Weekend Rides?

[Catrin]

I am really enjoying reading about your great adventure, and it is certainly that! Glad to read the knee is doing a bit better, and may it all be downhill today and with a good tailwind

[Crankin]

We're in the Berkshires. Yesterday we did 42 miles, including climbing the Tyringham "wall." The ride didn't start off so great, as I had a flat just as we got outside of Stockbridge; a huge staple in my tire. But, the weather was great. The climbing felt really hard today. I think it was the 5 mile climb after doing the "wall" that got me. My speed wasn't slower than usual for this kind of ride, I just felt challenged. Best part was that the thunderstorm hit right when we got back in the car, as opposed to last year.

[Kubla]

After several consecutive days of oppressive heat and humidity that was not conducive to outdoor activity, we finally got a break in the weather.

The Aurora and I went on a pleasant 13.5 mile ride locally. (I sometimes feel silly posting this modest distance amongst those who ride 30-50 miles, but for this heavier rider approaching Senior Citizen status, it certainly feels like an accomplishment.) Traffic was light-and it was refreshing not to have to deal with muggy air.

I stumbled upon just one yard sale along the way-it seems Saturday is the more popular day for them around here.

Now to focus on getting out during the week after work...

[never2late]

I charted a new course yesterday that I thought would be about 55 miles. It included lots of hill work as I am getting ready for a 72 mile ride in heat next month. Well, after stopping off at two different covered bridges and missing an
important turn, I ended up 12 miles off course. I wasn't concerned and knew I could back track, but when my dear husband texted me, 'want me to come and get you', I decided to take him up on his offer. I ended my ride covering 67.62 miles and he saved me from adding six more.

My longest distance ever...and I figured I'd be so sore today. But can happily say no aching body parts.

Here's a picture of my new ride:

[Crankin]

I don't consider 500 feet a mountain, either, but the name of the hill includes the word "mountain."
Most of what I ride are considered hills, but some are quite steep, such as the riding I did in the Berkshires. The only real mountains I've done are in Europe.
Will try to take some pictures on Wednesday. Right now the weather looks iffy for the AM, so not sure if the ride will be a go.

[nscrbug]

I rode my longest ride ever, yesterday....116 miles. Hadn't planned on it, but that's what we ended up doing. Left the house at 5:45am and didn't get back until after 2pm...so it was a fairly casual pace...but still such a long day in the saddle. I've come to realize, that once I hit the 90-mile mark...everything beyond that is just mindless pedaling, to me. Like I'm not really enjoying it much, at that point...but I just want to finish and be done with it. I sincerely doubt that I will ever ride that kind of mileage in one day, again. I felt like a zombie for the rest of the day.

Today we rode 77...and with not much recovery from Saturday's ride, it was rough getting through it. I'm getting too old for this.

Linda

[Catrin]

This morning I had planned a 20 mile ride to my gym (from my bike store), attend an hour long advanced Bosu class, then ride the 20 miles back to my car. Yesterday on an easy mountain bike trail my back wheel hit some deep dust wrong and I went down - bike and I are fine except my bad knee is a bit sore from the fall and I had lost some skin from two sides of that knee.

As much as I wanted to do that 40 mile ride, I decided it probably wasn't a really good idea - between the sore knee and the Bosu class - the instructor is HARD. So I rode 13 miles to the gym, and took a 15 mile route home afterwards. In those last couple of miles I was very thankful that I didn't have to ride another 10-12 miles to get to my car...the knee feels better than when I started though, I was just running out of energy as I got closer to home. The temps were rising and the Bosu class was hard, fun, but hard.

Great ride though, and a great Bosu workout (which also featured kettlebells on the Bosu ball - fun!)

Kubla, glad you were able to get out and enjoy the weather! Whatever our distances, they are accomplishments for us so never feel silly about posting them. You are out there riding your bike and enjoying the world around you - that is the part that matters! Sometimes I feel the same way about the the distances I ride...

[Fredwina]

No ridiing yesterday, as I took a day trip to New York City. Did get in about an hour and a half today.

[Reesha]

It's fascinating to read about your journey. And I had a good laugh over the showers comment. They sound like the ones at my junior high, at least until they built the shiny new gym.

Oh man, there really is nothing worse than being misted at with lukewarm water when all you want to do is be bathed in hot hot hot water.

I am really enjoying reading about your great adventure, and it is certainly that! Glad to read the knee is doing a bit better, and may it all be downhill today and with a good tailwind

I'm glad you're both enjoying it!

[Reesha]

Today we did 88 miles and tomorrow we have 101 miles from Thompson Falls to Missoula, MT. There's about 3000 feet of climbing, but since I can't stand on my pedals for climbs due to my knee injury it's going to be a total bummer. My hammies and glutes are getting stronger though and I'm much better at pedaling without using my quads much at all (particularly on the right, though it's easier to be symmetrical about it).

