April rides

[Crankin]

Did a very short (11.5 mile) ride with DH when he got home. It is just beautiful out, getting warmer each day. Just a bit of residual soreness from my ride Wednesday, followed by circuit training yesterday. Going to ride about 30 miles tomorrow, to test a ride we are leading /14. We did the same route last year, but I don't have it totally memorized. It's close, so we will ride to the start.
Sunday doing hills in Harvard and Bolton with our friends. I think the ride is about 35 miles.

[BikeDutchess]

We had our annual "running the red lights" event today, a.k.a., the Salt Lake City Marathon Bike Tour. So nice to have every intersection blocked off for us and never having to stop! All week we were watching the weather, wondering if it would rain today (we rode it in the cold rain several years ago and will. not. do. that. again). But the forecast kept improving and it was dry - albeit cold (ave temp 37°F / 3°C). Always a challenge to drag ourselves out of bed at oh-dark-thirty for the 6 a.m. start. My toes froze despite my toe covers and it took my fingers about 10 miles to thaw. The road surface for the first half of the course was in bad shape in many places. And I still hate the part through Memory Grove, although I'm guessing the runners love it. It's just scary to do it in the (almost) dark. We got passed by the first handcycle (who started 20 min after the bikes) at about mile 14 - that guy was booking it, amazing! All in all we did enjoy the event again this year - and they do have beautiful medals!


Running the red lights by DutchRosie, on Flickr

[rebeccaC]

likes not having to stop at all intersections sounds like a nice ride bikedutchess!!!

Doing the Coachella music festival this weekend and despite a late night of music/fun yesterday I did an early morning ride into the San Jacinto Mountains cuz today and tomorrow are going to be filled with even more day and late night craziness. It was good to get some hard exercise in and be in the beauty of these mountains for a few hours. Morning temps in the high 60’s to 70’s. only 36 miles but with some good climbing. Got back and jumped into the Jacuzzi, ate a great breakfast with my friends and now relaxing before going back to the festival in a couple of hours.

[Crankin]

Did 27.5 miles with DH, most of it a test run of our New Member's Ride on 5/14. We didn't change it from last year, we rode to the start and then did not do the last little part, as we headed back home at an appropriate place. There's a really strong wind today, but still beautiful out in terms of temperature and sun. It was about 60 during most of the ride. Of course, we saw our friends, riding in the other direction at one point... with all of the roads to ride on, this happens on a regular basis and we just laugh.
I did not feel very zippy, my quads hurt, but I chalked it up to the wind. Tomorrow's ride is going to be close to 50 miles, as we are changing the start point and riding to the start. Might as well get that first 50 miler in now. About 2K feet of climbing, too. Monday is a holiday here and it's going to be 70 out. Hope my legs are OK to ride...

[azfiddle]

I'm enjoying everyone's ride summaries.

Tuesday: one way commute after being dropped off in the morning... uh-oh, the annoying tap, tap, tap-tap....tap... tap was back. The first two trips to the bike shop hadn't fixed it. No sound when I was standing in the pedals and they agreed the seat might be involved and replaced the Ruby saddle with an Oura. This actually made me happy because the Ruby was little too minimal for me... but didn't solve the problem apparently.
So Thursday, just 4 miles round trip to another bike shop- for a "second opinion". Nothing definite, maybe the saddle/seat post.... but they said just take it back to the shop that sold it to me. Feeling like a pest, but frustrated, I called and they said bring it in. More messing around and lubing the seat post and rails....

Today- finally a real ride... and YES! the noise is gone!! 45 miles out to Colossal Cave Rd/ Pistol Hill east of Tucson and no problems. Except that the wind was from the west the whole day and that meant a head wind most of the way back. At least it was in the 15 mph range and not the 20-30 mph range (with gusts to 40) that blew through here on Friday. Temps were very pleasant.

[Crankin]

First real long ride of the year. It ended up being 45.7 miles, as we took a slightly shorter way home. 2,200 ft. of climbing. We rode to Bolton Orchards for lunch, a slightly different way, which involved lots of hills, ones I am usually riding down!
After lunch was the usual, a long slog up Still River Rd to the Fruitlands in Harvard, then heading toward home. It was about 67 today, I took my arm warmers off, so I guess it's the first short sleeved ride of the year. I felt really good for most of the ride, although the first 2 hills were tough. MY average was slightly higher than the hard ride I did Wednesday, so I am OK.
ETA: The ride had 2,400 ft. of climbing... and my legs feel incredibly good today. Walked to the gym (the long way, 1.5 miles), did my power lifting class, and walked home. It was 38 degrees when I went there and 70 when I came home, all within a bit less than 2 hours. Probably will go for a little recovery ride later.

[rebeccaC]

Doing some work in the San Joaquin valley this week. When I scheduled it I worked in a ride into the southwestern Sierra Nevada’s for yesterday….and to help refocus from a great weekend’s activities…my ride Saturday morning was a good precursor for the climbing on this ride. Beautiful mountains with redwoods, incredible canyons and towering granite peaks. Started and ended in Three Rivers Ca. Long 21 miles of initial climbing to 6300 ft then another 15+ oscillating between 6000 to 7500+ feet until the top of my ride. Well paved roads and switchbacks, very little traffic this time of year and lots of spots to get water made for a good ride too. Temps dropped into the low 60’s about half way up the initial climb, which was perfect for the harder climbing. It was 82 on the valley floor in Three Rivers when I got back. Because of the scenery I stopped more than usual to stretch, drink some water, sit and take in the beauty and quiet peace of the mountains. I enjoyed the ride back down with taking the time to do some photography too.