September Rides

[Crankin]

Rode with my friend yesterday. She was at the Cape for the whole summer, so we haven't ridden together much this year. She is a good, but slow rider, but I decided that since lots of hard rides in a row seem to set off my auto-immune symptoms, I'd rather ride with her than not ride (I have 2 other rides planned this weekend). Actually, I was relieved that I didn't have to help lead the Friday morning ride. We just did 21 miles, but, on my most favorite roads in Acton and Boxborough. Very quiet, so much more than around Concord, and I mean with cyclists, too, not just cars. Enough hills to keep me satisfied, despite the very slow speed. I went ahead on the hills, though, and then waited.
Riding with my other friend this morning. Supposed to be there in an hour and right now it's 62 degrees and foggy.

[ny biker]

I did my usual post-work hill ride on Wednesday. The weather was nice. I thought about leaving work early so I could get in some miles before sunset, but then there would be more traffic to contend with so I decided not to rush. We're at the point where I'm starting at dusk but soon it will be totally dark before I start. Before my office moved I could do most of my summer night rides without any lights. Since my office moved to an area that's 25 miles from home and not good for evening cycling, I never manage to get to my ride start early enough to make it all the way through without needing them.

Yesterday I did the ride I planned to do near the Shenandoah mountains. Well actually it wasn't quite what I planned. It was a ride to raise money for a free health clinic, with the start/finish at a volunteer fire department so there was a chance for them to raise some donations too. It took place just east of the mountains but not too far west of a flat rural area where I ride a few times per year. Before the ride I looked at the route maps that were posted on map my ride. That website said that the 60-mile route had 1100 feet of climbing and the 33-miler had only 675 feet of climbing. I know that MMR typically underestimates the elevation gain on its routes, and I know the mountains were nearby, but I was too busy to try to find out what the terrain was really like so I just figured maybe the routes were in a valley.

Boy was I wrong. It was all rolling hills, some quite steep. Since I haven't been riding much lately I was feeling it almost from the beginning in my legs and my lower back. The ride was a mass start to allow for the police to control traffic in the beginning, which meant that all the faster riders -- just about everyone -- left me behind. I planned to do the 60-mile route, but shortly after the first rest stop I realized that I had a decision to make -- struggle through a long painful ride by myself and be one of the last to finish, possibly finding that they had run out of food by the time I got back, or switch to the 33-mile route and enjoy the scenery (and the food). I chose door number 2. I do confess that my decision was heavily influenced by the fact that the post-ride lunch included freshly-baked pie.

The scenery really was beautiful. Plenty of leafy green trees, mountain views, long stone fences lining the roads. It was a sunny day, possibly our last hot day of the year but there was plenty of shade. Once I decided to switch to the shorter route I no longer cared about being far behind most of the other riders, so I stopped to take some photos which I'll post later. I spent a lot of time thinking about a friend who moved out to this part of Virginia about 10 or so years ago. She led the first group ride I ever did and encouraged me to sign up for my first organized ride, the Tour du Port in Baltimore. After she moved we lost touch but then reconnected on Facebook. She spent a few years in Afghanistan (she was a military contractor) and adopted a rescue dog. She didn't do much bicycling after she moved but she did buy a motorcycle, and she must have really enjoyed riding it out there. She died unexpectedly just about a year ago, and her dog died just last week. I think about her often and wish I could have told her about my ride yesterday. Maybe we could have met up there and spent some time together.

Just as I finished the ride I met up with a friend who had done a different route which included some gravel roads. We had lunch together, then she left and I went to get some of that pie. There were a several varieties to choose from. I took a slice of blueberry-peach pie, then spotted the strawberry rhubard. My father loves strawberry rhubarb pie and last week was his 80th birthday, so I had to have some in his honor. So yes, despite only riding 33 miles I indulged in two desserts. But hey, those were some hilly miles and I did get a workout.

As I tucked into the pie a woman sat down across from me and we had a nice chat. She actually looked a little like the friend I'd been thinking about and it turned out that they were both from the same state.

