July Rides

[cosc]

I am a wimp when it comes to getting going on a ascent, even at stops with a headwind.
Last week I had the dumbest of accidents though. My foot slid off my spin bike and I skinned/bruised my shin.

Yesterday I rode a solo 53 mile overnighter to a small town and biked back today after picking up a tractor seal for DH. I'm was very tuckered out when I got home.
Where do some cyclist get energy to go super long miles a day? I'll guess I'll just blame it on my age.

[emily_in_nc]

Yesterday I rode a solo 53 mile overnighter to a small town and biked back today after picking up a tractor seal for DH. I'm was very tuckered out when I got home. Where do some cyclist get energy to go super long miles a day? I'll guess I'll just blame it on my age.

How old are you? Unless you are > 60, I am not sure you can blame it on age. My DH is 60 and is having the cycling year of his life...he's put in 7200 miles so far this year with multiple centuries (all unorganized, just on his own) and many more 60+ days.

I don't know how he does it either. I've done a few 70+ mile days this year, but most of my rides are in the 40-mile range. And I'm "only" 53. A lot of it is mental.

[ny biker]

How old are you? Unless you are > 60, I am not sure you can blame it on age. My DH is 60 and is having the cycling year of his life...he's put in 7200 miles so far this year with multiple centuries (all unorganized, just on his own) and many more 60+ days.

I don't know how he does it either. I've done a few 70+ mile days this year, but most of my rides are in the 40-mile range. And I'm "only" 53. A lot of it is mental.

A lot is just practice. I ride with people in their late 60s and early 70s. Some of them are still very fast. They ride 4 days a week, sometimes more, can ride 60 miles today and 100 tomorrow. They're able to ride a lot because they've worked up to it.

[Crankin]

Emily, my shorts are definitely not too small... they are x smalls and I've been about the same size since I started cycling, well, at least once i got a road bike. I can't explain it, except that even the most minute differences in geometry bother me and I just feel more comfortable and my skills are all much better on my Kuota. So much for custom. I think for me, if I'm used to it, that's it. So while the Kuota may be a bit scrunched for me, I *like* that feel because I am used to it. Once I am riding on the Guru, I'm fine, and I like the feel of the titanium.
As far as the age thing, I'm 60, but I have always needed more rest than others, it seems. I don't know how some of the people in my groups do it, except perhaps, that riding is all they do! On the other hand, when I've done tours, I can suck it up and do consecutive 40-60 mile days. I could not do 100 in the mix, at least not now, without a little more training. It is mental, to a large degree, and the amount of suffering you are willing to endure. All I know, is that I felt pretty good on my hot and fast for me 42 mile ride yesterday, because I did nothing on Tuesday.

[Jolt]

7-mile round trip this morning to get groceries...so much more fun to do it by bike than driving! Tried out my new Keen Commuter sandals (still with flat pedals)...I think the stiffer sole does help but they actually don't give me quite the same grip on the pedals as my sneakers (slid off a couple of times) so I will probably go order a set of Power Grips today. Tonight is a group ride that will probably be 15-20 miles.

[cosc]

I've put in more miles this year since I'm retired. My biking is still sporadic between the winter and windy days though. I probably need to follow a better training plan to have more endurance and increase speed. The good and bad thing about riding alone is you don't have to push yourself. I've participated in tours this summer where I am always at the tail-end. Keeping up with some riders would be great, but still enjoy what I can accomplish.(However slow)!

[emily_in_nc]

As far as the age thing, I'm 60, but I have always needed more rest than others, it seems. I don't know how some of the people in my groups do it, except perhaps, that riding is all they do! On the other hand, when I've done tours, I can suck it up and do consecutive 40-60 mile days. I could not do 100 in the mix, at least not now, without a little more training. It is mental, to a large degree, and the amount of suffering you are willing to endure. All I know, is that I felt pretty good on my hot and fast for me 42 mile ride yesterday, because I did nothing on Tuesday.

Yes, my DH pretty much only does cycling; he's retired and rides 6-7 days a week. He also has a mental attitude that borders on OCD about mileage since he decided this was going to be his big cycling year.

I know I do better, like you, after a day of rest. I've been riding almost every day, but I took yesterday off and felt much more chipper on my 40-mile ride today. I really like 40 milers. They are long enough so you feel like you did something and burned enough calories that you can treat yourself to something yummy, but not so long that you're ruined for the rest of the day and possibly into the next.

[Crankin]

I commuted on Friday.
Yesterday I went with the other leader who is doing a ride with me in Mystic, CT, to do a test run. Of course, without DH, I felt slightly guilty, leaving him all day to recover from his injury. He was busy, though, took his bike to the shop for a checking out, and ordered a new helmet. Anyway, it takes 1.5 hrs. to get to Mystic and we got a late start. We added on 10 or so miles to the ride from last year, as people loved the ride, but didn't like driving so far for a 30 mile ride. We started at 11:30 and it was HOT. Part of this ride is along the coast or the Mystic River and part goes through Stonington Center, Mystic, Groton, and inland through some farm and wine country. It really is nice. So, the part we added on is a loop through west Mystic/Groton. This is all by the ocean, and on the way back out of the peninsula, there are 2 extremely steep short climbs, up to the main road. Then, there were 3 long, less steep climbs back into Mystic. My friend has a bike with higher gearing, that he always says he needs to change, but he hasn't and he was lagging quite badly. Finally, I got in the lead up the climbs, but it was tough.We also had a shorter, very steep climb about 2 miles before the end, as we decided to include this instead of a scary uphill left turn at a light, in lots of traffic. All I can say, is that Lamar better screen the participants carefully, because there was 2,175 feetof climbing; sometimes people get fooled about riding along the coast, thinking it's flat.
This morning, I got up early and went out for a short 10 mile recovery ride through Concord center. So nice to be out when it's cooler.
ETA: And, when I awoke at 5:40 AM today, I was greeted with an email, inviting me to join the "Free As In Beer" cycling group. It's a rag tag group of leaders from a few groups, most I know. I said OK, as I meet their requirements, and these people are funny and down to earth. However, I'll probably never be able to join them, due to my schedule, but I have a few opportunities this summer. I hope I can figure out how to use the Google Group stuff. The list manager said the reason for the name of the group is too arcane to remember.

[emily_in_nc]

Yesterday just rode to the farmer's market and Grocery Outlet on the Bike Fridays, then back with the big haul -- 8.3 miles.

Today did a 33.4 mile loop out in the country before it got too hot. Today's forecast high is 105, but I got back when it was "just" 94. With the low humidity here, it feels cooler than the temp, such a change from the southeast, where the humidity made it feel hotter than the actual temp. I prefer this!

Looks like we're in for 100+ highs until Friday, when we get a couple of days with highs in the mid-90s. That will actually feel cool in comparison...how strange!

I only need 43 miles to make 4000 for the year, so that's my goal for tomorrow.