Weekend Rides

[Catrin]

Friday my schedule was tight, but managed to knock out a 12 mile ride and pushed it as hard as I could. Figured if I couldn't get a decent ride mileage-wise that I would get as much out of it as I could.

Today I headed south for some mountain biking, and had the best ride I've had to date on my mountain bike Still slow, but am getting faster and only had to walk 100 feet or less, all total. There are three small places on the trail I am uncomfortable riding, so will walk them until I am tired of doing that Then it started looking like a major storm was going to blow in, so thought it best to call it a day before risking being on the trail during a thunderstorm...unsure how well that would work. Normal rain would be ok to get caught in, as thick as the canopy is, but a thunderstorm is probably too risky.

[azfiddle]

Catrin, the mountain biking sounds like lots of fun. I love how you have just immersed yourself in all kinds of cycling since starting out!

I thought the email bulletin said 55 miles for today's group ride. Okay, that's a little longer than I do on most Saturdays, but not by much and I went 65 just weeks ago. Hah! 72.2 when we rolled back in to the parking lot! We rode south into the Tohono O'odham Indian reservation and through some beautiful desert but then the road winds through some depressing piles of mine tailings for a while. Although the calendar says fall started yesterday and the weather was pleasantly cool when we left, it was about 94 degrees at the end of the ride. Fortunately we had some overcast on the longest climb on the return. All I could think about was downing a mocha frappucino to cool down!

Overall, it was a beautiful day and the slower riders (that's my department ) actually joined forces for a paceline for about 10 miles on the way out and about the same on the way back. That was very helpful, and my overall time was 15.8, significantly higher than my solo averages which are often 14-15 mph. And I have surpassed my weekly goal of 100 miles with only 3 rides this week, and another on the calendar for tomorrow. I better do some stretching!

But guess what I got as we came in to town? A flat. Yes, after 4 flats last week, I replaced my front tire, but now the rear is looking a bit ragged. My DH called me to say there might be a brand new tire in the storage room- and yup! He was right. So I can save the $$ for something else. But I guess I need to do yet another tire change this afternoon.

[redrhodie]

The forecast is for rain for the rest of 2011 but I managed to get out for 26 miles before it started yesterday. I figured the Sat morning lbs ride would be canceled, so I wanted to get my weekly miles in. Then last night, I got an email from my lbs saying they might be riding if it wasn't raining hard, and to use my judgment.

Woke in the middle of the night and told myself to go back to sleep, because the ride was probably canceled. Then I woke again, took out my earplugs (long story), heard crickets chirping, and knew it wasn't raining. There was a second on the drive over the bridge (it was still dark out), where I wondered if I was dreaming. Next thing I know, I'm sitting on the stoop of my lbs, wondering if anyone's going to show. We always ride at 7 am on the dot; the time came, and no one showed. I was starting to be really bummed, since my bike was locked inside the shop, so I couldn't even just ride alone. And, I couldn't just go to work (I work on Saturdays after the ride) as it was 3 hours early, and my boss' bf would be sleeping, and he's a cop, and I could imagine getting shot if I woke him.

Then Scott came. Then another guy came. Woo! I have no idea how far the 3 of us rode, but it was shorter than our usual route since we were pressed for time. It ended up being a really fun ride and a pretty route down to a lighthouse. Rode by the Block Island Ferry and Wheeler Beach, and only one of us flatted, so all good.

Glad I wasn't dreaming!

[Biciclista]

we did the South Lake Washington loop. Lots of hills, 28 miles. the headwind was kicking my butt. We only had about 3/4 mile of tail wind. !

