June rides....hopefully a pleasant month of weather and rides for all

[Crankin]

I'm the same way. Allergies can knock me down in a flash.
I am a decent climber, but not fast. I can get up just about anything.

[colorisnt]

Getting up is the point. That's what makes me feel awesome.

I gained on EVERY climb last night on the Monday fast ride. Averaged about 15.5 mph for over 30 miles. Take that, lungs. Of course, today not only am I suffering pollen, I am also suffering chills and wetness because of the torrential downpour today. I'm in my 3rd change of clothes. I gave up on getting to the uni once I had to climb through standing water and made it about halfway there and was SOAKING despite my rain jacket and rainproofed footwear. Nothing could keep up with the standing water. Had to walk to get lunch and came back soaked AGAIN. Everything is now in the washer. GRRR. Bad time to be in need of laundry.

[Crankin]

So, I went on a group ride today, led by someone who often co-leads with us and vice versa. Today, i was just a participant. I went with my friends, as DH is at home awaiting his clavicle surgery. The ride went from Newburyport, MA to Portsmouth, NH and back. Now, I have actually done quite a few rides in this area, but I generally avoid beach rides in the summer. And today is the start of the "two weeks," when many people here traditionally take their vacations. A very weird group of attendees, 3 bridges (with steel plates, one over a highway), where we had to walk. One was the bridge where the women were killed in the century last September. This ride is flat, except for a couple of rises in the middle.
It was not fun riding through Hampton Beach, although there is a bike lane. But, typical beach traffic, pedestrians, and various honky tonk stuff. Ugh. They should call it "Live Free AND Die," not "or die." Tons of motorcyclists without helmets. Once you get past Hampton Beach, the rest of the coastline is lovely. The speed was high and I stayed up front. We ate at a parrk in Portsmouth, but my measly sandwich was not enough. I had appropriate snacks, Shot Blocks, hydration, but the heat was starting to get to me. I took off with my 2 friends before the group left, as we just wanted to get back. There was a detour, which we figured out, and thankfully, it got shady and cooler. But, coming back through the honky tonk was awful.
55.8 miles and I will meet my July 1 goal tomorrow, if I ride 23 miles. I am tired and a bit sunburned in weird spots. I was very careful to apply lots of lotion, but... finally feel full after eating dinner.

[shootingstar]

Am in Vancouver and enjoying it despite light showers here and there. Yesterday just 43 km. about town. And today less, visiting my favourite haunts and lovely food stops. I sleep a lot better for whatever reason even though it's tame cycling.

[Crankin]

24.4 mile ride recovery ride, with my friend. I stayed behind her for half the ride, to make myself go slowly. It's hot, so we stuck to familiar, shady spots in Acton and Stow. I did go ahead near the end. Then, we figured out I would be about 3/4 of a mile short of my 1K mile goal when we got back to her house, so she led me through some streets that connect back to hers. It ended up being about 1.5 miles more than I needed. My friend was fading, so I told her she got the friend of the year award! We came back a different way than normally, and there is a very short and steep hill right before her street. She was so hot and tired, she had to walk. I made my goal, and later she and her DH came over to bring DH ice cream, to aid in his clavicle recovery.

[Jolt]

I had a nice weekend of riding and local food on an AMC trip based out of the leaders' house near Auburn, ME. Friday night we did a short 13-mile ride followed by lobster, corn on the cob and potatoes, with gelato and fresh berries for dessert and a bonfire after. Yesterday was almost 30 miles, starting at the Brunswick farmers' market (where we picked out mussels, fresh pasta, bread and salad fixings for that night's dinner) and stopping for lunch in Freeport. We also had to stop at the LL Bean bike shop because I managed to lose a screw from my front fender just as we got into town...we were riding along and I started hearing something rattling, tried adjusting my front shifter thinking the drivetrain was the source of the noise, then figured out at a stop that it was the fender stay not being attached to the eyelet. I wrapped one of my velcro pant straps around it to semi-attach it to the fork and keep it from getting into the spokes and then got a screw when we stopped. Nobody else had any mechanicals fortunately. Today we rode to an organic farm for brunch and then back to the house, getting in another almost 30 miles...it was HOT today and it felt great to jump in the pool when we got back. I was by far the youngest person in the group; the oldest was 77 (!) and she still leads hikes etc.--now that's what I call aging gracefully!

[ny biker]

So, I went on a group ride today, led by someone who often co-leads with us and vice versa. Today, i was just a participant. I went with my friends, as DH is at home awaiting his clavicle surgery. The ride went from Newburyport, MA to Portsmouth, NH and back. Now, I have actually done quite a few rides in this area, but I generally avoid beach rides in the summer. And today is the start of the "two weeks," when many people here traditionally take their vacations. A very weird group of attendees, 3 bridges (with steel plates, one over a highway), where we had to walk. One was the bridge where the women were killed in the century last September. This ride is flat, except for a couple of rises in the middle.
It was not fun riding through Hampton Beach, although there is a bike lane. But, typical beach traffic, pedestrians, and various honky tonk stuff. Ugh. They should call it "Live Free AND Die," not "or die." Tons of motorcyclists without helmets. Once you get past Hampton Beach, the rest of the coastline is lovely. The speed was high and I stayed up front. We ate at a parrk in Portsmouth, but my measly sandwich was not enough. I had appropriate snacks, Shot Blocks, hydration, but the heat was starting to get to me. I took off with my 2 friends before the group left, as we just wanted to get back. There was a detour, which we figured out, and thankfully, it got shady and cooler. But, coming back through the honky tonk was awful.
55.8 miles and I will meet my July 1 goal tomorrow, if I ride 23 miles. I am tired and a bit sunburned in weird spots. I was very careful to apply lots of lotion, but... finally feel full after eating dinner.

Did you go through Seabrook? I know someone whose family has a beach house there. In fact he'll be going up for a visit this weekend.

I rode twice last week. On Thursday I took a vacation day for my birthday. The club I belong to has a ride every Thursday that always starts at the same location but uses a different route each week. I came up with a 39-mile route on the roads I like best in that area and led the ride. It was fun. There were 17 people at the ride. Most were faster than me, a couple rode more slowly and took short cuts, and we all managed to meet up at the rest stops. The weather was great. On the way home I stopped at a deli to pick up a sandwich and a slice of carrot (birthday) cake.

Yesterday I did a 63-mile ride that started in northern Maryland and went up to Gettysburg. It was a huge group, because it was posted on the ride schedule for two local clubs. The route was beautiful and we had another day of beautiful summer weather.

[Crankin]

Yes, we went through Seabrook. Twice.
I will withhold my comments about Seabrook. The beach itself is beautiful, but...

[Jolt]

Yes, we went through Seabrook. Twice.
I will withhold my comments about Seabrook. The beach itself is beautiful, but...

When I hear Seabrook mentioned, all I can think of is the nuclear power plant!

[Crankin]

It's not the power plant that I was talking about.
It's just a skanky beach town, as is Hampton Beach. Whe I first moved back here, I did take my kids to Hampton for day trips, as I lived in the Merrimack Valley. But, after a couple of years, I discovered North Hampton and Rye, which was more like the Cape and no honkey tonk. I know this sounds terrible, but Seabrook and Hampton have terrible drug and crime issues, along with Salisbury Beach, MA (the next town south).