October Rides

[azfiddle]

Emily- where are you located now?

I had two longish rides this weekend: yesterday, 56 miles and today 50. Yesterday we strung together some of the regular routes on the east side of Tucson.

The ride today was exceptional. The weather is changing here and it was a little cooler, with a front bringing some clouds in. My husband was doing a long run with a running group in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson. So my friend and I hitched a ride to the parking area, which was conveniently located at 4200 feet, allowing us to start our ride with a wonderful descent down to the Santa Cruz River Valley. It was pretty much downhill all the back to Tucson, with a tail wind for 42 of the 50 miles. We ended up with an average speed of 18.5 mph at the end of northbound section, and a final average of 17.2, even after riding across the city for 8 miles. It was perfect weather- some clouds, reasonable temperatures the whole morning and we were home by 10:30 am, amazingly.

[Crankin]

Here is my cut and pasted version that I put in the September thread... duh. I deleted it from there.
Sharon, that ride sounds nice. I remember every fall, feeling the "change." Too bad, that in Phoenix, it's often not until the end of October! I've never been to the Santa Ritas. Tucson has much nicer scenery, closer to the city.
I did get myself out there, but not for the 38 miles. I did do a 21 mile ride that is very pretty and goes into Westford and South Chelmsford. I've done this ride a lot in the past couple of years, but only a couple of times this year. Was not sure how to dress. It was 54 when I left, with sun going in/out of the clouds. And windy. Very gusty. It wasn't supposed to get much warmer, so I wore light weight tights because of the wind, a regular LS jersey with no thermal, sleeveless base layer and a light weight head cover, light weigh long fingered gloves, and light wind jacket. I brought regular gloves with me, though. After about 6 miles, and some climbing, I was getting warm, so I decided the best way to cool down would be to take off the head cover. It worked. The back of my knees felt a little sweaty (weird) at times, but the sun stayed in for most of the second part of the ride, so that was good. It felt like I was riding into a headwind for 3/4 of the directions, though. Kind of like an early spring ride. On part of the ride I go by the street where there's a little farm, at the end of a regular neighborhood; I used to take my kids there for pumpkins and apple picking when they were little and we had first moved here. But, since I had no place to carry anything, I didn't go there, although it's still there, after 25 years.
Going to commute Tuesday. I haven't ridden to work in a month, due to road construction, horrible traffic, and having to get there at times when I don't want to mess with the traffic. I can ride more miles, too, if I go out early in the AM. Anyway, I have to be there at 8, so I'll leave super early, change, eat breakfast there, and enjoy the quiet.

[emily_in_nc]

Emily- where are you located now?

Playa del Carmen in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, where we spent last winter. :-)

[Crankin]

I commuted yesterday, for the first time in 3-4 weeks. Left at 6:30 AM, and still hit a bit of a traffic build up going into Concord Center. However, it was uneventful, though 43 degrees . I was dressed appropriately; my new Terry commuter tights are awesomely warm. They have the same minimalist tri-type chamois as my capris, which I thankfully brought for the way home. It was about 60, and the sun was almost down, but despite having the capris, no base layer, short gloves, and thinner socks, between my thermal jersey and wind jacket, I was sweaty.

[Crankin]

Today I sort of did a club ride. It started in the next town, so I rode, to the start, 8.2 miles. Along the way, unbeknowst to me, I picked up another rider, riding to the ride, who was drafting me . I saw him when I was entering the round a bout in Concord Center, but, when I got onto the next street, I didn't see him. That is, until I turned onto the street that gets you to the meeting place. I must admit I was going at a good pace, for me (an average over 15), but I wish people would at least ask if they can do this, becuse he scared me when I turned the corner and he was there. There was a huge group for the ride. I had made the decision to do the shorter, 27 mile ride and not go to the lunch. Indian food at noon time, on a Wednesday does not cut it for me! The longer ride is becoming a sufferfest and this is not what this group is supposed to be. I can't do 40-60 hilly miles at their pace without feeling like dying, hence my choice. As soon as I put my GPS n the route, I remembered that I have had lots of issues when I download rides. Long story short, I lost the memory card a couple of months ago, and DH replaced it with an Open Source card. It does not work, won't go into details, let's just say it was a good thing I was with this group, in my own area. We got separated at the beginning by a stoplight, but the leader waited at about mile 4 or 5. After that, it was non-eventful. I stayed at the front and did 2 turns as a human arrow. On the last one, one bitc*y woman yelled at me, that she couldn't see me, or my bike. Sure, with my my front light flashing. I may have let an F bomb out, but she was already past me. After that, I caught up with the sweep and slower people at the end, passed them, and decided to take my shortest way home. I ended up doing 30 miles, which is fine for a midweek ride.
It was an absolutely gorgeous fall day. Chilly at first, but about 65 when I got home. So, even though I was mildly irritated about a few things, I am very glad I went.

[emily_in_nc]

So, even though I was mildly irritated about a few things, I am very glad I went.

LOL, this sounds like most rides I do!

[ny biker]

I've been there too.

Crankin, your commute the other day describes the reason I rarely wear thermal jerseys. I often need the flexibility of multiple thin layers as the day warms up (or cools down, depending on when I start). I only really need thermal tops in December -January when the sun is low in the sky and least strong. However it's the opposite for my legs and feet -- last winter I wore my AmFib tights often and rarely had warm feet when I rode. I bought some Gore booties toward the end of the season and am hoping they help this year.

Meanwhile. I did my hill ride tonight after work, just shy of 20 miles. Temps were in the high 60s and it was dark when I started. I wore a thin wool base layer with long sleeves, a short sleeved jersey and capris. I was too warm sometimes, chilly a few times and sweating almost the hole time. I guess on average I was dressed right.

[lph]

However it's the opposite for my legs and feet -- last winter I wore my AmFib tights often and rarely had warm feet when I rode. I bought some Gore booties toward the end of the season and am hoping they help this year.

NY, my experience is that my feet need more layering before my legs do. Not as much as my dh, who has skinny feet and uses his winter bike boots year-round on cool days, but still. So I'll start using booties and even switch to winter boots before changing from regular long tights to AmFib winter tights.

Ditto with hands and upper body, but not quite as obvious, there the wind chill on my chest is more of a factor.