He got so muddy (as did I; I looked like I rode the Hell of the North). I left him at the lbs for new bar tape after the ride, and they totally cleaned him up, too. He's all shiny and new looking, with bright white tape. I'm not sure I made a good decision with that. I like white tape, even dirty white tape, but I'm not sure about white tape with a brown saddle on a red bike. I think I could have done something more fun. Well, white it is.

I commuted yesterday, 30 miles. After work, I brought some ice cream to my friends. I've decided if I ever TT, I should carry ice cream. I rode like the wind. It was still hard when I got there.

[Roadtrip]

I don't have the leverage I need to undo that bolt with the multitool, so I toughed it out until I got back.

I've been riding with my park three-way lately as I've been tweaking and adjusting. Sorry Owle that you had to suffer today!

Stuff came up today and I didn't make it out today, but tomorrow is a new day... I did install some new Speedpay Frog pedals on the roadie and in the trainer I really love them, we'll see how they do on the road.

Ps. Owlie, I bought a Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow today and at first glance I like very much... I really wanted to fall in love with that Brooks, but we see on tomorrow's ride.

Shannon

[Owlie]

I've been riding with my park three-way lately as I've been tweaking and adjusting. Sorry Owle that you had to suffer today!

Stuff came up today and I didn't make it out today, but tomorrow is a new day... I did install some new Speedpay Frog pedals on the roadie and in the trainer I really love them, we'll see how they do on the road.

Ps. Owlie, I bought a Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow today and at first glance I like very much... I really wanted to fall in love with that Brooks, but we see on tomorrow's ride.

Shannon

I got my dad to undo the bolt for me this evening. He showed me a trick: create a 90* angle between the body of the multitool and the hex wrench. I eyeballed my seatpost and double-checked it on the trainer, and we shall see tomorrow, perhaps. (My hip and knee still aren't thrilled with the pedaling action...)

I could have loaned you my old SI! I'd like to keep it around as a backup saddle (or stick it on a hypothetical commuter/errand bike, because it's okay for up to 25 miles), but I'd have been happy to let you borrow it before you pulled the trigger. Saddles are expensive! I agree with you on wanting to like a saddle--I wanted to like the SI (it's leather and nice-looking), but alas...

[bluebug32]

I did an easy 15 miles today. I finally had a week of over 100 miles and I felt pretty great during most of them! Still trying to figure out if my new saddle is right for me. It feels fine for 20 miles or so, but then the claws come out.

[Catrin]

I did get a small easy ride in this morning, but only 10 miles My legs didn't feel sore from mountain biking yesterday until I started pushing myself on a couple of hills this morning. Not bad, but it seemed best to take it easy and head home. Not enough time to ride somewhere else, and the park I was in, avoiding hills means there is only a couple miles of road available to me.

It is supposed to be brutally hot and humid tomorrow, but if they are wrong will ride tomorrow evening after work, or head to spinning class if they have it right.

[Tri Girl]

got in 60 miles. It was 103 at noon. ugh! It was supposed to be 70 miles, but this heat is killing me and my training. We normally only have 10 days above 100 a year. This year we're at 21 consecutive over 100 and have broken numerous records. My state is confused- it thinks it's AZ or NV. It needs to remember where it is, because this has GOT to stop!!! But, I think we're screwed for the rest of the summer...

You can take the girl out of AZ, and apparently you can take the AZ out of the girl after 18 years. I want my heat tolerance back!

[Roadtrip]

Did twenty-three miles today-- my longest ride of the year.

New saddle.. SCORE.. I didn't even "feel" the saddle under me until about mile 20 when.

New Speedplay Frog Pedals.. SCORE.. Rode the entire trip clipped in and only had a few "opps" moments, but was able to keep everything shiney side up!!

Shannon