Weekend Rides: Sept 7

[Becky]

DH and I did a 24-mile "gravel grinder" on our cross bikes today. It was a mixture of roads, dirt/gravel roads, and singletrack, and ~70% was off-road. I think we managed a 10 mph average over 24 miles. We rolled out and rolled back in at the same time as the local club's Sunday morning ride, and they did twice the miles in the same time

I'm quite pleased with how I did- my cross bike is my commuter and sports a set of 32mm slick tires, rather than the cross knobbies that are preferable for this course. I managed to stay upright the whole time and only walked a couple of sections, including one that I couldn't have climbed on my mountain bike

The 35mm cross knobbies were ordered today

[Catrin]

DH and I did a 24-mile "gravel grinder" on our cross bikes today. It was a mixture of roads, dirt/gravel roads, and singletrack, and ~70% was off-road. I think we managed a 10 mph average over 24 miles. We rolled out and rolled back in at the same time as the local club's Sunday morning ride, and they did twice the miles in the same time

I'm quite pleased with how I did- my cross bike is my commuter and sports a set of 32mm slick tires, rather than the cross knobbies that are preferable for this course. I managed to stay upright the whole time and only walked a couple of sections, including one that I couldn't have climbed on my mountain bike

The 35mm cross knobbies were ordered today

Sounds like you had a lot of fun I am considering a similar ride on my mountain bike in March - IF I can find a partner as the event requires. Glad you had fun!

[Owlie]

I did a 70-mile ride today. It was gorgeous, and I was planning on doing 60-62, except that I overshot my turnaround point (a particular mile marker spray-painted on the trail) because it was covered with leaves and I couldn't see it. (Only overshot it by...four miles!) Stopped for lunch (and tea and a scone!) around mile 46. My knee is distinctly not happy with me. Sigh. The good news is that that's the only thing that's not happy.

[Becky]

Sounds like you had a lot of fun I am considering a similar ride on my mountain bike in March - IF I can find a partner as the event requires. Glad you had fun!

Is that the graveyard ride you mentioned in another thread? Too bad we're so far apart....I would totally do that ride!

[Crankin]

We decided to take the day off from riding and go take a walk on the beach. So we went up to Rye, NH, walked a little, and then we decided to go to Portsmouth.
And this is what we found: The Portsmouth Criterium. It was fun; we saw 2 cats race. Then we went back and walked about 2 miles on the beach.

[Catrin]

Is that the graveyard ride you mentioned in another thread? Too bad we're so far apart....I would totally do that ride!

Yes, it is a race, but I wouldn't be doing it to "race" or even complete it. I doubt I would be ready for that - it is a brutal course. I would love, however, to just ride to a couple of the cemeteries and participate in the associated festivities I am still having some whiplash issues, especially when climbing, but hoping that things will be further calmed down by then and I can find a partner with my same goals. I'll need to start some kind of "training" this winter - just to get accustomed to gravel riding!

Pity you aren't closer - that would be great!

[Melalvai]

I biked out on the Katy Trail to meet the Long Road Home Project. 5 vets biking from Washington State to Washington DC to raise awareness of the obstacles they face returning home after serving overseas. Junior & Steve are paraplegic, they ride hand cycles. Ryan has a Ride 2 Recovery bike (a program that gets bikes to vets as part of their recovery). They have such interesting stories, not only from their ride across the nation but from their lives. PTSD, MST (military sexual trauma), physical injuries have profoundly impacted their lives.

I was instrumental in letting them know about the Katy Trail and getting them in touch with the group that hosted them in Columbia so I was really excited to bike with them as they came into town. This is such a touching cause and they have blown away their fundraising goals.

[Roadtrip]

Started a new assignment (i am a contractor in IT) which has kept me pretty busy... Weather finally cooled off and Saturday was my chance to get back out on two wheels! Did just over ten miles to stretch out my legs a bit. I was feeling pretty uncomfortable in the saddle after five miles, so at the half way point I took a brief rest on a bench, which was right near the runway where Airport Days and a bunch of old planes that were flying around.

Refreshed and hydrated I finished the ride, setting a personal best time on the ride back, but was feeling quite tender in the sit bone area. This morning we had planned a longer ride, but the sit bones felt very tender just like it was bruised, so begged off a ride that was sure to be quite uncomfortable. I'd never had this happen, even when I first started riding, so I'm thinking I may need to adjust the saddle on my hybrid. I have the same saddle on my roadie and have never gotten sore.

[lovelygamer]

I rode 21 miles yesterday. The weather was gorgeous (78f) and I spent four hours outside. Two of those hours riding and two hours visiting with family and friends. It was a blessed day!!!