July rides

[rebeccaC]

well we have some heat (for here) for the weekend....90's here at the beach and 100's not far inland, back to the 70's next week though. since i'm planning a hard ride next week i did a 64 mile ride into the santa monica mountains with two friends for the climbs. Lots of water/fuel/taking breaks in the shade and thankful for the help the ocean breeze gave on the last 9 miles home on the bike path. my first climbing in too long felt good!

[Crankin]

NWG, she loves the helmet. Given how tiny she is, this one will fit for awhile. It even has a ratchet!
My son told me they were very nervous about her going in the trailer, but they survived. When my DIL dropped her off, we showed her everything, and that helped a lot.

[Crankin]

Note to self. Do not eat cranberry walnut chicken salad in the middle of a ride, on a hot day.
I survived, but that semi-ruined a really nice ride I have done twice with a group, in an area I don't ride in often. It starts in the town my DH works in, about 22 miles northeast of here, in a park that has tons of parking and bathrooms . The first part is a bit hilly, goes through some suburban semi-rural roads and developments and then through part of a state park. We stopped at a farm at mile 15 or so, and while the stop here on the group ride is more of a rest/snack stop, we were ready to eat. There wasn't much in the cool food section, so I thought the chicken salad would be healthier than a huge muffin or cider donut. I shared with DH, ate my Lara Bar and also shared an ice coffee. So, I didn't eat too much, and I actually felt a bit energized right after we took off, at least enough to get up the last big hill. There's a lot of downhill and rollers, more rural riding in the second half, until you get about 5 miles from the end. I was fighting barfing, which is not something I do more than every 10-15 years. Stopped twice to drink long drinks of my Skratch bottle, and 1.5miles from the end, I wet my head with water.
OK, I was feeling a bit off at the start, but nothing that could have caused nausea. It was between 80 and 83, no humidity, and the ride was very shady most of the time. So, I attribute this to the food, and the fact although I've been riding 4 days a week, most of it has been short rides. This was 35 miles... hope the heat (85 degrees) predicted for our trip this week does not have the same effect.
Still, glad I went.

[north woods gal]

Glad you survived, Crankin. Could it be that the salad or chicken was bad? Has happened to me. That might explain it, too.

Four days to go till my follow up X ray on my neck and I'm really, really sweating it. All the worst case scenario stuff keeps floating through my head. I so desperately want to ride, again, but I know it's up to the doctors, not me. Oh,how I wish I could go back in time and get a do over, but life doesn't work that way. Time to keep the faith. In the meantime, I just keep on walking.

[Crankin]

NWG, our brains are wired to go to the worst case scenario. Even those of us who are not prone to anxiety or negative thinking often have to fight it at times. You are right, the decision is not yours, so focus on what you can do. You know that eventually, you will ride!
I don't think the food was bad, as DH ate it. He was fine. I attribute it to a combination of things, but mostly assuming I was fine to ride, since I did a fast, but shorter ride on Saturday, after feeling crappy on Friday. I did not sleep well last night, so I skipped the gym, and am heading out for a short walk, before it gets up to 90 again. Thankfully, I don't have to be at work until 10.

[emily_in_nc]

Hope you're feeling all better now, Crankin. I rarely eat anything beyond a cereal bar, poptart, or (my fave when I take the time to make them) potatoes on my 35-36 mile rides. I am afraid eating anything heavier might make my tummy rebel too, though I tend to have a strong stomach. And I drink only water because of my braces, not wanting to have anything sugary in my mouth for very long (I rinse well with water after I eat my snack). My rides are obviously easier, though, with only gentle climbs, not like what you are dealing with up there!

nwg, good luck with your doctor's appointment. I hope he will clear you to ride (fingers crossed)!

[north woods gal]

You're so right, Crankin. Sometimes I just have to tell my brain to shut up and let my heart do the thinking. By the way, I'm like Emily. I can't ride on a full stomach at all. Makes me very uncomfortable.

Thanks, Emily. Hoping for the best, but if I have to fo for another month with the neck brace, doing all my riding, indoors, it won't be the end of the world. Been through worse. I'll get past this. Besides, those darn black flies and deer flies are making my walks just plain miserable. Have to douse myself in DEET not to get bitten. I may just stick to indoor riding for awhile. Get to listen to my music, too, when riding indoors. Something I don't do out on the road for the sake of safety.