December 1 weekend rides

[azfiddle]

We've got continuing unseasonably warm weather here in Arizona too. Started at 8:15 am with arm warmers, a wind-breaker, jersey and shorts and spent most of the day just in the jersey and shorts. My DH and I joined a group ride to the zoo with toys for needy kids. Lots of decorated bikes and fun outfits, everyone carries the toys- but the speed was 10-12 mph and I was itching to go faster. It picked up after a while, but I needed more speed and miles so my husband headed home and I rode up Mt. Lemmon to Molino Basin at 4400 feet. Okay, I didn't end up with a big increase in speed for the day with that mountain in the middle, but finished with 55.5 miles. I am at 5408 miles for the year, and thinking that 6000 might still be possible, since I will be on winter break starting Dec 22. Tomorrow will be a shorter and easier ride after a photo shoot with my women's cycling team.

[Crankin]

I thought I would be riding today, in the afternoon, but right now there's still black ice everywhere, it's 30 degrees, and the warm up that is coming will be slow. We shall see.
Yesterday, I saw the client who lives near me on a Saturday, since he has a medical appt. during the week when I usually see him. It was snowing and we went on a 4 mile hike in Estabrook Woods. The session was very productive, so I guess I can say I got paid to hike!

[Anelia]

Yesterday about 30 miles, today about 20. Trails only.

[luvmyguys]

I did my first group ride today! We went about 25 miles, and I'm happy to say that I wasn't the slowest in the group - I was solidly in the middle.

Normally I'm grumbling about being in shorts in December, but I'm loving it for riding!

We went to and from here:

[Swan]

I've clocked 30mi this weekend. Not a bad start to December!

[Giulianna23]

31.5 miles done today with a small group of 4 (3 gals including myself and a guy) I was leading the group for the first time. Wind was a PITA the first 10miles. We still had the winds the rest of the ride but it calmed down at times giving us a break. We averaged 15mph so I did better than I expected and I am pretty happy because we had a very good workout with that wind. I still suck on the hills and really need to work on that...I can climb with the granny gears and make it to the top but I get dropped!!!! ... everyone goes faster than me . To keep the pace and with the group going up hill I need to get off the saddle which I noticed works way better for me but I would like to stay on the saddle and keep the group pace . I know I need to lose some more weight but I havent done anything about it lately...I still have about 20-25 more pounds to go to be at my ideal weight. And I know if I wanna get better on the climbs I need to get rid of a significant amount of weight...ughhh!...But at least on the flats I am getting better and better...and I am glad.

Overall had a great ride today!

[EMoonTX]

This weekend was a big change for me (not for you experienced types) because I had the new bike computer and actually broke into plural miles after four months of creeping toward breaking one mile. Friday was my first 2 mile + day, nearly all of it on the street (yay for rear-view mirror!) Saturday was another, even a bit longer on the + fraction. Quite warm, windy, both days. Today only a short ride on the land but managed to ride more of the trail I've been working on (and walk the bike less) than before.

The open part of that trail is no problem now--down across the meadow, over the ditch, up the rise to the dry woods. But the dry woods trail itself is narrow and twisty between thick brush, some of it thorny (cactus), and all of it on a slope with varying ground conditions, from grass on dirt to solid rock. At the highest point, there's a rain barn that provides water for a wildlife guzzler. From there, the trail winds on to the property line, turns abruptly, and comes out in to another big grassy area. It's not long, but for me, still getting pedaling, braking, and steering coordinated, it's technically tricky and in places downright scary. Anyway, today I made the downward ride from the rain barn all the way back to the house--which involved the (for me) scariest downslope on a curve to a slab of limestone, up over a little berm, and down to face an immediate turn between some cacti..then more twisty stuff, in denser brush as tall as I am or taller before emerging on the familiar homeward trail.

My goal this week is to ride 2 miles on the street plus some on the land every day. Right now my legs are complaining fairly loudly, but they'll get used to it.

[Owlie]

EMoon, that's awesome.