May rides, may they all be wonderful

[emily_in_nc]

Crankin, I hope your DH will be okay. Sorry to hear that he is down for awhile! A bike accident?

We had four good rides last week (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri) of around 35-36 miles each. On Friday I felt especially strong. I almost always take off Saturday/Sunday because of how busy the trail is and needing to do other things (laundry, shopping, work out in the gym, long walks, etc), but looks like this week we'll be lucky to get in any rides, as a tropical-looking thing has settled in over Florida, bringing lots and lots of rain. It has been raining since last night, and I am dreading having to take the bus to my orthodontist appointment in an hour. We haven't had many rainy days at all this year, so I can't complain, but just wish it weren't today. One of the downsides of living car-free! They say we could get 3-6" of rain over the next few days. Now I really wish I had ridden yesterday, as it was cloudy but not raining, but I had planned on laundry and the gym, and I just didn't think it through. Oh well.

[north woods gal]

Speaking of tropical weather, Emily, read that the NWS is predicting another bad hurricane season, this year, at least on a par with last year. Hope you don't have to deal with that.

My bike shop's been very busy, as you might expect for this time of year. That means my new single speed won't be coming home, today. Poop. Oh, well. Did a some trail and road miles on one of the geared bikes in one gear to practice. Unusually hot for us at 80 degrees. Star was showing it. Border Collies don't do well in heat. Have to keep an eye on them in hot weather.

[Crankin]

Emily, no it was noting to do with a bike accident! First, he's been getting PT for a back issue that is getting better. Then, he was not paying attention going down the stairs and he messed up his foot. That is slowly resolving, though walking hurt more than riding. Then, he caught a really bad cold from our granddaughter the weekend before this past one. Both she and our son had been really sick. But, then Wed. night we had water in our basement. It turned out the main line to the septic tank was clogged, so after a plumber, the condo association getting the septic company out here, and then the pipe unclogging guy, who didn't get here until 9:15 PM, he was exhausted. When the guy finished, around 11:30, DH went out again to check with him in front yard. Although he had lights out for where the guy was working, he didn't see the cover to the septic tank was off still and he fell in! In order not to drown in a pile of sh!t (although it had just been pumped 3 hours earlier), he was able to catch himself by doing an old gymnastics maneuver, but he is really banged up. An unfit person probably would have broken several things... I laughed my head off, but I reminded him there is a reason to look down at the ground at times! Yesterday his cold was so bad it was unreal. He stayed home today and it wasn't just work from home, he actually slept on and off through the day and he is much better now.
We are getting that front tomorrow late afternoon to evening. Severe thunderstorms and wind predicted, but Wednesday looks great for my friend who is from western MA and I to ride.

[north woods gal]

Good heaven's Crankin! That is what I call a really lousy day. Unbelievable. Glad he's on the mend.

Getting a few showers, this evening, but we have had an abnormally dry May, so far. Not sure what to make of our weather, anymore. I don't dare wish for more rain for fear of going to the other extreme.

Did two rides, today, one after breakfast and one late afternoon. Nothing strenuous. Just kind of noodling around for fun with lots of stops to throw sticks for Star. Need some of those rides, now and then. Keeps me from getting too intense. Helps me to keep things fun. Star loves it, too.

[Crankin]

Thanks for letting us know, Sheila.
Planning a 40-ish mile ride tomorrow. DH took the day off and I am back to my 3 day a week schedule. It is going to be 85-90, so I am hoping to start early. We were going to do a group ride Sunday (a group that doesn't necessarily ride together), but it is going to be cold and rainy. Then, I thought we'd just do the ride Saturday, as it's going to be super hot and this ride is a metric starting on the coast in northern MA, going up to Exeter, NH. But, that's out too, because now, while it's going to get stormy here in the late afternoon, I just heard the weatherman say, "Don't plan on a beach day on the North Shore on Saturday," because the storms are starting much earlier there. So, it will be another hot and hilly ride. So, Sunday will be a rest day and it looks OK for a short ride on Monday.

[north woods gal]

Thank heavens the forum is back. I know we're a small group as forums go, but I really, really missed not being able to chat with everyone. I missed you guys.

My news while the forum was down is that I've fallen in love with my single speed and the whole single speed concept. The Gunnar SS really is the finest bike I'ver ever owned. Now well over 100 miles on the pavement with it, about 20 or so on the trail. Been riding it everyday at least a little, often alternating with one of the other bikes.

Out on the pavement I can climb my hilliest sections on my route with the gearing I now have on the Gunnar. I was not expecting this because I do have some sections that are nothing but hills for miles, not a level spot anywhere. Oh, I really have to work at it and, for sure, it's been a learning experience as far as technique needed. Very satisfying to do these hills my with only one gear, though. The amazing thing is that my average speed on the hilly routes is the same and even better than with the geared bikes. This I did not expect, either. Who knew? The reason I can do better with the single speed is that I really have to hit the climbs early and hard to maintain my momentum. Can't get lazy and wait till I'm well into a climb and just drop down to another gear and just spin up the hill, as with a regular bike. In other words, I'm getting up the hills faster on the single speed. Really have no choice. On the level sections I can maintain a very pleasant 12 mph for an average speed, even with a good head wind.

Much harder to ride my trails in one gear, believe me. Have to do MUCH more standing on the pedals. Still, I can climb my steepest sections, but it takes it's toll. Half an hour on my regular laps is about it, for now. And here I thought I was in good shape. Whoa!

Okay, call me crazy, but I figured why not have one single speed (the Gunnar) for road work and one with lower gearing for trail work? Sooo ... traded in two of my five fat bikes (a couple of Norcos) and had my local shop order that Log Lady steel single speed, today. Good thing, because I got the last medium LL in the country. The Log Lady will be my dedicated trail single with a bit easier to manage gearing for trail work. Won't be ready for awhile, but that's okay.

Anyway, glad to be back.

[north woods gal]

One more thing. Our weather has been almost dangerously hot for so early in the summer. We've been having July kind of heat - July is our hottest month - and here it is only May. Can't imagine how July will actually be for us, then.

Hope everyone is staying safe if you're getting this kind of heat so early. This is crazy. Never seen anything like it.

[emily_in_nc]

Interesting, nwg -- we've definitely been warm in Florida, but not excessively by Florida standards. Mid-80s is the highest so far, and will probably have a cooler weekend when the tropical (depression/storm, whatever it ends up being) comes through. Rainy days are always cooler, obviously. I hope your May heatwave is an anomaly and doesn't bode for a crazy hot summer.

Enjoyed reading about your Single Speed adventures. You are a very strong rider and are getting stronger every day doing this! When I ride my cruiser bike around the campground, which is pretty much flat, just a slight slope up towards the eastern side, I can really feel it when riding into a headwind and spend a lot of time out of the saddle. But nothing like your trails or actual hills on the road like you are riding.

Looking forward to photos of your Log Lady (cool name!) when she comes in.