July Rides

[ny biker]

I squeezed in a ride after work on July 1, before leaving for vacation the next day. It was very hot, and I stopped to rest several times because my heart rate was kinda high. But otherwise it was a nice ride.

[emily_in_nc]

We're in Walla Walla, Washington now, and after riding in mostly cooler weather for the past month traveling from Ohio to WA (legwarmers, armwarmers, jackets, etc. needed for many rides, with a few warmer ones interspersed), we are finally feeling the heat. We skipped over the 80s completely and are now looking at highs in the mid- to upper-90s and above. It's great to wear sleeveless jerseys again, but I need to get in the habit of getting going earlier in the morning. We had gotten lax (since the weather had been chilly most places we'd visited), piddling away the mornings 'til it warmed up a bit, and tending not to get going on rides until 10 or 11 am in many cases. We're NOT morning people but need to get going by no later than 9 am here (any earlier is almost impossible for us). This way, we can be done by noonish and avoid the worst of the heat, which peaks in the afternoon. We've been doing fewer but longer rides since we've had lots of driving days interspersed, but here more frequent but shorter rides makes more sense.

All that said, I've ridden every day starting July 2, about 40 miles (give or take 5) each ride, except yesterday, which was just 10 miles of utility riding to the farmer's market and grocery store. The roads in the county here are lightly traveled, with gorgeous views of the farms and surrounding hills. Lots of chip & seal, so you do get beat up a bit on some of them, which is yet another reason not to try for super long rides.

A few days ago we rode down into Oregon -- our first time in that state. In fact, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon have all been new states for me that we've visited in the past month!

Here's an example of the typical road-riding scenery here in Walla Walla County (just realized I am wearing the same jersey as my profile photo here!)

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[khg]

On Saturday I rode on Mt Rainier--up to the Sunrise Visitor's Center and up to Chinook Pass. It was some of the most fun I've had on a bike--I can't even begin to describe how beautiful it was! It was also really neat to have a ton of other cyclists out with the same crazy idea. The population up there seemed evenly split between cyclists and international tourists.

If you've been to Seattle, you know how impressive and large the mountain looks from the city--at Sunrise, the summit appears to start rising just a few feet from the parking lot, and it is mind-bogglingly huge, beautiful, intimidating, awe-inspiring--I don't even know the words.

Then after the slog up to Cayuse Pass, the turn onto the road to Chinook Pass takes you through a couple of long switchbacks that...well, the view is just ridiculous. That, combined with the grade lessening for parts of the switchbacks, produced a giddy euphoria, as it was suddenly so easy to pedal my bike (comparatively speaking), and the view was unbelievably spectacular. Seriously, even in the middle of the experience, I could hardly believe it was real!

I'm now looking at my calendar to figure out when and how often I can get back up there this summer. The Mt Rainier National Park is truly a national treasure, and I can't recommend getting up there highly enough--bike, car, hike, whatever!

I wrote a blog post with a few mediocre cell-phone photos (though they are actually decent if you click to see them full size)-- http://mebikedolomitesoneday.wordpre...inier-by-bike/

[marni]

did a 36 mile on Friday the 4th. started out at 7:30 am in mid 70's with humidity about 70% finished at 10 with the temperature at 90 and the humidity at 100%. I need to start earlier or give up entirely for a while. Have I mentioned lately that I really dislike Houston summer weather?

[emily_in_nc]

khg ~~ Your blog post is gorgeous, and I am sure it was an amazing ride! We were recently in the Seattle area for the first time for a few days, and the views of Mt. Ranier are indeed breathtaking and surprising! I had NO idea it could be seen from so many places...just stunning. We did not make it to the national park this time, but we are saving it for when we can go back and give it the time it deserves. I can't wait!

Thanks for sharing...

[khg]

khg ~~ Your blog post is gorgeous, and I am sure it was an amazing ride! We were recently in the Seattle area for the first time for a few days, and the views of Mt. Ranier are indeed breathtaking and surprising! I had NO idea it could be seen from so many places...just stunning. We did not make it to the national park this time, but we are saving it for when we can go back and give it the time it deserves. I can't wait!

Thanks for sharing...

Thanks Emily! If you make a trip to see Rainier, you should try to make room in your itinerary for Mt St Helens too. More mountain spectacularness, and the blast zone from the eruption is hard to even comprehend. And I've heard great stuff about the bicycling on Helens too!

[Raindrop]

I live in the southwestern part of Washington and I've been out riding every day...but in the mornings because I really don't like riding in the upper eighties. (Sure, call me spoiled). Today I got up early to ride and for the first time in ten years I fell. And it was the stupidest fall ever because I simply didn't unclip. I felt a little more than stupid and inept, but I ended up with an amazing scrape tattoo and what will probably result in an amazing bruise. I even posted it on Facebook. Still....I fell a little dumb for falling over in such a manner.

[emily_in_nc]

did a 36 mile on Friday the 4th. started out at 7:30 am in mid 70's with humidity about 70% finished at 10 with the temperature at 90 and the humidity at 100%. I need to start earlier or give up entirely for a while. Have I mentioned lately that I really dislike Houston summer weather?

Ugh...that has to be one of the worst places to ride in the summer, I think. I lived in NC for many years, and we had some days that were that bad, but certainly fewer than in Texas and for a shorter number of weeks. I feel better about eastern WA weather just reading this -- it's hot but not humid. Much better. I sure don't seen anything wrong with taking the worst couple of months off...it's no different from those up north taking Dec-Feb or so off; your impossible season is just summer rather than winter. No apologies needed!