October 22/23,2011 rides!

[azfiddle]

71 miles. I didn't feel that tired when I got off the bike but I needed a nap after taking a warm soak. My group separates out pretty quickly by speed (I'm always at the back), but a couple of thoughtful guys stayed back and kept me company on different parts of the ride. The last 18 miles I told them it was just fine if they wanted to go on ahead, though we arrived only 5-10 apart at the end.

Unfortunately, a couple of guys in the fast group went down- both will be alright but one needed a trip to the ER to get checked out.

[rubysoho]

rode yesterday after work and only got five miles into my ride before I started feeling not right. Pulled over and had to wait for some dizziness to go away. Apparently it was too soon after the cold I thought I was over. Pedaled easily back to my car. Ran today and felt 100 times better so I think I will try for a twenty mile ride tomorrow.

[7rider]

Random riding...48 miles - started with 2 friends. Picked up the N2 for about 15 miles. Split off from the N2 with my 2 friends. They peeled off at various points with other home commitments. Headed home solo, with a slight detour to ride with my friend visiting from Chile who's in the area for a while - ran into him on my ride home.

Stopped to munch on a Peanut Butter and Jelly Lara Bar as I was so darned hungry. It was DA BOMB! Loved it. Gotta go find more. Almost as good as their Cashew Cookie and Blueberry Muffin.

Got home. DH and I went to REI to pick up ski poles that I ordered and had shipped to the store. Then we went and test drove a Ford Edge and Ford Explorer. I think we're going to buy the Honda Pilot. My poor old Escape has been feeling jealous that we've been looking at other cars, and the brakes started failing and it started making awful metal noises recently in protest. Sigh.

[bluebug32]

Nice pics, Fredwina! All very familiar to me as I live about an hour south. Miss Albany Diner...drool. There are so many great places in the Capital Region. I'll be in Saratoga tomorrow cross racing.

[Crankin]

I did 26 miles with a friend. One of my favorite rides, nice color in the trees, and my favorite riding temperature, 58. But, the sun kept going in and out, so I think I unzipped and zipped up my thermal jersey a million times!
My legs have felt dead lately and the hills hurt, which is not like me. My calves are still sore 4 days after taking a step class. I should take a break, but it's still so nice out for riding.
Still waiting for my new saddle for the Guru; until then, I am riding the Kuota.

[skywalkerbeth]

Hi everyone

Yesterday I was on the bike for the first time in two months! I didn't go very far because by the time I got my sorry *** moving, it was late afternoon and then I found out I had a severe flat (which I expected). BUT, I couldn't get it to pump. Had to load bike up and go to LBS.

Once they sorted me out, I rode around their parking lot for 20 minutes. Mostly to practice with my NEW CLIPS (first time out with them).

SPDs. LOVE THEM. All the fear I had from the speedplays - mostly gone. What fear I do have is because of my bad experiences with the others. But these are like buttah - so easy in and out. As I get used to that I'll be just fine.

They really do come out easily - clipping in too. In fact, I had unclipped my left foot while practicing for a stop (right foot down) and just rested my left foot back on the pedal. It clipped in without me knowing it which was a surprise BUT when I got off balance because I wasn't expecting that and started to think OH HELL, blip: out. Just like that. No stress.

[skywalkerbeth]

Hi everyone

Yesterday I was on the bike for the first time in two months! I didn't go very far because by the time I got my sorry *** moving, it was late afternoon and then I found out I had a severe flat (which I expected). BUT, I couldn't get it to pump. Had to load bike up and go to LBS.

Once they sorted me out, I rode around their parking lot for 20 minutes. Mostly to practice with my NEW CLIPS (first time out with them).

SPDs. LOVE THEM. All the fear I had from the speedplays - mostly gone. What fear I do have is because of my bad experiences with the others. But these are like buttah - so easy in and out. As I get used to that I'll be just fine.

They really do come out easily - clipping in too. In fact, I had unclipped my left foot while practicing for a stop (right foot down) and just rested my left foot back on the pedal. It clipped in without me knowing it which was a surprise BUT when I got off balance because I wasn't expecting that and started to think OH HELL, blip: out. Just like that. No stress.

[redrhodie]

In order for me to do the Sat morning lbs ride, I have to be in my car by 6:10. I was still in bed at 6. I don't know how I did it, but I got there on time! I had to forfeit my usual big breakfast, and settled for some cheese slapped on a couple of pieces of bread, too sloppy to be called a "sandwich". I also didn't have time for coffee, and by the end of the ride (around 27 miles), my head was pounding. By 11 am, I thought I was going to have to go home sick from work. Instead, I did a meditation technique I saw on Dr. Oz by Deepak Chopra, and within a few minutes, I was fine. Wow.

After yesterday's ride, we switched out my stem, lowered my bars, and moved my saddle forward, trying to get my position closer to my other bike. I tried it out around the block, and thought it felt way better. Today I did 28 miles with hills, and now I can say for sure, it is way better. The bike felt perfect; nothing hurt, it felt less twitchy, and I had more power standing. Quads felt like they were being used more, but that's to be expected. Everything else feels great.

What a perfect weekend for riding!