Weekend Rides?

[ZenBiker]

I was looking forward to a couple long rides over the holiday weekend but have been thwarted by wind. It's averaging 27, gusting to between 40 and 60 mph, and is supposed to continue through tomorrow. Aside from the physical challenge that poses, there's a whole lot of dust blowing around. So instead I went to the local greenhouse to get the last few things for my garden - and they advised waiting til Monday to plant due to the wind.

Plan C is to get in some time on the elliptical machine at the gym, then read a good book.

[Reesha]

55 miles this morning with one of my students. We planned on 60 to 70 but her knees were bugging her (she has some patella tendon issues). It's just so glorious to leave at 6 am sharp and to ride out and be back by 9 or 10. The whole day was before me!

I've got another 40 miles planned tomorrow before my 90 miler on Monday!

[Crankin]

Even though it's a beautiful day, I planned a short recovery breakfast ride today, as I didn't want to overdo after yesterday's hilly almost 50 miler.
We did the loop around Hanscom AFB and Minuteman National Park. There were so many cyclists out (we left earlier than usual), it was almost annoying! Anyway, I went slowly in the beginning, pushed it during the middle, and after we stopped on the way back for breakfast, rode very moderately for the last 3.8 miles. 16.4 miles total.
We sat in the "bike alley" by Main St cafe and ate our breakfast burritos with the rest of the cyclists. I wanted to laugh as I listened to the conversation of the 2 gentlemen by us. They were at least 5-10 years older than me and were talking about Cross Fit and Insanity work outs, trying to "outdo" each other in terms of what they do. This was an interesting juxtaposition with the other middle aged tourist types who walked by us and were scowling and not so fit looking.

[Catrin]

Sounds like you had fun Crankin! I am taking today off as a rest day...grumble mumble grumble. My legs feel fine - even after the very hot almost 40 miles yesterday (longest ride since injury recovery), but I've ridden the last three days in a row. Mountain biking & gym tomorrow so rest today...

[goride]

Crankin - your "bike alley" story made me chuckle.

Our ride yesterday got cancelled due to rain, but 11 of us rode out at 6:00 a.m. today. Lots of riders were out early trying to get their rides in before the temps hit 90. It seems like our whole group spent most of yesterday pre-hydrating; we made more "pit stops" than usual. Rode through beautiful rural and lake country area. The corn is just starting to grow and only a few inches high, but it was nice to see something other than brown fields. Finished with 56 miles and the temps had only reached 77F. We were very thankful for that.

Another ride planned for tomorrow at 6:00 a.m. with a sub-group of the group that rode today. Hoping to get in another 50ish miles. Looks like we won't get the lucky break with the temps again tomorrow. It will already be 70 and humid when we start. A month ago I was complaining because it was only 42 degrees and I was tired of wearing tights, layers, and long fingered gloves, so I guess I shouldn't whine about the weather.

Took my primary bike to the LBS after today's ride because in the last 5 miles of the ride it sounded like I had a cage full of chipmunks living in the bottom bracket. They only had one mechanic on duty. He would have taken care of it after he finished the bike he was working on, but they have done me so many favors that I told him I would pick it up Tuesday (they are closed on Monday for the holiday). I will use my back-up bike tomorrow.

[MojoGrrl]

Did the Indian Valley Century in Plumas county (Northern CA) yesterday. Last year I did the metric and got rained/sleeted on while the full century riders got snowed on. This year I did the century and when I got to the top of the climb (a loop around Antelope lake) it was really cold and windy with threatening clouds, so I started out for a couple of miles and then decided I didn't want to risk it and turned my bike around. As soon as I turned to head back - literally, as soon as I was pointed back in the direction of returning back down the mountain - it started hailing, so I got the hell out of there. Had to wait at the lunch stop 20 miles down the mountain to wait for my boyfriend and friends to meet back up, and we got a little rain on the way back, but I got 92 miles in anyway. Almost 500 miles on my new bike and I've only had it a month and a half!

[Reesha]

50 miles today and afterward decided it was time to fix a number of ailments on my bike. Seriously mangled bar tape, loose/slipped cables, cleat position/hot foot problem. Hopefully now my 100 miler will be awesome tomorrow!

[azfiddle]

68.5 miles today- my first ride since last Sunday- I was busy and it was incredibly windy all week. But school is out now and the wind brought a couple days of cooler weather, so we took advantage of it. Most of the summer here it's too hot to ride more than 2-3 hours - too hot for me anyway.

It was also my last ride with Madei- I'm sending her off first thing Tuesday morning.