July rides

[Crankin]

I am somewhat risk averse, NWG, although I sure do a lot more than 10 years ago. Your plan sounds very sane to me, and you will still be riding. Ultimately, risk was the reason I quit mountain biking.
It was 53 degrees at 5:20 AM, when I went out for a little ride. Just a little ride over to the other side of town, but I did not do the longer loop, as I have to be at work at 9, so only 10 miles. I was wearing arm and knee warmers, a vest, and my lightest weight long fingered gloves. My head was actually cold in the beginning, which is a slight downhill, but it was fine in the end.
I love this kind of weather. The humidity is gone and it should be this way until Sunday, when rain and more heat/humidity will arrive for next week. Bah.

[Crankin]

I rode to the gym this morning. It was a little warmer than yesterday, about 58. No long fingered gloves, just my bolero and vest over my shirt. So beautiful. Class was really hard today!
M husband's company outing is today, starting at noon. It's at a famous ice cream place that has kind of turned into an amusement place, with mini-golf, bumper boats, batting cages, and real food. It's sad, to me. I sound like my grandparents, but I remember when it was just a crowded ice cream place that I took my kids to when we first moved to MA. It's been within 10 miles of all 3 towns I've lived in, but it's just way too commercial for me. We thought about riding there, but I don't want to be sweaty, etc around these people. I guess I have to be nice, though... DH got a promotion a few months ago, so his pre-retirement job has now forced me into the "bosses wife" role again.

[north woods gal]

I think that's part of every marriage. I support my husband when it comes to the groups he's joined and their activities, though I sometimes still feel like an outsider around those people. It's important for him, though, so I do my best.

All day rain, today, so no walking. That's okay, because the bugs have been miserable on my walks, of late. Have to about take a bath in DEET to survive. I really, really hate that stuff, but no choice. Getting eaten alive is worse.

Will hit the trainer for a morning and afternoon session, probably.

[emily_in_nc]

After a demoralizing ride on Tuesday with seemingly every body part hurting (including even my teeth since I'd had an aggressive orthodontic adjustment on Monday), I figured out what was wrong -- I was coming down with a virus. Actually, I am glad that was the case, because my mental state was bad enough on the ride I was ready to hang up my bike for good, or at least for the summer. The heat and humidity were just beating me down more than usual, in addition to all the aches and pains and a screaming lower back for the latter part of the ride. But, turns out I was in the process of getting sick. It's really just a cold, but it did start with some nausea, body aches, and malaise before the other symptoms arrived. Once I realized what was going on, I started zinc lozenges, which really do seem to shorten colds for me. I'm already to the feeling fine but still coughing stage just a few days later. To recover I have stayed off my road bike since, just a few short loops on the cruiser bike around the campground for utilitarian reasons, like picking up a package at the office. Will continue to rest up this weekend and hit the road again on Monday. Really glad I resisted the impulse to go today, as DH got caught in a heavy, early-day t-storm and had to take shelter downtown for an hour or so while it poured and thundered before finishing his ride in light rain. So he's been cleaning his bike and has to lube the chain. Really glad I didn't go!

[north woods gal]

Oh, Emily, so sorry to hear about all this. Just rest up and let it run its course. I've made the mistake of riding when I've been sick and it only makes it worse. Been times, like you, had no choice for the sake of running errands and I know how miserable it can be. Don't let it get you down to the point you stop riding, altogether. That would be heartbreaking. Hang in there, girl. Be thinking of you.

[Crankin]

Glad you are feeling better, Emily. I get this warning of illness in the same way! Like, I was ready to throw my bike down 2 Sundays ago, even though I had been sick Friday and my body was just telling me I wasn't really better. I think I willed it out of me so I was fine for the hard riding in the Berkshires, because I had a slight replay of it all when I rode Wednesday and Thursday. Slight, though. The gym was fine today and I will do a hard ride tomorrow.
You are smart to listen to your body. I did not do this in my 30s and 40s/early 50s and I think it set me up for a lot of stuff that was my own fault. I have a terrible fear of having to slow down (overall, not just my speed), but I am not in the mind set to do this in the foreseeable future. I think my upcoming birthday in the fall (65) is scaring me more than I like!
We went to the outing, ate our lunch, had half a beer, and left. DH had no desire to do any of the activities, either. Instead, we got our grocery shopping done and went to the local farm, so we can do a long ride tomorrow.

[emily_in_nc]

Thanks for the support, gals! I am feeling so much better. I am just very glad that I actually did get sick, because my mental attitude was really worrying me on Tuesday's ride. No worries, I would never give up cycling! But riding in Florida's heat and humidity does take a certain mental stubbornness (or insanity!) that can be hard to muster when the body is not well. I'm sure I will cope better on my Monday ride and do look forward to it. It was probably good to get an enforced break, since riding year-round in the same area can get stale without the occasional break.