July Rides

[Blueberry]

Emily - your mileage is such an inspiration!

I'm just focusing on having fun on the bike. I needed to scout a few things for the upcoming school year (bike racks since *$&% University is under construction and has moved them) - and so I just rode around and explored. In light rain. So much fun!!

[khg]

So great to read about everyone's riding!

I finished off July by riding on Mt Rainier again, then volunteering at RAMROD (Ride Around Mt Rainier in One Day), one of the big events here. I wrote a way-too-long post about it on my blog (link in sig)--but at least there are photos like this too:




My last ride of July was 1.5 miles from my motel room to the volunteer gathering at the start of RAMROD--at 3:15 am, I was trying to figure out what side of the huge high school everybody was on. When I finally found them, I blithely cycled up to the gathering, completely not noticing the curb in my way, and... Splat, hiss, hiss, I pinch-flatted both of my tires right in front of everybody! Oh well... I never have been one of the cool kids, and just need to remind myself of that once in a while. I had to laugh at myself though--apparently I can ride 70+ miles up and down mountains with nary a problem, but can't bike into a parking lot unsupervised...

After my shift I walked my bike back to my room and changed tubes in peace there (and with access to a sink--will I ever learn to remove and re-install the rear wheel without getting grease all over myself?) I had been meaning to replace my tubes anyway, as the rear was patched and the front's valve stem was shorter than I like--so maybe my unconscious was just making sure I stopped procrastinating, at the expense of my pride!

But it was still a great month of riding, and whatever I do, August has got to start out better, right?!?

[Crankin]

I commuted today and someone else in a car blew their horn at me in the same exact spot as yesterday, when I was on a ride with Hirakukibou! This time, they did not cut me off; they were in the right turn lane and I had moved left to go straight. Apparently, I am supposed to hug the curb and get into the left lane like that? Eh, I gave her the finger, but I don't think she saw. It did raise my anxiety for the rest of the day.
I did not feel like riding with my packed pannier and I did not bring my clothes to work on Tuesday, because it was pouring out when I drove in. So, being that it's Friday, and i only had 2 clients, as well as being dead in the office, I rode my Kuota and wore my Terry city commuter shorts and a lycra t shirt, that's stylish. Unfortunately, I had to stuff a very light pair of shoes in my backpack, and that was kind of too much, but I made it. I left them at work and rode home with a much lighter pack. The few other colleagues thought I looked fine, but it was a bit too casual for me. I should have worn my cycling dress with a shrug, because it was hotter than hell and humid on the way home and that t shirt did not cut it!

[emily_in_nc]

Thanks, Blueberry! Glad you're having fun on the bike. That's most important!

Today's ride was HAWT, HOT, however you spell it, it was just simply muy caliente! Started out at 86 degrees at 8:30 am and ended up 95 degrees four hours later. Owie.

I flatted due to a $*&^%! goathead at a little over 17 miles in -- one reason I prefer to ride with DH most of the time -- he's a lot better than I am at changing 'em. We discovered that one of our two spare tubes was the wrong size, so we only had one good tube without patching. Used that one to fix my flat.

Finished the ride, and near the end, we split up since I was done and DH wanted to ride further. I ended up with 57 miles, which was more than enough. After lots of hydration, snacks, and a lovely shower, my phone rang. It was DH, out on the road with a flat he couldn't fix. Since I'd used the only right-sized tube, and taken the one that flatted with me (that he possibly could have patched), he only had the one he flatted with. Since he'd ridden on the rim for a bit trying to get to some shade (it was 98F by this time), in addition to the original puncture, he had two pinch flats! So no way he could fix it.

Thank the gods for cell phones and spouses, I was able to jump in the car and go pick him up. He was only around 3 miles from "home".

It was just one of those days, I guess! Tomorrow is our light day with just a quick ride to the Farmer's Market -- really looking forward to that. We are both read for a rest.

[rebeccaC]

I wrote a way-too-long post about it on my blog (link in sig)--but at least there are photos like this too:

Nice write up on your mt rainier ride! must be nice to have the cascades so close!!! I think I’d like riding the north cascades highway.....i should have that in my goal journal .....seems like good climbing in some isolated nature. Have you ridden over it ?

