Weekday Rides?

[redrhodie]

I had a chiro appt yesterday, but realized I had more than enough time to do my 18 mile loop and still have time to shower. Off I went.

I realized I can pump, dress, and get on the bike in about 10 minutes. I remember when it used to take hours of planning. Funny how that works.

[Catrin]

I originally posted this in the wrong thread so just moved it to here:

Lase night was 78 degrees, next to no wind or humidity, drivers were courteous and cyclists were everywhere I wanted to keep going but I was good and took it easy. Rest the leg again tomorrow, hit it harder Wed if it isn't raining. 13.5 mile loop in right at 55 minutes

I've had a few people advise me lately that it would be better for me to focus on time on the bike rather than total mileage. I tried to do that once before but it is so easy to focus on miles! It isn't like I've a more specific goal outside of a metric in September and to improve in both trail and road riding... Considering how....focused....I get in my activities I think this a better approach.

[Roadtrip]

Rough ride. Started bad. I hadn't eaten much all day and no time for dinner before ride. Also not much saddle time in this year, but you gotta start somewhere right??

DH did a "beginner" (no drop, 12mph avg speed, few hills) ride with the locals last week which I begged off of due to bad back spasms and otherwise just feeling unwell. He enjoyed it.

Tonight was the next ride and DH talked me into joining him on the ride. I was stressed from the start. First real road ride with a group. I also struggled (I'm a flat lander rail trail rider) with the term "no hills" and was always on the limit and by the time we got a few miles in I knew I was in trouble. Legs were gassed and rubbery.

The group stopped at the next light and I decided I wouldn't be able to do the scheduled 12 miles, plus didnt want to keep holding up the group, so the sweep rider escorted me back to the ride start. I felt horrible. Lungs on fire and just couldn't recover. DH went on with the group.

4.5 miles and 360 feet of climbing... Not my shining moment.

Shan

[Catrin]

Roadtrip - congratulations on the 4.5 miles, that was a great beginning even if it didn't feel like it. I hear you about the hills - the definition of a "hill" is at least partially subjective and related as much to to what we are used to/conditioned for as the actual topology.

I think you did great, and you did what you needed to do for your body. The important thing is you listened to what you body was telling you - which makes you a wise woman!

[Catrin]

Just under 17 miles tonight, and it was beautiful! My leg felt better than it has in a week or so, so I appear to have taken the right approach

Instead of increasing actual miles, I think I will focus on increasing time in the saddle, regardless of the miles. Knowing me that will be a better way to rebuild my endurance and a less likely path to over-use injuries because I am too stubborn to stop before I reach my target mileage. sigh

[goldfinch]

I too had a great ride today. Thirteen miles over a mix of rolling hills and flats, averaging 14.5mph (fast for me) and that included a half mile worth of gravel driveway. Beautiful day! Saw a Nashville warbler, so the migration is making its way here. The white-throated sparrows were singing and the chipping sparrows were mating.

I am home in Minnesota! I love being home!

[Owlie]

Rough ride. Started bad. I hadn't eaten much all day and no time for dinner before ride. Also not much saddle time in this year, but you gotta start somewhere right??

DH did a "beginner" (no drop, 12mph avg speed, few hills) ride with the locals last week which I begged off of due to bad back spasms and otherwise just feeling unwell. He enjoyed it.

Tonight was the next ride and DH talked me into joining him on the ride. I was stressed from the start. First real road ride with a group. I also struggled (I'm a flat lander rail trail rider) with the term "no hills" and was always on the limit and by the time we got a few miles in I knew I was in trouble. Legs were gassed and rubbery.

The group stopped at the next light and I decided I wouldn't be able to do the scheduled 12 miles, plus didnt want to keep holding up the group, so the sweep rider escorted me back to the ride start. I felt horrible. Lungs on fire and just couldn't recover. DH went on with the group.

4.5 miles and 360 feet of climbing... Not my shining moment.

Shan

Miles is miles. Good for you--both for getting out there, and listening to yourself.

19.2 miles today. Really pretty out, and I made it up the long incline around or above my overall average. (Usually it's lower). I started out late, made a last-minute decision to add the extra 5 miles, and so didn't get back to the car until nearly 9. Oops!

I'm going hiking (maybe) with some friends in Yellow Springs tomorrow, then I'm taking Friday off, since I'm planning to do 50 miles on Saturday...

[goldfinch]

Rough ride. Started bad. I hadn't eaten much all day and no time for dinner before ride. Also not much saddle time in this year, but you gotta start somewhere right??

DH did a "beginner" (no drop, 12mph avg speed, few hills) ride with the locals last week which I begged off of due to bad back spasms and otherwise just feeling unwell. He enjoyed it.

Tonight was the next ride and DH talked me into joining him on the ride. I was stressed from the start. First real road ride with a group. I also struggled (I'm a flat lander rail trail rider) with the term "no hills" and was always on the limit and by the time we got a few miles in I knew I was in trouble. Legs were gassed and rubbery.

The group stopped at the next light and I decided I wouldn't be able to do the scheduled 12 miles, plus didnt want to keep holding up the group, so the sweep rider escorted me back to the ride start. I felt horrible. Lungs on fire and just couldn't recover. DH went on with the group.

4.5 miles and 360 feet of climbing... Not my shining moment.

Shan

You will get better quickly. I started riding last April. I was recently looking my record of rides from when I started last year. For example, from last May:

May 3: 3.2 Windy, felt like crap, came home

[Catrin]

Had a lovely, and warm, 90 minute ride this evening and rode 18 miles. I had to keep pulling myself back because it was hot and for some reason my stomach kept acting up. It didn't FEEL all that hot to me on the bike but it had to have been. I know it was at least 91, which was the reason I wanted to get out there. Can't get acclimated to hot riding if we don't do it...

Nice ride though, a mixture of park and open road.

[Crankin]

DH and I rode about 21 miles this morning, through Great Brook Farm, and back a slightly different way than usual. This is the day I either usually ride with Hirakukibou or go on a group ride, but alas, Hirakukibou has embarked on her journey across the USA.
Didn't leave until 9:15 AM or so, and it was already steamy. And then there was the little issue of only 3 hours of sleep. I drank a full mug of strong coffee at 3 PM and then, right when I was getting tired, I had an emergency phone call and dealt with that until around 9 PM or so, I couldn't fall asleep. I felt dead, although my legs were fresh from resting yesterday. At about mile 11, we got a phone call from our friend and we decided to go ahead and book our trip to the Berkshires this weekend; it looks like the weather will be OK Sat. and Sun. although Friday looks questionable.
I need to get away. Hard riding, but, good.

[Owlie]

Be careful out there!