August Riding

[emily_in_nc]

Rode the bike path + roads there and back the past two mornings. 26.7 miles yesterday and 29.0 miles today. Super hot and sweaty, of course; this is Florida in the summer! Still, I'm not complaining; it's just great to be back out on the bike!

[north woods gal]

Sounds like you're back to your usual great form, Emily. Glad to hear it.

As for me, I'm not piling up the road miles, since my daily riding is always trail riding with some road riding thrown in every other day or two. I'm okay with that. I think it's a better match for me, given my age, than trying to do a lot long distance stuff. Riding for an hour or a bit more, every day, rather than doing the big rides, seems to keep my old bike injuries from flaring up.

[Crankin]

Commuted on Monday (5.5 milesRT, and that's with adding extra) and today I did a slightly different version of the ride I did 2 weeks ago, 20 miles, instead of 21. Humid out, but decreasing humidity. We are going up to Newburyport for the weekend. Will probably bring bikes, but the focus won't be on riding. Weather looks iffy on Saturday, so maybe a shorter ride Saturday morning. Sunday looks like a beach day.

[Crankin]

We did do a 22 mile ride on Saturday afternoon, starting at the Air B&B we rented in Newburyport, meandering through Newbury, Rowley, Byfield, and Georgetown. I've ridden some in this coastal-rural area of MA, but this ride had maybe 2 or 3 streets that seemed familiar. Mostly farms, homes, marshes, and the Ipswich River. The ride is sort of flat, but with a lot of false flats, which are not my favorite, and some little rollers. It started out very humid and cloudy, ended up sunny, with a stiff breeze, and humidity going down. Saw lots of cyclists. It was nice to ride somewhere different, but close enough that we could do it as a day trip. We got back, walked into town and had a late lunch, followed by more walking. Today, we went to the beach early in the morning, and left for home around 1:00.
Probably ride in the early AM and then commute to work, around 9:00. The only day I have free to ride, is probably going to rain this week.

[rebeccaC]

Super hot and sweaty, of course; this is Florida in the summer! Still, I'm not complaining; it's just great to be back out on the bike!

I know that feeling!...and about the heat, hey, you're on the wrong coast low 70's with an ocean breeze for me.....We rode the bike path to Redondo Beach and did some climbing in the hills above it. Just 45 miles but my hardest ride in 9 months. Felt good to feel and do a harder effort…....

and since my taste is getting back to normal and as a reward for the ride...we ate white chocolate bread pudding with caramel and caramelized banana’s watching this view on the way back


eta...Been enjoying some long late night/very early morning rollerblading on the bike paths. That also has helped to strengthen my muscles and build endurance.

[Crankin]

I did a 5:15AM "dark ride" with DH this morning. Despite the fact we use our rear and front lights in the daylight, riding behind him in the dark almost blinded me! I had to ask him to stop and put it on a different flash setting. We only went 10 miles, but it involved a hill and at that time of the morning I am not too zippy. DH just wanted to get done and I tend to be slow and calmer in the early morning. It was nice and cool, and it's interesting to feel the changes in temperature as we go by farmland vs homes, low lying areas, etc.
There's a stop light about 3/4 a mile from our home. It turns from flashing to regular at 6 AM and one time I actually was riding through the intersection right at 6 when it changed. We missed it this morning by 5-6 minutes, but it's a stupid fun thing to try and do again.

[emily_in_nc]

I know that feeling!...and about the heat, hey, you're on the wrong coast low 70's with an ocean breeze for me.....We rode the bike path to Redondo Beach and did some climbing in the hills above it. Just 45 miles but my hardest ride in 9 months. Felt good to feel and do a harder effort…....

and since my taste is getting back to normal and as a reward for the ride...we ate white chocolate bread pudding with caramel and caramelized banana’s watching this view on the way back ...

YUM! That sounds absolutely amazing, and a well-deserved reward for your efforts! But "Just" 45 miles?? That's a lot of miles. I can't even remember the last time I rode that far. Right now, I'm delighted with 30. Don't knock yourself down. You're doing amazingly, especially considering what you're coming back from. But even if you weren't, 45 miles is a good ride!

You're right, though, I am on the wrong coast if I wanted to avoid heat and humidity. However, DH loves it (crazy boy!), and it's far more affordable here -- both RV parks and orthodontia!

[north woods gal]

Crankin, I'll have to give you credit for getting out that early to ride. I had no choice to get out and ride that early when I was commuting, but now that we're retired, no thanks.

Plus one to what Emily says, Rebecca. It's been a long time when a 40 plus mile ride was "just" a ride for me. Oh, I still have it in me, but have gotten so wrapped up in trail riding and doing improvements on my trials, this summer, that breaking loose for a long 40 plus mile ride hasn't tempted me much. By the way, that beach path looks like a lovely place to ride.

Been doing some upgrades on my trails, all summer, to smooth out some of the worst "tooth rattling" spots and sections, but it's been seriously heavy labor with digging, chopping, lifting and so on, all right at the edge of my physical capabilities, sometimes four or five hours at a time with me being so tired I can barely walk back to the house. Bill can't help, either, because of his disabilities. It's been a labor of love, yes, but my body is telling me I'm overdoing it. Not good. Never figured my retirement years would be heavy labor years. Really need to back off this kind of physical activity.

Bill is involved in a wellness group that is having their annual meeting in San Diego, in September, so while he's tied up in meetings, looks like I'll be renting a bike and riding in the heat and southern sun, again, this year. I am so NOT ready for that change in climate. This summer has been on the cool and wet side for us, plus most of my riding has been on the trail bikes back in the trees, out of a lot of direct hot sun. Not too crazy about leaving my beloved north woods, again, and visiting the big city, but it is important for him, so I'll not complain.

[Crankin]

The September sun in San Diego is nothing like Florida. It will be cool and foggy in the morning, then clear, dry, and sunny until sunset. Perfect riding conditions.

[pumpkinpony]

I got to go ride in Denver with my brother a couple weeks ago - nice 77 mile ride. :-)

[ny biker]

Catching up... yay to Emily and Rebecca for getting back out there. I absolutely love that photo, Rebecca. I know folks who really like the Di2 shifters, Crankin, and I hope they work out for you. I've never had anyone behind me on night rides -- I wonder if my rear light is too bright for anyone to follow closely? I have been told that it's very visible from a distance on rainy days.

I got in a few good rides earlier this month. One was a route that I planned and led for the bike club, a mix of favorite roads and a few new ones in rural northern Maryland. The weather was perfect, not at all hot, which is important in farmland where shady trees are few and far between. I also did a couple of night rides in which I experimented with a new route... in the dark, in an area with confusing street names (like 22nd St followed by 22nd Rd) and some missing road signs. So I was happy to only make a few wrong turns, and I knew the general area well enough to never truly get lost. Then we had the annual club picnic, which was fun and on a day with more perfect summer weather, but I think I started out too fast because the torn tendon in my ankle was hurting quite a bit. That was not cool.

Then I found out that I (and all of my co-workers) have been furloughed at work, required to take 2 weeks off between now and Sept 30 due to a funding cut at the end of our client's fiscal year. I was already planning a weekend trip to visit family in NY, so I made it a 6-day trip instead. I figured my ankle would appreciate a few days of rest from bike rides and walking around the office. It was a fun trip, and I was happy to watch the eclipse (~70% totality on Long Island with just a few light clouds) with my parents and nephew.

I will try the new night ride route again in a couple of days, and am planning a ride on Sunday that does not have too many hills. Hopefully my ankle will be okay as long as I ride a moderate pace.