April Rides

[Crankin]

I commuted yesterday. The compression tights did their job Wed. night, as I went to bootcamp on Thurrdsay, and my legs felt fine yesterday (well, there was that little 10-15% climb with a packed pannier, on the way home). Today we are presenting at our club's bike workshop. Four hours of telling people that you don't wear underwear with bike shorts . Seriously, I love doing this, but it's 4 one hour workshops, plus a lunch when people always ask lots of questions. My allergies are going nuts, my head is full, and I hope I don't lose my voice today. I had thought I might go on a short ride after this, but I am taking a rest day, so I can do a long ride tomorrow.

[ny biker]

I just came home from a 42-mile ride with a few friends. It was breezy but the sun was warm (I think it was just about 60 degrees) for most of the ride. The only real chill was during our two rest stops at parks on the Patuxent River, with the breeze coming off the water. When we started I was wearing a windbreaker and had wool leg warmers covering my lower legs, but I switched to a vest after a few miles and removed the leg warmers about halfway through the ride. We finished just in time -- some clouds rolled in while I was at a nearby deli getting a sandwich, and it pretty chilly without the direct sun.

We saw some daffodils and some purple wildflowers but the big tall trees are still bare. I'm still eager to see the leaves come back, even though I know the pollen will be unpleasant.

Our pace was a bit slower than usual today, since one friend is dealing with some knee troubles and we're all still getting back in shape after the long cold winter. But it was a nice ride, with good company and nice rural roads.

[azfiddle]

Today was ride up Mt. Lemmon. I don't always know how far I'll get- today I was trying to do standing intervals while climbing, and needed to go further than the two friends I was riding with at the time (our group splits up as it starts climbing). I ended up making it to the overlook at Seven Cataracts, a little over 5000 ft. I remembered to take some pictures for a change.

[rebeccaC]

Santa Monica Mountains for a 68 mile ride. Perfect weather for climbing, which must have been the reason for the more bicyclists than usual, especially on Old Topanga Road.

[emily_in_nc]

Today was ride up Mt. Lemmon. I don't always know how far I'll get- today I was trying to do standing intervals while climbing, and needed to go further than the two friends I was riding with at the time (our group splits up as it starts climbing). I ended up making it to the overlook at Seven Cataracts, a little over 5000 ft. I remembered to take some pictures for a change.

Good job! We drove up to see the beauty of Mt. Lemmon when we spent Feb. in Tucson but just did not feel conditioned enough to attempt riding it. If we'd had another month in Tucson, then perhaps. But I could see how incredibly difficult it would be.

[emily_in_nc]

Today we did a 31-mile urban ride on the MTBs -- five miles to the Indian Creek Trail, 21 miles of trail (got stopped by deep mud in KCMO), five miles back. I pulled a real dumbazz move and left my bike seat bag open after our rest stop for a snack, and my phone popped out at some point on the ride. I did this exact same thing in Belize, so you'd think I'd know better!

We went back but could never find it, and calling it went straight to voicemail, so either it fell out on the road and got crushed by a car, or someone picked it up and was furiously using my minutes (I had a lot). So, I had to race over to Walmart to buy a new phone (Net10 prepaid), call and have my number and minutes transferred over, and all is well now. I lost my contacts but didn't have many as I am not a phone person. Fortunately DH has most of the same ones I did. And the new phone was only $20. Just one of several reasons I only have a cheap, dumb phone and not a pricey iPhone! I'm way too accident-prone.

Aside from that, it was a great 31-mile ride, a little chilly (50s) but sunny. Supposed to warm up a bit over the next few days. Come on spring!

[colorisnt]

Emily, wow. That's good that it wasn't much to replace.

Beautiful stuff, RebeccaC. What camera are you using? I am going to start bringing the DSLR on some rides in my trunk bag soon. But we need to have some pretty weather first. Today, we did just about 20 miles on the road and trail. Tomorrow, I think we will do about the same. We stayed on the MKT until the washout area. Bad flooding screws up the trail big time.

[Crankin]

Rode about 22 miles of a 29 mile club ride I designed last year. Our venue for the start of our bike rally has changed, so we will be doing a different route this June. Sad, because we had rave reviews about the route, but the venue for this year is better. Change, like after 25 years for the club.
Anyway, it's brilliantly sunny and 55 out, but, with a cool wind, gusting up to about 10. Because we started at our friends' house, the biggest climb is right in the beginning. I felt like i was struggling for the first half, but I got myself going at the end. DH is struggling more than me, so I am chuckling. Tons of cyclists out today. Nice to do our first ride with our friends, although my friend is very slow at this time of year, so I really didn't see her, except for the beginning, once when we stopped and waited, and at the end.
Now I am deciding what to do tomorrow. It is going to rain on Tuesday and Friday, the days I usually commute. I could ride to work tomorrow and go to the gym Tuesday, or I could ride to the gym at 4:50 AM (I've done it), then ride to work, as it's pretty close. But, I'd have to pack so much crap, not sure I want to. I was planning to do a group ride Wednesday, and now my friend, who is a slow rider wants to ride with me. I am trying to do more club rides, to increase my speed, but I hate to say no to her.