Weekday Rides?

[murielalex]

100 degrees at 5:00

Dang. I'm going to be in Indianapolis in two weeks. Hope it cools down a bit before then or I'll be wishing I was back in Florida where it's cool by comparison.

I'm trying to get in weekday rides as I build up to a couple long organized rides over multiple days in the Fall. I do interval training twice a week on a computrainer, but it's not the same as getting out on the road. I tried commuting, but due to the terrifying traffic and no safe routes during rush hours, I can only do that once a week. Today, I tried something new. I got up and was on the road at 5:30 for a nice, slow hour-long ride. It was really beautiful outside: cool, quiet, and it was pretty much just me on the road. I sure hated the getting out the door part, but I was in such a good mood by the time I got home, it was worth it. I'm going to try and do that at least once, hopefully twice, a week.

[Crankin]

Today I went on my first group ride since December 27th . I did do 2 hikes with the group in January/February.
The ride started in Concord center, so I rode to the start. This group is a moderately paced, social group. They use human arrowing for turns, which is somewhat weird for newcomers. A lot of the people who were active when I started with them in 2005 no longer ride with the group (it's an older crowd), and now there's usually always a faster group that does the same route plus more miles at a faster pace. I'm always on the edge of thinking I can hang with the faster group, but today was definitely a no-go... they were doing 44 miles at a 16 mph average, up significant hills that I am familiar with. And it was hot.
We rode to the MIT observatory in Groton, which is very near where I lived when i first moved back to MA. In fact, the faster group went right by my old house. It felt weird. I was riding on roads I used to drive on all of the time, but there were times I was not quite sure of what street I was on. The regular group has also picked up its pace, too. After the first 4 miles, I got up near the front and stayed there, except for falling back a bit, so I wouldn't have to arrow! The group was really big and it would have taken me awhile to catch up.
The hill up to the observatory was challenging, but I've done much worse. It's funny to watch some of the guys. They start out fast, stay in a hard gear and then poof! I pass them and leave them in the dust in my granniest of granny. No shade on the climb, either.
I peeled off to go home before they got back to Concord center and headed to lunch. I didn't have enough to eat and I was on the edge of bonking. When I got to the street that intersects with my street, I stopped, poured my water over my head and down my jersey and ate a shot block, to get up my hill.
I feel like I worked hard, but I'm not "exhausted," either. I rode 40 miles, no idea what the average was, as I didn't check it after I started the climb to the observatory.
I need to go on more of these rides...

[Catrin]

It sounds like you had fun Crankin, what is "arrowing"?

I did something tonight I never do, and probably should do more often. Instead of going out with a specific goal in mind, I just went out for an easy ride on my bike. I didn't have time to get in a good ride and have the slightest hope of sleeping tonight but I still wanted to ride. It was a very short 9 miles or so but it was delightful and I've a workout tomorrow night, and riding or mountain biking the following 3-4 days.

I don't seem to be riding as long this year as in the past, I've yet to even ride 50 miles yet (though that will change in September). Lots and lots of rides between 25-40 miles however, and that is just fine I am riding more frequently (when it hasn't been over 95 degrees), and my over-use injuries seem to complain far less with this approach. I will take it!

[Crankin]

Arrowing is when someone behind the leader is posted at turns, with their bike pointed in the direction of the turn. No cue sheets. The "human" arrow stays at their post until the sweep passes. So, if there's a large group (like today there were about 35 people and most were a lot slower than me), you have to wait until they all pass and then get back into the group. It takes a while to get back up near the front... some of these riders, bless them are a little squirrelly, and I always stay near the front. I could have arrowed today, as i did know where I was most of the time (I get a little anxious if I'm doing this in a strange town), but when I got up behind the leader, the person right behind him told me to "stay back, unless I was willing to arrow." Of course I was, at that point we were on roads I ride all of the time, but I think these guys didn't really know me, as I haven't been there in so long. Some of the stronger riders will stay near the back and then do sprints to get up to the front to take their turn arrowing. I have done this in the past, but I had to get used to some of the newer people today. I prefer to ride with those whose moves I can anticipate.

[Owlie]

62.2 miles on Monday. My sitbones are still recovering.

[Zona]

I have been off my bike for 9 days, no exercise or nothing but walking after HRT pellets, I can't wait to ride in the morning.

[Owlie]

50.2 miles in preparation for the organized ride on Sunday, just to make sure I can still do that distance and not die. I had a few fueling problems (like the lack of a real dinner last night...and not enough food today), and I tried to outrun a shower (and failed). I left at 3:15ish, got back just before 8, so faster than normal.

Starving and sore in a variety of places...