July Rides

[ny biker]

My limit is twice a week. Anything more than that is not fun for me.

In part this is because I do weight training twice a week, and too much cycling makes me feel tired, like I never recover from a ride or a workout. But it could also be because I have to work five days a week and I find that I need time to relax and do nothing as part of the stress management for that. If I were working less, I might enjoy riding more days per week.

BTW I ended up not riding last night. It looked like thunderstorms would hit the area during the ride. As it turned out, the rains storms fizzled out, but there was lightning in the area during the time that I would have been riding so cancelling was a good call. The weather forecast indicates that the overnight/morning rain showers should be gone by this evening, so I'm going out tonight instead.

[emily_in_nc]

Crankin ~~ I agree that we are similar types of riders. In the past, i.e., when I was working, I rode 4x a week max -- often both days of the weekend (one shorter, utility ride; one longer recreational ride) and 2x a week after work. We had a gym at work, and I worked out with weights and/or jogged the other days of the week, so I was doing something every day of the week, but I had more of a balance.

Now that I'm retired and no longer have a gym at my easy disposal, the main reason I am riding so much (6x weekly) is because of DH -- he has almost 8K miles on the year this year and is absolutely obsessed with this being his biggest cycling year ever. Since we're traveling and only really have each other, I feel compelled to join him on rides, even when sometimes I'd rather not. Often I ride less miles than him (turn around sooner and ride back by myself), but we almost always start out together. Since he decided to make this a huge cycling year, I finally decided to follow suit since he really doesn't want to hike or do other things at the moment, just ride. And the weather is so gorgeous here, it's very conducive to daily cycling, unlike in other places we've lived in the past.

I've found that the more I ride, the more it's hard to skip a day. I take one day completely off per week, and on Saturdays we just ride to the farmer's market, so it's a short utility ride.

You are working and doing other types of workouts as well, so it's perfectly understandable that you wouldn't have the desire or time to ride as much as I am now. And really, this may be the only year I do this. But I've come so far now that I want to challenge myself to see just what I can do.

All that said, I haven't done a single century or other organized event this year and have no desire to. I don't like to pay to ride, drive to the start of a ride, nor start as early as organized events start. I just get up, drink coffee, eat a healthy breakfast, then ride as far as I feel like.

And the miles add up.

[Crankin]

I think one of the reasons I don't want to move to a climate where I could ride all year round, is that I am afraid I'd burn out. This definitely happened to me when I was teaching aerobics; even after I stopped teaching classes, I lasted about 4-5 more years, and then I started riding. I just couldn't stand going to the gym, even though I needed to lose weight! I understand why you are riding so much, it sounds like your DH won't continue this rate of riding, after the year passes.
I am only working about 25 hours a week, less during the summer, since I have a lot of clients away, teens with jobs, etc. I'm kind of like you, in that I am loathe to drive far for a ride start, thus the reason why I haven't gone to a lot of the Wed. rides in my group. But, I need to do one longer (30+) mile ride during the week, to do any kind of decent yearly mileage. It's pretty rare I'd do a ride this long by myself, too. I don't generally do organized (charity) rides, either. Too many people, especially ones acting like racers. I did 2 local metrics last year, and that was fine, because I didn't need to raise money, just pay a sign up fee, and I could start early ahead of the crowds. The one that was super hard is for a very good cause that gives bikes to kids in the city, but they upped the fundraising and DH refused to do it. And the other one is this Saturday, and i am leading a ride somewhere else. I also wanted to do the Soldier Ride again (I did it about 3-4 years ago) alone, as it starts in Concord and it's the one charity I believe in; the Wounded Warrior Project. Again, it's on a day when i am leading a ride.
I barely got over 2,000 miles last year, somewhat because of weather (heat), a vacation that included no cycling, and laziness. That was my lowest mileage in 11 years.

[Giulianna23]

Been riding an average of 150 miles per week. Trying to improve my skills and speed, trying to vary my rides as much as I can in between hilly rides training,Short hard rides, some relaxed rides and lately practicing intense drafting on flat terrain with few rolling hills. Had my first very fast group ride last week and what a difference it makes to ride as a group with each one taking turns pulling the pack. We did 30 miles with a 19.5mph average at the end of the ride. I was a bit tired but not exhausted. I could have gone for another 10-15 miles at the same pace. I couldnt believe that at times we were going at 22-23mph on the paceline. I felt accomplished and vey proud that all the hard work at the end pays off. I Thought it was going to take me much longer to see that average number on my gps screen, but it came sooner than expected and I am so glad. : ) just wanted to share with the forum.

[ny biker]

My ride last night was very nice. I'm still trying to get back the fitness I lost over vacation, so I pushed the pace a bit and my legs were tired as a result. But that was the objective. Total ride was 19 miles with lots of short, steep hills.

