Weekday Rides?

[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!

[azfiddle]

I've had lots of time to ride my bike on vacation- today's ride was 34 miles southeast of Tucson to Pistol Hill. We're "enjoying" temperatures above 100 now, so it's essential to get out in the early morning, when it's still in the 70's and 80's.

[pangaea99]

I had a lovely 11mile ride along the Mississippi on my hybrid today in hot humid weather. It's fun to get on my hybrid after riding my roadbike for the last few days. I've been getting discouraged because I haven't biked with chamois padding ever and it's been burning (finally broke down and bought knickers today, never needed them for my hybrid).

But anyway, I always feel like I'm on an escalade - so high and comfy - when I ride my hybrid and I'm so much more confident on it. Riding my roadbike gives me anxiety and I dont notice till I rid my hybrid and realize how intuitive riding is supposed to be. I just have to give it time I guess.

[Owlie]

I had a lovely 11mile ride along the Mississippi on my hybrid today in hot humid weather. It's fun to get on my hybrid after riding my roadbike for the last few days. I've been getting discouraged because I haven't biked with chamois padding ever and it's been burning (finally broke down and bought knickers today, never needed them for my hybrid).

But anyway, I always feel like I'm on an escalade - so high and comfy - when I ride my hybrid and I'm so much more confident on it. Riding my roadbike gives me anxiety and I dont notice till I rid my hybrid and realize how intuitive riding is supposed to be. I just have to give it time I guess.

There's definitely a learning curve with road bikes. It took me quite a while to get comfortable. If you haven't done so already, get your road bike fitted.

[chatnoire]

I still get anxious on my road bike.

I went out for a ride last night that was Not. Fun. 20 miles in 35 mph winds around the reservoir. I thought we could do a full loop, and the climbs were non-existent, so I was looking forward to a long, flat ride. Nope. It was short, hard, and unpleasant. Also, the trail didn't do what I expected.

I got really annoyed at myself for being unable to maintain speed when a high wind gust would essentially "apply the brakes" - literally slowing me from my top speed of 29 down to 9 mph.