[Crankin]

Was supposed to ride 50 miles with Hirakukibou for her 50th birthday, but last night she cancelled, because we also thought it would be rainy. It was still wet on the roads in the AM, so DH and I did a slightly longer version of a ride we led a couple of years ago, after lunch. It seems in the last week, I have noticed traffic just being a lot worse. Everywhere. Usually, by Saturday afternoon, the roads around here aren't busy, but first we had tons of cars in Concord and Sudbury, which was mostly from soccer parents, some from tourists. Then, we rode into Stow, where one of the prettiest roads was full of people going to the orchards for apple picking. I mean, one car after another. Then I remembered one of the farms on this road actually advertises on the radio. Finally, we got past that and had a quieter ride for the last half. It was humid and kind of hot.
So, I had my new Shimano road shoes molded last week. I rode in them 3-4 times before this and they were OK, just a few things that felt like they needed to be broken in. After one mile today, my feet were in total pain; pain, burning, with every pedal stroke and especially on climbs. It was a long 35 miles.
Got home, went to the LBS with the shoes and she had me come back with my bike and both new/old shoes. She put me on the fitting trainer, and my cleats are placed fine. She told me to do 3-4 short rides without the innersoles for a week and use my old shoes for longer rides. Then, put the innersoles in, and start with short rides. She said the last is really different and it will take awhile to break them in. I am skeptical. My old shoes felt like butter and now I am kind of sorry I bought new ones.

[indysteel]

Yesterday, DH and I finished the last leg of our Katy Trail tour. I'd give the trip a B- as a whole. The trail is very nice if more than a little monotonous over six days. The towns we stayed in were hit and miss. If you don't hit them on the right day, you're lucky to find something to eat for dinner. Twice, we ate at 5 because the one and only place open was set to close at 6. Don't get me wrong; I understand the economics of these small towns, and the amount of blight along the trail is very sad. Our inconvenience pales in comparison as problems go. In contrast, we stayed at some nice B&B along the way, and the people we met along the way couldn't have been friendlier. The weather was a mixed bag. We had one day of rain, 2 1/2 days of sun, and another 2 1/2 days of chilly and cloudy. We spent another sunny day today walking around St. Charles, which is a very charming area.

[owlice]

Two rides today, as I was pressed for time in the morning. I rode 19+ miles in the AM, and late in the afternoon, rode almost 12; I wanted to get in 30 miles today, and was glad the weather, though not the best (overcast much of the day, humid, and warm), at least it didn't rain very much/very often!

The second ride was a lot slower than the first; it also had better food, because I rode the 5 miles to Atlanta Bread Company, had a very good sandwich, and then took a slightly longer way home.

I'm hoping to do another 30 tomorrow. Oh... I'd better go do some laundry, then, as I'm out of clean bike shorts.

[Roadtrip]

Got out for a short trail ride on my hybrid. Just trying to shake some of the dust off as I'd been off the bike several weeks. Did eight miles or so and felt ok... Not steller.. But wasn't expecting to after the time off. Toward the end of the ride I got passed by a surly guy on a roadie and knew we were close to the end and was determined to show this guy he wasn't king of the trail and easily accelerated and matched his pace. Matched his acceleration until we met some traffic and he realized I was still there about 15 feet behind him, then I let off the gas and cruised back to the car.

Shannon

[goride]

A couple of friends and I had signed up for the 63 mile route of a benefit ride scheduled for today. The weather forecast last night looked "iffy" but we woke up this morning to beautiful blue skies and temps of 48 with a predicted high of 57. While we were enjoying a few snacks at the mile 38 rest stop (which was the far northwest corner of the route and as far from start as possible) it started to rain. We got to the 51 mile rest stop and the ride director was there suggesting a bit of a short cut just to get people off the roads and out of the rain. We ended up riding 59 miles instead of the full 63. By the time the ride was over, we looked like we took a shower with our clothes on.

After the ride, we took advantage of the post-race meal and dripped all over the floor of the bike shop which acted as the start and end point of the ride. When I got home, I hosed off my bike before bringing it in, but it still needs a good wiping down and lubing. Bike stuff is laying out drying all over the house. So glad I put my cell phone and drivers license in a plastic bag before the ride.