Today was just incredible... I can't wait to post pictures once I get to Missoula, such beauty: moody, broody clouds resting on gorgeous mountains and then it cleared right out as we got closer to Thompson Falls. My rear end was screaming at me-- the pressure is just insane after this many LOoooooong days in a row-- EVERYBODY on the trip is feeling it. Luckily no chafing or saddle sores developing. Still, the thought of sitting on that saddle all day tomorrow is pretty much the worst right now. More poor tender buns.

The best part about all this riding is the massive quantities of food we eat. Today I had:
3 packets of apple cinnamon oatmeal and a banana first thing

On the bike: 2/3 Reese's fast break, 2 sleeves margarita shot blocks, cheese crackers with peanut butter, 1/2 baguette with nutella, pickles, some beef jerky I picked up at a convenience store when i was craving meat, some nuun tablets in my water

Dinner: salad with bleu cheese, grilled chicken breast with a humongous pile of mashed potatoes and gravy, sauteed mushrooms, corn and then banana cream pie for dessert.

It's pretty hard to get enough calories eating healthy stuff because it just won't all fit. I had to cram the pie into me. One thing I have learned is to avoid any and all foods that will make me want to go urgently on the bike. That eliminates a number of my favorite veggies, but fewer things are worse than having to go #2 badly and there being no services for 30 miles. I've got wet ones with me, but there's no making that any better.

Anyway. I'm having fun. Everyone on this trip is just wonderful and entertaining and warm and kind and I would recommend this ride to anyone who wants a big adventure. It's seamlessly organized and a great deal for riders for a wonderful cause.

[chatnoire]

We did 42.4 miles today... it was excellent, EXCEPT that it was BRUTALLY HOT. I think the boyfriend may have been on the verge of heat exhaustion, as he was getting goosebumps in the last 5 miles. We tried to stop and cool off with wetting down our heads, drinking water, eating shot bloks, and so on, but it was still just the plain fact that we were doing 42 miles on pavement in the sun in 95 degree heat.

It's definitely made me want to get a few lighter colored jerseys, though!

[Reesha]

We've been busy this week! We did an (easy!?!) century today from Missoula, MT to Avon, MT after having done another century from Thompson Falls to Missoula just the other day. Today we had cool weather, crystal clear blue skies, and tail winds. Made it to camp with 7 hours of riding and 4000 feet of climbing. Pie in my belly and friends all around me!

Here are some shots from the last few days:


My friend Ben after a very painful (everyone had sore bums) century to Missoula:

Checkpoint:

A perfect bend in the road:

The moooon!

[redrhodie]

Reesha, even the bikes look exhausted! Beautiful pictures.

[Catrin]

Reesha, even the bikes look exhausted! Beautiful pictures.

Glad to see the bikes get to rest as well, they DO look tired! Pictures are just beautiful, thank you for sharing them. It looks HOT though...

This morning I got out at 7:15 for my first ride since last Sunday as I've been trying to give my bruised patella a chance to heal. It was right at 30 miles and I focused on making it 30 easy urban miles. There were only 3 hills in that route that made me downshift, and I just focused on enjoying the cool air after the huge thunderstorms we had before dawn this morning. I HAD planned on heading out at 5am, but the alarm woke me to sounds of thunder and rain, so I just went back to sleep smiling.

Things were starting to heat up again by the time I got home so I timed it well. I did not, however, have the right kind of liquid nutrition with me for a 2.5 hour ride with climbing temps. I wasn't sure how far I would ride as I left it up to my knee. She felt fine - no more painful after 30 miles than before, and indeed it feels much better now than it has all week As soon as I walked into the door I tossed a scoop of Accelerade, water, and 3 cubes of ice into the blender. It went down very well! I did take one salt stick capsule during the ride and had a small energy bar. I should have had Heed with me but had forgotten I am out...

My route took me downtown, and then back north to check out 24 Hours of Booty and Bootyville. This is the first year it has been held in Indianapolis, and I think I want to do this next year with my mom in mind. They have already scheduled it for 2013 and I wound up riding part of the route as that was how I got there/went home. It didn't seem to be a huge operation, but this was the first year it was here so one assumes it will likely draw more people next year.

[Owlie]

Look at that sky! Reesha, your pictures are gorgeous.

I had planned a dawn ride, but a thunderstorm got in the way of that plan. Fell asleep again and woke up at 9:30--kitty has been waking me up at 4:15 or so, so I've been sleep-deprived. Between that. sheer laziness and a flat tire, I didn't get out until about 11:30. It wasn't too hot, just oppressively sticky. 20.2 miles, with free food (some event) in the middle. I just confirmed that I can't do real food when it's hot, but the potato chips were welcome!