April rides

[Crankin]

Did a 37 mile ride with my group today. Beautiful day, sunny, about 60 at the end, but it was supposed to be about 47 at the start and it ended up being about 55. So, I made a slight mistake in my mid layer, too warm, and I should have worn a vest, not a jacket. I made do with taking off my head cover and glove liners, and unzipping, but we stopped with 4.5 miles left, to wait for the sweep, and I had to take my light long fingered gloves off. Of course, I was obsessing about crashing and ripping up my hands, but all was well. It helped, too, because I was really overheating.
This ride starts with a moderate climb, then goes through a state park, and lots of marshland, conservation land, etc. Very quiet roads, with a stop at a farm stand at mile 17. Then there is a steeper hill. It's the kind of ride you think is flat, but it actually had 1,800 ft. of climbing. I don't ride much in this area, north of Boston, but it's rural to suburban.
There was only one group today, and I try to stay at the back of the faster people, because I do not want to be around the squirrelly ones. There was one guy (always a guy) who rode about my speed, who was driving me nuts on the hills, when I dropped him, and then he would speed up to pass me. I was totally grossed out when we stopped about 10 miles from the end, and he spit on the road right by my foot . He was, let's say, not too appetizing to ride behind, either, but I will try not to be judgmental. The spitting did it for me.
We didn't get done until 1:40, so I headed home instead of going to the lunch.

[rebeccaC]

Leaving tomorrow for a company retreat for the next 4 days so I decided to do an afternoon ride into the San Gabriel mountains with my friend Alex from Azusa and some riders she knows from Caltech. Left from Caltech and rode to Chantry Flats road in Sierra Madre. Only a 28 mile total ride but with a long constant 7 to 9% climb to the end of Chantry Flats road at the trailhead to Sturtevant Falls. Great descent back to Sierra Madre with high 40’s on some stretches and without pedaling once except for starting again after some stops for photography. Overcast for most of the ride with some clouds that could have rained but thinking we were just blessed instead.
Enjoyed meeting her friends and had a good time with them on the ride and an early dinner after.

[Crankin]

Did a nice 26 mile ride to the Grist Mill in Sudbury (that I mentioned in the local festival thread), which is now much closer than it used to be... we planned a 30 mile route based on a ride we used to lead, but going in the opposite direction. I had my arm warmers off in 3 miles... lovely day. We stopped, took pictures, noticed people who must have taken a country drive, out from the city, because they were wearing heavy sweaters, scarves, and boots! Love being inland at this time of year. At mile 18, we stopped for a snack break, when the sky got cloudy, the temperature went down, and the wind whipped up. We decided to bag the end of the ride, the way it was planned, as it was pretty much in places we ride in a lot. So, back home on Rt. 117, in a headwind, and lots of traffic. The sun did come out again, but it stayed cool, and thankfully, I put my arm warmers on again when we stopped. My quads are feeling it a bit, mostly from running yesterday, but I have been stretching and using the foam roller all day, so it will be fine.