July 3rd Ride Reports

[uk elephant]

Finally got back out on a decent ride again. Have had a case of achy hip, then a case of sluggishness from the unusually hot weather we're having. But this evening I headed off for a little ride and ended up doing 20 miles. Felt great and kept my legs spinning the whole time. And after 8pm it had finally cooled down to bearable temperatures. Still 20C and I was still sweating buckets, but at least I wasn't keeling over from heat stroke. I don't think I will ever adjust to this weather. How will I survive AidsRide in CA?!

[Flatlander]

Okay, I took a short ride to the pool for my swim workout, so, technically, it isn't much of a ride report. Except...

I've had an uneasy relationship with the bike. I only started riding because I wanted to do a triathlon, and consider it my weakest link. Still, I've been trying to ride 3-4 times a week, slowly increasing my mileage, fiddling with the fit until nothing hurts or twinges...

Today when I got on the bike after my swim, I noticed that I felt like the bike was part of me. lt was really, really good. I may start to like this better than running an swimming...

[hirakukibou]

Did a 26 mile recovery ride, wondered half way if I should have ridden at all. Will ride with the club again tomorrow. Hopefully, my legs won't feel like jello.

[Lise]

Flatlander, welcome! This is my fourth year of doing tris--I only run and swim so I can bike in the middle! How fortunate for you that you consider your cycling the weak link. To me, it's the most enjoyable, and I'll bet you'll come to love it, too. Have you been over to the triathlon board?

I didn't know if I'd get to ride at all today. I finished a 24 hour call shift this morning, one of the quietest shifts I've had in 12 years as a midwife. WAHOO! But--it was pouring rain, with lightning and thunder when I left the house this morning to make rounds at the hospital. I threw my running stuff in the car and figured at least I'd run on the treadmill at the Y.

By the time I left work, it had stopped raining, so I went for a run outside, which I much prefer. Got back from the run, and it still was not raining...so I took a chance and went out on the bike. Yeah!!! I rode 20 miles, mostly as fast as I could. Got down into my new aero bars a couple of times. Rode along the lakefront, north branch. Not too bad--people are mostly off the path, getting ready for the fireworks. There were other serious runners and bikers on the path, and fewer goof-ball rollerbladers than usual.

The new tri seat/seatpost/aero bars felt good. Still not sure how the seat will do with my girly bits, but my legs felt much stronger than usual after 20 miles.