My next ride will be a fundraiser for a volunteer fire department on Sunday. It's a long drive to get there, but it will give me a chance to explore some new roads, and I think I can modify their route to use a more convenient starting point for a future club ride. However I think it will rain on Sunday, which will make it somewhat less fun. I just hope there are no severe storms.

[Dragonfly5]

We just returned from our vacation in Grand Isle VT. The riding there is fantastic! Beautiful mountain and lake views, smooth pavement and wide bike lanes on the busier road, so unlike what we have here. I set a goal for myself to ride 100 miles in a week (Sat. to Sat.) I'm at 80.5 and will be riding with a group of ladies tomorrow morning so I'm confident I'll reach my goal. It's incredible to feel myself getting stronger and faster (a little) I'm totally inspired by the miles you ladies ride every week

[emily_in_nc]

Had my longest ride in Walla Walla so far today -- 56 miles. It's easy to put in pretty long mileages here because in the valley the terrain is mostly flat to near-flat with only a few rollers, nothing with really steep grades. The wind is more of a factor than the terrain, and the fact that a lot of the roads are chip-seal, so you do get tired and hands get numb, etc. We had a beautiful day today with light winds, so it was a great day to push the mileage just a bit. Yesterday I'd done just 22 miles so felt great today and ready for more mileage. It's been cooler than normal here lately, but supposed to get hot again starting tomorrow for the next week at least. Ah well, it's that time of year. This morning starting out in the mid 60s, it was downright chilly compared to what we've gotten used to.

Dragonfly, that sounds so beautiful. Vermont is one of my favorite states to ride in, though we haven't been there for years. It's absolutely gorgeous!

Crankin, I totally get what you're saying. I used to really enjoy my winters off the bike in NC, or just riding the trainer and not feeling compelled to go out in chilly weather. I would concentrate on weights and the dreadmill (which I really didn't mind, given good music on my MP3 player) and then be excited to hit the road again in the springtime. However, this year I've really enjoyed being outside in the sunshine all winter long -- it helps my mood just to get out there.

Here's the kind of views we see riding here. You can see why it makes me smile!

Attachment 17295

[kajero]

Woo! Woo! I rode 19 miles today and didn't get lost once. And it was a new route for me. It is the second time this year I rode a 19 mile route and didn't get lost.

I seem to have a problem getting lost when I ride over 16 miles. Yes, I have maps, but I am not good at the reading them. I don't have a smartphone or an expensive Garmin so those to options are not available to me.

OK, I know 19 miles is as much as most of you ride, but it is more than my friends who stay home and watch TV ride!

[khg]

I rode Hurricane Ridge yesterday--and if you're in the PNW, I highly recommend it! Even better, next weekend is the Ride the Hurricane event, where for the morning, the road is closed to cars. http://business.portangeles.org/even...hurricane-2773

Anyway, it was a hard ride, but so beautiful that it made the effort joyous. It also is much more do-able than I had anticipated, as there are no seriously steep bits, just constant climbing, usually around 6%. If you have low enough gears, don't care about setting a land speed record, and can just keep pedaling, it's an eminently attainable big impressive ride! I blathered on a lot about it here, with photos: http://mebikedolomitesoneday.wordpre...ridge-by-bike/

FYI, there are three short-but-unlit tunnels in quick succession--for these you want a taillight (I had mine on the whole ride) and a headlight that is good enough to see the road by, not just a be-seen blinky type of headlight. The road surface seems pretty good in there, the lanes are wide and there's even a bit of a sidewalk if you want to walk your bike through, so the tunnels feel pretty safe, but the transition from daylight to the tunnel is pretty intense. I brought my decent headlight, not my awesome headlight, and next time I will bring the awesome one...

The temperature at the bottom was in the 60's, and it was around 50 at the top. I had on a short-sleeved wool jersey, and my Rapha 3/4 winter bib knickers (probably my favorite piece of bike wear ever. I picked them up on sale, and look forward to weather cool enough to wear them. They are fleecy-soft warm happiness--I call them my Rapha pajamas--and I'm seriously tempted to buy another pair, even at full price... Ouch.) and I would have been fine with less clothing on the way up. But on the way down, even though I felt warm in the sun at the top, I bundled up, and am sure glad that I did. I had a wool cap, arm warmers, a windbreaker jacket, and full-finger wool gloves, and I wouldn't have minded a bit more clothing... So if you do the ride, bring warm things!

A little taste of the day:

[emily_in_nc]

khg, absolutely gorgeous photos and lovely blog post. Congratulations on your huge accomplishment! And here I thought riding up Spearfish Canyon (13 miles at a lower grade) was something to brag about...sheesh -- you ROCK!

