April Rides

[ny biker]

So I did ride after work last Wednesday. My weekly post-work route offers lots of chances to add or subtract miles and short, steep hills depending on how I'm feeling, and last week was my first time this year doing the segments with the steepest roads. My overall average speed was right where it usually is, so I was pleased even though my legs were feeling it. The weather was warm and I ended up over-dressing a bit, since I wrongly expected it to cool down by the end of the ride. But in general it was a good ride.

Over the weekend I was out of town of a wedding, so there was no time for cycling. Yesterday a cold front came through during the afternoon with some gusty winds and a little rain, but the skies cleared in time for me to get out for another ride. This time I needed the tights and extra layers, since I started after sunset and temps were in the high 50s.

My pace was slower than usual, which I attributed to the fact that I really haven't been riding many miles lately. I'd also been feeling the pollen allergies more than usual, and actually needed the albuterol for some mild asthma symptoms after taking a walk the night before. But in general it was a good ride, very peaceful (everyone was home eating dinner and doing homework so traffic was nearly non-existent).

After I got home I realized those weren't pollen allergies that I was feeling -- I was coming down with a cold. I had a sore throat all night long, my head is congested and I have that exhausted feeling that I always get at the start of a cold. I worked from home today, which allowed me to sleep a bit later this morning, and may do the same tomorrow. I'm planning to do a 48-mile charity ride on Saturday and really don't want to have to miss it -- at the very least I'd like to be able to do the 36-mile version.

[Jolt]

Today I decided to try the weekly "randonneur" ride put on by one of the Portland shops...it is advertised as a more relaxed but longer ride so I thought that sounded pretty good. Today's ride was supposed to be 32 miles...well, it ended up being just over 40! My longest rides so far this season had been 20 miles so I was pretty beat by the end, particularly since I had a hard time staying with the group on uphill stretches (I'm pretty sure I had the heaviest bike in the group, by quite a bit). After seeing our distance, I felt a little better about how wiped out I was! The ride included a couple of short off-road sections too, just to keep it interesting.

[Crankin]

I rode with my friend today, on a loop that I designed for my club 2 years ago, for our bike rally. Then, last year, we switched our venue for the start/dinner, so it's no longer the "new rally ride," but the "old new rally ride." With modifications for a start from her house, we did 30 miles, all local, well loved roads, but fun. Kind of partly cloudy and windy, a tough day to dress for, as it was 54 when I left, but when the sun is in, it feels colder, and when it's out, very warm. My friend is a slower rider than I, but I stayed with her the entire time, except for 2 stretches. I really wanted to test my speed and new bike on South Acton Rd., which is about as flat a stretch of 3 miles you can find around here. I've ridden this road for years, part of a loop from my old house, and part of my former commute when I was teaching. I was able to stay in the drops the whole time on that segment, and keep my speed 15-19. There are a few rises here and there, but I seriously, I know where they are, with my eyes closed. My Silque is just really comfortable! I was feeling a little hungry and tired at the end, but not now, as unfortunately, I have come to the sad realization that at my age, this all hurts less when you moderate your speed. Well, not ready to give it up yet, but we both really enjoyed the ride, and it's unusual for me to stay with her so much.
DH bought a new bike! He brought it home last night and went out for a shorter ride while I was gone. He's been sick for 2.5 weeks and he didn't want to ride as far as we did.

[ny biker]

I ended up not doing the charity ride today. I woke up at 5, felt ok but was coughing a little, plus it was going to be chilly and cloudy all day. I decided more sleep would be better than wearing myself out, prolonging the cold and possibly developing a bad cough. I've never missed this ride before, even in years when it was cold or raining.

[Crankin]

Sounds like you made the right decision. It's hard, but after learning the hard way, too many times, skipping a ride is sometimes the right thing.

[Crankin]

Did a short, 20 mile ride with DH today. Gray skies, cool, like yesterday, with rain threatening. We rode entirely in Concord, so to get 20 miles, we had to cross the highway twice, which we did in different spots than usual. After we crossed the second time, we rode through a weird little neighborhood, to avoid a light crossing i hate (it involves a train crossing, is long, and if you hit it wrong, you're on a little uphill with a long line of cars). I've only ridden through here once before, so it's always nice to see new streets 5 miles from your house. Stopped for a mocha latte on the way home, which gave me some energy to climb my hill.

[Crankin]

Another 20.5 miler today, but this time, it encompassed 4 towns instead of one. DH is working at home today, so we made the ride short, since he is supposed to be *working.*
This is one of my favorite rides and it was the first time I've done it this season. Part of it goes on a road that's designated a scenic bikeway, and it is. It also goes through an area that's closer to where I lived when I first moved back here, including the 4-H fairgrounds, where I took my kids to the fair about 2 months after we moved. They were 5 and 7, so it always makes me remember those good times. Of course, hardly any cars at 11:00 AM, and only one small group of guys passed us on Curve St. in Carlisle. They were polite, which still shocks me.
DH is still coughing and we went quite slow in the beginning (he let me me outpace him on the climbs), until the end, where it's flat before we get back to our neighborhood and he put the hurt on me. Glad we did that, though.