At mile 24 I had a flat, but it was a front tire and still sunny out. So now I have experience changing a flat roadside in addition to in the comfort of my living room. My friends pitched in too, and we had it taken care of in no time. Just as we finished, the SAG came by One of the roads had recently been resurfaced with something that seemed to be made of ground up glass, rubber and wire (maybe ground up tires?). We did find a piece of glass in the tire.

One of my friends had recently been on a well-attended, two-day charity ride, and they had encountered similarly surfaced roads. The SAGS on that ride provided and replaced 328 tubes before they ran out, and in addition many riders replaced their tubes with tubes they carried. Some suffered multiple flats. Quite a few riders were unable to finish that ride.

Considering the weather and the flat, we still had a good time. At this time of year, the opportunities to ride are limited, and a day on the road is to be cherished. Leaves are starting to turn, cornstalks turning brown, geese flying, cranes in the fields, it was just pretty.

[Becky]

The forecast is for rain for the rest of 2011

OMG, does it ever feel that way! Enough already!

DH and I worked on house projects today. It feels good to have some of that stuff out of the way for when the sun shines again *knocks wood*

[Trek420]

I did a short ride to my local farm market. I'm wondering if there's a sign or a post-it on my vest that says "former souse chef. Ask me what to do with that fruit or veg" because I often end up with someone asking out of the blue "what do you do with that?" and showing how to prep. I should just put a cutting board and French knife in the bike rack.

So I'm almost done, just picking up some of the last of the summer peaches as it turns Fall. Woman at the booth is looking puzzled, baffled. "What's this?" she asks, holding a cucumber. A cucumber Another gal correctly id's the item telling her "it's what pickles are made from"

Discussion ensues of how to make a pickle. "Soak them in brine." "What's brine?" the vegie education deprived gal asks "water, salt, lots of salt, garlic, dill, herbs ..." "Oh, I don't need any more salt"

Well, she probably does not, she is very over weight but here she is at the farm market trying, like me to eat healthier.

So I start on things you can do with fresh cukes and how to prep them: peeled and sliced very thin with a little Japanese Rice vinegar as a side dish, sliced very thin with a bit of dill sprinkled on and toss in salad, cuke sticks and dip, sliced thin and on sandwiches or diced small in a salsa and all you need for that is right at the booth; peppers, tomatoes, onions ...

I don't know if whole new worlds of fresh food options opened up for her but it was fun.

[Velocivixen]

I rode to & from my volunteer gig with the Police Dept., which was just over 6 miles, then I rode over to a new pump track open house at a local park and back which was another 8 or so miles. I'm debating as to whether or not to ride today. Not so much due to the potential of rain or the clouds, but it's really blustery & windy.

[Crankin]

So, I followed the LBS's instructions and went for a short ride without the innersoles in my new shoes. Perfect. 15 miles, no pain. Lots of riders out today; DH feeling the effects of time zone changes, coming home from China and Japan.
I came home and actually looked at the innersoles; no wonder I was in excruciating pain yesterday! They are thick on the bottom, with an extra protruding layer near the back, for arch support. No way. I can't stand padded anything. It evokes an almost arthritic response. I always wear my shoes very loose and my old shoes have a minimalist innersole. Sooo... don't care about the fancy molding process on those innersoles. They will have to find me a thin, barely there set to put in these shoes.

[Fredwina]

after losing a pint to mosquitoes, I think I'm ready to write about it!
going across the hudson:

Replica of Henry Hudson's ship, the Half moon:

Change of seasons:

A Sculling competition and the Albany aqua duck:

The trail was too muddy, so I crossed back over. Open road

almost home:

[Dog]

Last Saturday I participated in the Wounded Warrior Project Ride - Seattle. It rained for most of the ride, but once you are wet - your wet. Good cause and I raised $870 for the cause. Yesterday, I rode a quick 15 mile loop on Whidbey Island - beautiful sunny day. So, glad that I did since today is really windy and the clouds have rolled in. Good-bye summer!