[Crankin]

Today was interesting. I led a ride in Mystic, CT, as after 8-10 miles, the other leader had one of his spokes break and his wheel was totally untrued. He sat on the side of the road to figure out a way to get back, after we all tried to get it fixed enough for him to ride, but couldn't. So... on I went. It was humid a partly cloudy down there. There were only 5 people on the ride, a mix of typical AMC geeks and one person from CT who is a super runner, young, and trying to improve her cycling to do an Oly. There was only one mildly annoying guy who was riding up on my azz, but kept falling back on the climbs. Finally I told him to go ahead if he wanted, which he did not; I dropped him on a long hill instead. Meh. Why do some guys do this?
It was fun, no issues, but it did start raining, just sprinkles as we did the area by the water in W. Mystic and Groton. There is a lot of climbing in the last 6-7 miles and I was tired, but not like 2 weeks ago, because the sun was not beating down on me. This ride has country roads, water views, the Mystic River and harbor, beaches, vineyards, mansions, and a downtown. It's really pretty and the part by the beach is not crowded at all, like in NH or the Cape. No honky tonk.
I drove down with another woman from Concord, so it was nice to not have to drive back after leading. It was a little hairy when we went down a hill, coming into the downtown, with tons of traffic and tourists. I actually got off my bike and walked a bit, as we were being squeezed off the road, but since we had to go over a drawbridge, it was fine, as we had already decided to walk over the grated bridge. But stuff like that makes me super vigilant, and it tires me out, because I feel responsible for the people. 42 miles.
Going out for bad food and beer .

[khg]

khg, absolutely gorgeous photos and lovely blog post. Congratulations on your huge accomplishment! And here I thought riding up Spearfish Canyon (13 miles at a lower grade) was something to brag about...sheesh -- you ROCK!

Thanks, Emily! You made me curious, so I found your June post about Spearfish Canyon, and right back at you about the photos and blog post. Now I want to go to Spearfish Canyon! What an amazing day that must have been, and *definitely* something to brag about

I'm really getting hooked on these sorts of rides--if a place is scenic enough to drive to and through, then it'll be even better by bike. You miss so much whizzing by in a car, and with anything mountainous, the view is that much sweeter for having earned it. (And given my impending bike trip to the Alps and Dolomites, I guess it's a good thing that I'm coming to love this sort of thing...)

That said, I was ok with *not* riding up a mountain today!

[emily_in_nc]

Thanks, Emily! You made me curious, so I found your June post about Spearfish Canyon, and right back at you about the photos and blog post. Now I want to go to Spearfish Canyon! What an amazing day that must have been, and *definitely* something to brag about

Oh thanks! It wasn't really that difficult, just a long climb for me, especially since we've been riding mostly flat paved rail-trails for months. The views and scenery made every second worth it.

Enjoy Europe -- that will be amazing! And yeah, I don't blame you for not wanting to climb a mountain today.

All we did today was a little utility ride to the recycling drop-off, farmer's market, and grocery outlet, around 9 miles total on the Bike Fridays. Tomorrow will be a longer ride!

[rebeccaC]

Did a bike trip last week that has to always be in the top three of my life. I was in Oslo for a couple days for a conference and then I spent 5 days of cycling, hiking and kayaking on Norway’s northern coast. Eye orgasms everywhere every day, friendly people, beautiful islands, mountains, fjords, small old fishing villages and good weather too. More bicycle tourists than I expected, this is the best weather time of the year to be traveling the coast or the islands though….on the second morning I met an Italian women who was doing the same route and I shared a great 4 days with her. We will definitely see each other again.

There are so many great adventures just waiting for us and our bicycles………

[marni]

because I work out with a trainer 2x 2hr each week, I find it works better if I ride only three times a week. My normal training routes are between 40 and 50 miles and I ride with other people at least one of the three days which keeps me pushing. But honestly every few weeks the two rest days don't seem ebnough so I will take a light week and only train 2 x and ride 2 times and take three good solid do nothing other than short utility rides if that. You have to learn to listen to your body and be willing to admit that quality over quantity is a better choice every time. Unless you are training for an event and then you need to be really disciplined.

Having said all that I will admit that these days with the feels like temperatures in the triple digits and the humidity hanging close to 100%, that third day of riding is awfully hard to do.

Today's 45 were enlivened by several happy sights. A family of wild boars crossing the road in front of me ( mind you this was at 6:30 AM), a C 47 flying back and forth over my head a couple of times, a hot air balloon and a family of five ( mom, dad, baby in tag along and two kids ages 8 and 10 all riding along the road and not the sidewalk, all of them wearing firmly fastened helmets and all on properly fitted and sized bikes. On the street, all in helmets and fitted bikes are rarities around here.