July rides

[Crankin]

Well, I made it through the big ride of our trip. There were 2 other AMC riders with us, one who I have met, and one who lives around here. The one I know rides about like me and the new guy was super strong! He dropped our friend who was leading on the 2 mile climb. Anyway, it started out cool and a little cloudy; then it got really hot and partly sunny, but cloudy again by the end of the ride. This ride has 4 parts. The first is flat and rolling for 6 miles. Very rural. Then we climb and descend for 10 miles. I have a love hate relationship with this road. It is gorgeous, but the ups felt very hard. I was getting nervous about the 2 mile climb up Lenox Mountain. We took a rest stop at the park in West Stockbridge, where we ran into a parade. I started up the climb and just kept a slow and steady pace. It does flatten out for awhile, after a bit of hard stuff and then is rolling, and then tips up at the end. We stopped for a group pic and then I was the last one down the descent, which ends at Kripalu Center. After this it’s a slog up the road by Tanglewood. Need I say more. Lots of tourist cars going to a concert, as well as the hoards of second home owners. This road finally descends into Stockbridge, where we ate lunch. Since the rain held off, we headed out for the last part of the ride. It’s about 15 miles and part of it was new to us. It’s really pretty, along a river, and then farms, but we made a wrong turn (we went ahead for a bit), and ended up doing a super steep climb. DH realized it, but decided to make me get up this. It wasn’t too long, but at least 10%. We got back about 5 miles after this.
I felt pretty good, but I need to do more big climbs! The ride was 40 miles, with 2,700 ft of climbing. It did rain tonight, and I don’t think we will be riding tomorrow, with 50% chance of thunderstorms.

[north woods gal]

40 miles with 2700 ft of climbing is impressive. Congrats. Well done.

I've been cheating a bit with the neck brace, taking it off for short periods while on my walks. Can't tell any difference as far as comfort with or without, now, after over a month of wearing it. Just being able to feel a breeze on my neck, though, is glorious. I'm also tempted, of course, to jump on one of the bikes and go for a short ride, but to do that I would have to get by a very irate husband. I'll be a good girl and follow orders ... for now.