2 July Ride Reports

[uk elephant]

Terribly hot around here these days, but I did manage to survive a short ride. Did 4.5miles out to a "pick your own" berry farm, ate some delicious fresh berries (oh and picked some to take home too) and then pedaled home again. 9 miles total and managed to get thoroughly overheated and slightly sunburned despite factor 20 sunscreen and a thin longsleeved linen shirt. But a good ride anyway. Not fast, but I was concentrating on cadence and relaxing my shoulders. Seemed to work for a while.

[Denise223]

Hi All!

We went out for what was initially going to be a 19 mile ride -- but, we got lost, so that # increased by 6 miles. It was 92 & muggy out. We'd stopped a couple of times for like 5 minutes & the sun was incredibly HOT! Standing still, I felt as if my skin was burning to a crisp....
I find it amazing that, even at 92 degrees & muggy -- how much cooler it feels when riding & creating my own "fan" !!

We just started riding on June 5th & today was our 10th ride since then. Fifteen miles had been our longest ride, until today...... Up until today, I had not gone up any hills (b/c we stayed at the bike path), but I did meet up with a few of them today.
When I initially saw them, I did kind of panic ~ inwardly.... But, it gave me a chance to REALLY learn how my gears worked; I was pedaling much more efficiently -- And, that was GREAT!
It certainly took me longer to get up a few of these hills...but, I did get up them!! (it is so much easier when you learn how things work! )
And, I wasn't terrified in traffic like I ALWAYS had been !! I really hope it stays like that...but, only time will tell.

I did learn that I am DEFINITELY not prepared as much as I should be. My husband wears a back pack, and that's where we keep everything: his cell phone, his car keys, his ID, paper towels, my inhalors, my eye drops, extra water, money, etc.....
I have a large water bottle in my cage. And, I have a couple of paper towels tucked inside my shorts. (if my nose gets runny.) I definitely need to have more water with me --
I was dying for a cold drink during the last few miles -- I'm happy to say that there was a store & I got some cold water -- BUT.... I know that there won't always be a store on our rides....

I'll have to purchase a couple of insulated bottles..... Warm water just isn't refreshing AT ALL!!

In most cases, we do ride close to one another...... not side by side though. We could be separated by 1/8 mile. I have a "fanny pack" that I wore a week or so ago & it really bothered me. I would not want to wear that again, unless I really, really had to. It's just not comfortable at all.

But.......I NEED to be self sufficient. I searched "bike bags & bike racks" here, and saw something that might be perfect for me.
It's an Arkel "tail rider" -->> (I tried to add a link but it wouldn't let me copy).

I realize now that I MUST have "my stuff" with me --
Up until now, we'd been on a bike path -- so, Ben could easily stop if I needed my inhalor or my eye drops or if I needed more water... BUT.... off of the "safety" of the bike path -- I can see that things can (and WILL) be different.

Well, that's my ride report for July 2nd along with some things that I learned along the way....

Denise