So it was not the day I had planned, but it was a good ride and a good day. I think next year I might bring my mountain bike and do the paved/gravel route.

p.s. My Garmin estimated the total elevation gain was about 2300 feet, and after I got home I mapped out both the 33 and 60 mile routes on Ride with GPS, which indicated 2600 feet of climbing on the shorter route and nearly 4000 for the longer route. So RWGPS was greater by a factor of 4, and I think it was closer to being accurate.

[Crankin]

Today I was the sweep for the same ride I did over Labor Day Weekend, in Tiverton, RI/Westport, MA. Again, beautiful, cooler weather. We had about 10 people, and of course, there was one who was much slower than everyone else. So slow, that on the last hill, I had to get in front of her, or I was going to fall over, and the leader, my friend, Lamar, rode back to see if we were OK, just when I had stopped to text him. We did the older route, which has a scary left turn right at the top of said hill, and I had to almost yell at the woman to get in the lane, as I had already blocked the traffic for us, with aggressive signaling. Once we turned onto the last road, which is a bit of a slog, maybe a steady 3% grade, Lamar told me he would sweep and I sprinted so far ahead, I got back about 30 seconds after the guy who had been far in front. I was kind of angry that Lamar had not screened her well enough, and this is why we do this; we are required by liability rules to keep everyone together. Then, my GPS was not working right, because he had not done the waypoints right. He doesn't have a GPS, just uses Ride with GPS to do cue sheets. I know this route well, but we have changed it so many times, I wanted to keep some of the others in sight!
Anyway, it was 42 miles and I am not even tired, because I was going slowly for at least 25 of those miles. After the ride, we went out to eat at a traditional New England seafood place overlooking a bay. The glass of wine I had calmed me down! On the way home Lamar, his girlfriend, and I stopped at my favorite soft serve ice cream place near home, so that was a nice end to the day.
Yesterday I rode 30 miles in Harvard, MA with a friend, so I actually rode 116 miles this week, a lot more than I have been doing.

[Helene2013]

I had not planned doing any ride before the upcoming weekend. Too busy since we came back from vacation Friday evening. We had to be at my friend at 1pm pm to chat about our trip and pick up my cat she was catsitting for us. Well hubby saw a few bikes go by our house and was itching to go. So I dressed and we went for a quick 30km. Not long but satisfying and I pushed myself hard on this one. It was pretty windy too. But oh so nice cool. Amen to fall decent weather. Came back to shower and off we were at 2pm. She was glad we pushed our arrival time as she was behind in her schedule. She works on Sunday morning. So it worked out well.

[azfiddle]

Yesterday was the group ride- about 40 miles. A frequent destination (Saguaro NP) but from a more distant starting point and with an extra bit out to the easternmost section of Tucson, ending that part with a half mile climb that gets up to 11% for a bit. Ouch! Today we took the new-riding son on his first ride up Mt. Lemmon- just about 4.5 miles from the base (plus the 5 miles from where we park the car) - 1500 feet of climbing and he did great. He took a few stops but as soon as he got back on the bike he was always able to ride faster than me (but not my husband). He's loving it! Wait 'til we unveil the touring bike we found him on Craigslist.... not sure it will wait until the holidays to be unwrapped.....

[Crankin]

I had a really nice 5 AM 12 mile ride this morning. Did not see the same amount of cars as last Tuesday, and no deer ran across the road in front of me, scaring me to death! It was 53 when I left, a bit warmer than I thought it would be. Yesterday was 48 at the same time, so when I put out my clothes last night, I based it on that. Still, not really over-heated, although I did stop about 3 miles from home, and take off my head cover.
First time wearing tights since the spring, and I was glad I had those on.

[cosc]

Helene, glad you got to ride in cooler temps. Very refreshing after the heat of Tennessee.
NY Biker, I'm jealous of the beautiful but challenging rides you accomplish.
Azfiddle, terrific to add a son to your cycling family.
Crankin, you bike reports inspire me to get on my bike no matter the circumstance and "Just do It". You always have a colorful ride, some on the blues side and others sunshine, but all end up beautiful.