[cosc]

I've rode a few 43 mile rides this past week. Weather was great for this time of the year. Mostly upper 70's with little wind!
The past couple of days I've been packing for CANDISC ride in ND. Why it takes me so long to pack I don't know. It's not like I haven't prepared for rides like these before. Yes, I need to bring less so I have less to haul around at the campsite. I'm going by myself so I'll get an arm workout carrying 2 full bags. The ride makes a loop close to the Missouri River.
I put different tires on my bike last night so I'm looking forward to trying them out.
Gotta get movin so I make it to Garrison ND today. I'll tell you about my adventure when I get back.

[khg]

Nice write up on your mt rainier ride! must be nice to have the cascades so close!!! I think I’d like riding the north cascades highway.....i should have that in my goal journal .....seems like good climbing in some isolated nature. Have you ridden over it ?

Thanks, Rebecca

I haven't biked the N Cascades Hwy, but it's on my to-do list. I might try to get up there in the next week or two. It is pretty amazing the places you can get to with a couple hours drive from Seattle. One of the things I have really enjoyed about my biking this summer is that, in pursuing good training rides, I've done a ton of regional sight-seeing. I've been to a number of places--like Vashon Island, Sunrise on Mt Rainier, Hurricane Ridge, etc--that I had never been before, despite being born and raised in Seattle!

[emily_in_nc]

Today was bike cleaning and maintenance day, lube the chain, etc. My poor Trek was filthy! In the midst of it all, noticed that the end cap was missing off one of my old Candy SL pedals, so I ordered a rebuild kit for them. Since they're 10 years old, it's about time, no?

We did do our usual Saturday farmer's market and Grocery Outlet ride of 8+ miles on the Bike Fridays, but that's almost like a day off compared to usual mileages!

[emily_in_nc]

I've been to a number of places--like Vashon Island, Sunrise on Mt Rainier, Hurricane Ridge, etc--that I had never been before, despite being born and raised in Seattle!

khg, how difficult is the cycling on Vashon Island? A friend recommended it to me, but we only had two good riding days while staying in the greater Seattle Metro area and ended up not getting to do it. From the little bit of research I did online, it looked really pretty but quite hilly. Thanks!

[khg]

khg, how difficult is the cycling on Vashon Island? A friend recommended it to me, but we only had two good riding days while staying in the greater Seattle Metro area and ended up not getting to do it. From the little bit of research I did online, it looked really pretty but quite hilly. Thanks!

It is very pretty. If you love hills, you'll be quite happy--if not...not.

Here's the map and elevation profile from the ride I did there (click to see larger size):



The Vashon part starts 16 miles in--the first big hill on the elevation profile Note that this route did include a couple gratuitous hills, and it would be possible to do a nice, much flatter than this ride on Vashon, but it would still be hilly. Some of the best parts are cycling along the water, which tends to mean continually going up and down from sea level as the road goes down to the water and then back up a bluff or ridge.

Here's what I wrote about it: http://mebikedolomitesoneday.wordpre...place-of-pain/

[emily_in_nc]

Thanks khg! It sounds and looks gorgeous, but that many hills are not really my cup of tea. DH would love it, though. When we did a metric last Sunday that involved 2400' of climbing, I felt that was plenty. About half the ride was pretty flat, and the other half hilly. The equivalent to Vashon would probably be the entire ride being as hilly as the "bad" half of our ride, and I would not have cared for that, especially in the intense heat we were riding in. I expect Vashon would be cooler most of the time, which would help a little.

I don't mind a few hills, but I am not a great hill climber and just don't really enjoy them, especially the steep ones. My lowest gear on my roadie (30x25t) just doesn't cut it on some the hills we have to climb for me, though I know it's plenty low for some riders who are better on hills. On my Bike Friday I have mountain gears, but it's a slower bike overall, so the hills (and all of it, really) take a little longer. If we ever do Vashon, I'll take the Bike Friday!