Saturday, June 26 Rides

[Catrin]

A nice, and cool, early morning 30 miles. I expanded my usual route to add some steep rollers - though I should have hit those at the start of my ride rather than the end. The last few miles were agonizing as far as the saddle is concerned, but hope to have a demo saddle to try out next Saturday.

Last night was able to meet IndySteel for a ride, the weather finally cooperated with us. It was a nice ride on a cool evening and it was great to meet someone else from TE!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

My husband and I did a lovely 24 mile ride through the countryside this morning after breakfast. Nice!

[Aggie_Ama]

I bowled a tournament, I want to ride so bad but now it is 97 degrees. Oh well, once a year I can give up a weekend for bowling.

[Kubla]

Just returned from a great 20+ mile ride with my still-new Jamis Aurora. It's steel and heavy-but it sure gives a Cadillac ride on broken-up roads. I have to resist the urge to go farther than my middle-aged self is able to handle at the moment.

The weather is sunny and breezy, with temperatures in the low 80s. I ventured down some quiet and shady country roads and was lucky enough to come upon a young girl with a lemonade stand when I was ready for extra fluids. Resisted stopping at yard sales along the way today, but it's fun to check them out while riding. (Even better when I find something I can use.)

[Crankin]

I have a class all weekend... so I got up at 5:30 and went out to ride my shortest loop at around ten to six. It was nice and peaceful. A little humid, but around 65 out. I actually rode a little faster than I usually do at this time of the morning, when I need to really lubricate the muscles and joints! The total ride was about 11 miles, including 2 big hills. When I got home, DH made me challah french toast, to prepare me for the day.
I am exhausted. The class is on addictions and I need a glass of wine .
Not sure if I will be riding in the AM tomorrow, but I might be able to get a run in when I get home. I need some sleep.

[XMcShiftersonX]

Nice weather today. Low 70's, and the sun finally came out at about 30 miles in to my ride. I was going to do a 100 mile ride with the Cascade Bicycling Club, CATS group. This would have been my last century before STP in mid-July (Seattle-to-Portland, 2 day double century). It was supposed to have been a fairly flat route, but because of the Rock N' Roll Marathon today, they had to change the route because it shared some of the same roads. When they changed the route they added Tiger Mountain, and I didn't really feel like doing that big of a climb today (and besides I already did it on Monday). So I opted for a "flat" century that I concocted myself, which would have involved leaving from my house, doing the Cedar River Trail, doing the S. Lake Wa and Mercer Island Loops, and then doing the Interurban Trail. I left a little later than planned, at 10:30am, because I just couldn't wake up! It probably would have been just over 90 miles, but I started to hurt at about 50 miles into the ride! So, I cut out the Interurban trail and came home, making it 60 miles and probably 2200 feet of climbing. I still feel good, even if I won't do another century before STP. At least I did one a couple weeks ago!

-Jessica

[Fredwina]

I did a ride that I hadn't done since I got bent:
Was Trying to get the ranch:

No Mud slides today:

Ranger station:

campground:

worth the effort:

[Fredwina]

turn around:

spring:

made in the shade:

Most triumphant video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9EtSiPP1M4

[Owlie]

A rather fraught six miles. It was hotter than I thought it was, so I was running out of water. On my way out I had my hand off the bars and hit a bump. I didn't fall, but the bike did. I have a very minor scrape and bruise on my right shin. I got "WTF are you doing on the road?" looks from a few people. Put the chain back on and continued. My blinky taillight, alas, is no more. The batteries and red plastic body fell off when the bike fell, and are probably in bits now. I am now in the market for a new light.

Tackled my new nemesis hill, again. I cannot figure out what is so darn challenging about it. It's not steep, just long and deceptively flat-looking. I think the other thing is you spend a fair bit of time dodging potholes so it's hard to get speed going. And there's a stop sign in the middle of it. Here's the elevation profile for that particular road:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/96285366@N00/4736667025/

(Probably nothing to a lot of you, but it gets me every time!)

[Zemea]

Not sure exactly how long my ride was (new bike - no computer yet ), but I was out about two hours. The heat was pretty oppressive, but I got caught in a rain shower that was just heavy enough to really cool me down. Felt pretty good! I ran out of water so stopped at a gas station where I sort of lifted my bike up on it's back wheel and went inside with it to refill my water bottle. Didn't get any water, but I *did* get thrown out for bringing my bike in! I probably shouldn't have done it, but like I told the guy - I'm not just leaving my bike outside! ....Good times...

[OakLeaf]

My blinky taillight, alas, is no more. The batteries and red plastic body fell off when the bike fell, and are probably in bits now.

That used to happen to me every time I hit a bump. Now I have a zip-tie around the light. It goes all the way around the clip as well as the body, so it both keeps the lens from falling off, and keeps the clip from slipping off my seat pack. I don't remember now whether I had to cut it off the last time I replaced the batteries, or whether I was able to slip it off - either way, not a big deal.

Here's the elevation profile for that particular road (Probably nothing to a lot of you, but it gets me every time!)

That looks like a Mapmyride profile - if so, that site WILDLY understates grade and total climb. Map it on ridewithgps.com for a more accurate picture.

So much of hills is mental. And a stop sign in the middle of one is a b*tch no matter where you are. Also, as Ohioans, we're used to steep grades, and those shallow 5-7%'ers are a whole different animal - different seating position, different technique, different muscles. I discovered when I went to ride with my sister in the Dallas area that I just don't have the legs for that stuff! Give me 15% any day, over that.


Anyway, so much has gotten between me and the bike this year - the marathon, the weather, minor illnesses - that yesterday's 57 miles was the longest I've done yet this year. It was hot, and none of us are really acclimated to it, so we took a flatter route, took it easy and it wasn't challenging at all. (Ha, just realized that the picture is one of those rare-for-here 5%'ers. )

[makbike]

DH and I journeyed north to Eaton, Ohio to participate in the Buckeye Bridges Ride. I would highly recommend this event to everyone as it was super! This ride centers around the covered bridges of Preble County. It was hard to imagine that one county could have so much rich architectural history packed within it borders. We opted to ride the 75 mile route which took in all seven covered bridges. It was very evident that the community loves these bridges as they were well maintained and they were not covered in graffiti. The terrain was flat to rolling and avoided most of the high traffic roads in the county. What vehicles we did encountered were all respectful and patient with us as we took in the beautiful countryside. The SAGs were well stocked and those who hosted it were extremely friendly. The routes were well marked, both on the roads and signs at every turn!

Here are a few photos of our day. Again, mark your calendars for next year - it was a great day!

[Owlie]

Makbike--I'm going to have to remember that ride if I'm still in Ohio this time next year.

Oakleaf--The hill that scared me off my bike as a kid is significantly steeper. I made it up still in my big chain ring...granted, at about 9 miles an hour, but still. The bigger hill here, same thing. This one...no.
And good call on the zip ties.

Nice pictures, all!

[Blue_Fedora]

DH and I rode the Fiesta Metric Century down in San Diego. Great ride and we completed all 100km