July 23 Rides

[bikerz]

Bikerz, how come the Bay Trail is so much cooler than where you live? Think you guys said much the same thing yesterday...

I think it's just the effect of the breeze of the bay and the cooler air above the bay - water temps in the bay itself are generally pretty cold, I think.

I was just back down there at either end of my ride and it was definitely warmer then before, but still a good 15-20 degrees cooler than where I live.

Why was I back there?? Well, because I realized that my little Jimi wallet with my drivers license and some cash was NOT in my handlebar bag after my ride, and I simultaneously discovered a huge hole in my jersey pocket. So I probably, and uncharacteristically, put the wallet in my jersey pocket after buying some water at one end of the trail and lost it somewhere in the 12 miles back to the start. So I spent 2 hours going back to the place I bought the water, to the harbor master's office in case someone had turned it in, and walked about a mile back along the trail - no luck. But I didn't feel like walking the whole way back! What a drag - now I have to spend half a day at the DMV getting a new license.

Sorry - whine over!

[DebW]

I got in a 22 mile ride this afternoon, after the morning showers ended. I rode up Goodman Hill, turned around and rode up the back side and down it again, then once more up the front side. It's a fun hill, not horribly steep, and almost levels off a couple times during the climb. I have to curtail my rides to work this week because I'm on call to babysit when a friend goes into labor, and it may be pretty soon.

[winddance]

Why was I back there?? Well, because I realized that my little Jimi wallet with my drivers license and some cash was NOT in my handlebar bag after my ride, and I simultaneously discovered a huge hole in my jersey pocket.

Oh no! I was really questioning your sanity in riding today considering that the temperature in Oakland was already reading 104 at about 11 this morning.

Hope the DMV doesn't take forever. Make an appointment!

[EvilTwin]

Got up at 4:30 this morning so BF and I could drive 2 1/2 hours to Mt. St. Helens. Got on the bikes at 7:30. Weather at the time was a perfect 75. No traffic, no wind, and no wheezing! I felt pretty good on the bike today, took it easy after my ucky episode yesterday. I rode at my pace and BF took off and rode his. We agreed to meet "wherever" we happened to meet. I rode 30 miles, 20 of which were uphill....over 2000 ft elevation gain in 15 miles. The scenery was beautiful, and I had a great ride. I just took it easy, and finally turned around when I felt like I'd had enough. Flew back down to the car, took my solar shower, found some shade, and read my book till BF arrived.The temp. by then was a toasty 101!!!! Too hot!!!

[Gray Gato]

Drove 2 hours to the Blue Ridge Parkway to do some climbing.
Husband and I rode for 1 1/2 hours until the rain came. Saw
a family of wild turkeys and a nice couple from NJ. Nice couple took our picture and emailed it. Wild turkeys just looked at us as if we were nuts.

[Crankin]

I was in the Berkshires this past weekend. Friday, I did the "easier" ride, where I felt horrible the whole time. It was about 90 and 98% humidity. I've been riding in the heat/humidity all summer, but I'm pretty sure if I had been home, i would not have ridden Friday. Even though I was eating, drinking, Accelerade, Shot Blocks, etc at the lunch stop I feared i would not make the climb up Lenox Mountain. So hubby and I headed back on the main road; still a climb, but gentler. However, our shortcut to the B and B turned out to be a steeper hill than the one we were trying to avoid.

Yesterday (it rained on Sat.) we did an abbreviated route, 34 miles instead of 46. It was cool, but humid. We rode up the "Tyringham Wall," a 10-15% grade of about 3/4 a mile. Once that was done, it was mostly downhill or flat (the regular route has a lot more climbing after the "wall"). Other than the 90 year old tourists from New York who obviously have never seen a cyclist on the road, it was a great ride.

Deb, where is Goodman Hill? It sounds like someting I would like.

Robyn

[DebW]

I was in the Berkshires this past weekend. ... We rode up the "Tyringham Wall," a 10-15% grade of about 3/4 a mile. Once that was done, it was mostly downhill or flat (the regular route has a lot more climbing after the "wall"). Other than the 90 year old tourists from New York who obviously have never seen a cyclist on the road, it was a great ride.

Deb, where is Goodman Hill? It sounds like someting I would like.

Robyn

Robyn, Goodman Hill Rd. is off of Rt. 20 (north side) near the Wayland/Sudbury line. It's actually in Sudbury and the Best Friends Kennel is on the corner. The other hill I ride alot because it's on my way to work is Bedford Rd. in Lincoln center, just north of Trapelo Rd. The northbound side is steep and doesn't let up. The southbound side is more gentle.

I was in the Berkshires Saturday leading a work project on the Appalachian Trail in October Mountain State Forest. I supervise trail maintenance on the central 30 miles of Mass. AT from Beartown SF to Oct. Mtn. SF. I should really take my bike out there sometime and ride. I love the Tyringham area (the AT crosses Main Rd. and Jerusalem Rd. and Fernside Rd.). Where is the "Tyringham Wall"? Since Tyringham is in a valley, guess any direction is up. From there, I either take the paved road to Monterrey or the gravel Meadow Rd. to Fernside Rd. with my car full of trail tools.

[Fredwina]

I did a littel recievry ride after the century. Plus, it was the usual July boiling hot. It rained for 15 minutes prior, which dropped the temp to 92, but raised the humidity to 40%