July rides

[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.

[north woods gal]

Good for you, Emily. We gals can do, you with your riding in the heat and me with my riding in the cold.

Less than week to go, now, for my (hopefully) last doctor appointment to get the brace off and cleared for riding. Getting kind of nervous about it, though. Watching every step so that I don't trip and fall and have a setback, though at this point, I'm probably healed enough to survive it. Also a bit concerned/anxious about the new me and the type of bicycling that will work or not work as per my resolutions. Darn patience thing can be hard to come by, sometimes.

[Crankin]

You'll do it, NWG.
We did a 36 mile group ride (that we were not leading) where I felt like I was behind the whole time. No one came for the 50 miler, so the guy who was supposed to lead that, led out for the first 13 miles. He's notoriously uncaring about stated speed (the ride was listed as an average of 11-13 mph). When we got to the split, where some of the group decided follow him for a 45 mile ride, my average was above 14. My sit bone and SI joint were screaming, which was too bad, because this was in an area I have not ridden in, except for a couple of roads, a couple of times. Mostly rural, farms, ponds, and suburban roads, southwest of where I live. It started in a busier suburb, which quickly turned rural. Anyway, between mile 13 and 26 it was a bit better, though with some climbs. We stopped at a farm store for snacks and I was in a really bad mood because of all of this. Well, eating helped a little, but then we had a long shallow climb. I was not with the sweep, but I ended up being alone a lot of the time with 5 people in front of me and 3-4 behind. With 3.8 miles to go the leader's GPS/phone died, so DH led the end. I was very pissed with him, for just leaving me for most of the ride, yet his average was in my usual range, and mine was really on .5 of a mile slower. I think I just dislike group rides, unless I am in charge, and this is a group I like!
We got back to the start, at a commuter rail parking lot, and we used our "trailer park shower," to clean up and change in the car, for a barbecue at someone's house with a pool. I did not swim, but it was nice to sit. The people who did a shorter ride were already there.
At least the weather was perfect.

[rebeccaC]

glad you're feeling better emily!!!!

Spent the morning doing a ride from Brookings Or. to Cape Sebastian and back. With strong headwinds from the north, that gave me a good tailwind coming back. This section of the southern Or. coast highway has been one of my favorites to ride as it has some wonderful views and wide bike lanes. 42 miles with half being a slow, hard, into a headwind ride. I used taking a few photos as a respite going north.




Later this afternoon I did a hike into the wonderful Prairie Creek redwood forest.





and there was also this on my way south


it was a good day........