July 29th Weekend Rides

[AppleTree]

DH and I did the Seattle Century ride yesterday - the 50 mile route. Once again, SO lucky with weather here for a major ride! 70's, clear blue sky all day long. Nice crisp start to the day, maybe in the low 60s, didn't even need a jacket to start. We've done this ride three times now and enjoy the scenic route around the Seattle-Bellevue area. I really love the section over the I-90bridge bike trail over Lake Washington and through Mercer Island. To look out over the water at the city skyline (when I dared take my eyes off the path) is just stunning.

I loved it so much I took a wrong turn in Bellevue and ended up on the "scenic" route thereby adding another hour or so to my ride. From what I heard at the finish line, I wasn't the only one. They could have used better markings on the roadway at some intersections.

Nice salmon BBQ at the finish line party, they have some wonderful food. Oh, and strawberry shortcake at the Mercer Island rest stop.

After much consternation over our weather this past spring, I am SO glad we aren't somewhere having temps in the 90s and 100s... I don't think I could do it. I'll put up with a little rain, thankyouverymuch.

[grey]

Did 52 miles on Friday, with 2,700ft of incline. It wasn't as bad as last week's 52 mile ride - humidity wasn't as heavy, we (group of four) went a little slower and stopped halfway to refill water bottles. I did better at eating during the ride too, made a difference also. Recovery wasn't as bad either.

25 miles today, much bigger group of folks turned out this evening - we even had a little lad of 10 who likes TRIATHALONS. We split into two groups, A & B, with the B group turning back for 16 miles. One of the fellows that joined us - the son of a regular rider - turned out today with his wife. They're young, early 20s. He's always leaving her behind on rides with just the two of them, and calling her slow... stuff that drives me nuts to hear. After a few miles one of the more experienced riders that was staying with the B group caught up with us and said he thought something was off with her bike setup, so one rider and I turned back to see if we could figure it out. She is clearly NOT comfortable, but we determined the saddle might be too far back, and perhaps too high.

At a stop I moved the seat for her - we're close in height so I tried it out. It's a Specialized Dolce - NOW I know what y'all are talking about when you say you love your Dolce! It's a very comfortable bike! I suggested a quick fitting for her would make a world of difference.

Anyway, she turned back with the rest of the B group, and her young hubby stayed with the A group. Well, he's full of piss and vinegar, lemme tell you! I half-listened to what he was saying to the guys, bit of bragging... I get tired of it, plus I was still annoyed that he didn't seem to care that his wife's bike wasn't set up so she was comfortable. He'd even poked fun at her for turning back. Halfway back, we let him be in the front for a while (we weren't riding in any formation, just loose so we could talk to each other) and I could tell it was going STRAIGHT to his head - that he was leaving us old farts behind. So with four miles left, at a hill, I decided to let loose. I kill hills, so I zoomed up and took off. REALLY rude of me, I have to email apologies to the rest of the regulars for it. Wish I had a bike computer to know how fast I was going - back at the cars he said he tried to keep up with me, saw he was doing 20, looked up and I was just GONE. Score one for the girls.