Magnificent or Mundane May Rides!

[azfiddle]

Today's ride started with a discussion about training and nutrition by a pro rider for Team Cloud who is also a coach for several of our team members. Then we had drills with cones and water bottles to practice bike handling skills and a some pace line practice. Our group seemed woefully undisciplined today on the paceline, which seemed quite surprising as there are so many of us who are experienced at riding in pacelines. Some of the ladies went on up Mt. Lemmon but I had to turn back early to get home for the Tucson Folk Festival this afternoon. So it was only about 19 miles. Maybe tomorrow will be ride on the mountain.

The coach had good suggestions and offered to preview some of the future rides and point out some areas where we might want to practice group skills for the future.

[ny biker]

I had a great ride today. It was a big multi-class club ride with three distances to choose from, and I lead the B group on the metric route. Except I rode sweep at the low end of the B pace while most everyone else was a high-B rider. And I was delayed leaving two of the rest stops (trying to get my wool Kneekers off over my bike shoes at one and needing eye drops for my pollen-irritated contact lenses at another). So most of my group were too far up the road for me to see for most of the ride, and I rode alone for some of it. But the weather was near perfect and we had fun. There were 23 of us in all -- too many for one person to manage, but there were enough experienced ride leaders in the group to help make sure everyone rode without any major incidents.

I took a couple of short-cuts so I ended up riding 58 miles rather than 62. It was still my longest ride of the year so far. My legs were a bit tired mid-way through the ride but at the end they actually felt pretty good. And I averaged 14.2 mph, which is faster than most of the rides I've done lately.

With our club, you earn a ride leader's jersey if you lead at least six rides in a year. Today was my first day wearing the jersey that I earned last year. It's a nice Louis Garneau jersey.

[rebeccaC]

Rode over the Santa Monica Mountains to Simi Valley. The hardest part of the ride was Black Canyon Rd leaving Chatsworth and Box Canyon Rd back into Chatsworth. Black Canyon was just a brutal climb for me. Even the descent was difficult. It was so hard that Box Canyon seemed like a recovery ride. I stopped for stretching, fluids and calling to make a massage appointment at the top of Black Canyon. It got into the 90’s by early afternoon and that made me happy we weren’t on either of those canyon roads then and on the descent off the SM mountains to Pacific Coast Highway.

82 miles.

[Crankin]

Meh, just went to meet friends for a nice hilly ride and it's raining. It wasn't supposed to start until much later. It's also windy and not so warm out. We turned around. There might be a window to do a short ride in a bit, but right now, I am drinking more coffee.

[Helene2013]

two nice rides on Friday afternoon and yesterday afternoon. Both we ended up being wet from rain. Friday was bad! Lots of rain and cold, and super windy. Took the afternoon off from work to ride and we had to cut it short. Yesterday just a few drizzles and we closed the garage door just on time before the big storm. Whouhou! But again had to cut it short! Blah!

Today, no way to go for a ride. Still raining strong. blah. Where is the nice weather? But at least yesterday I met a friend who was walking her 2 dogs in the grass while we were on the path. Nice chat and different than in work environment. People (cars and those on paths) were very nice and giving us the space we needed. Trees are starting to get the leaves (well the buds) out. We're behind in the season. Can't wait to ride a beautiful Saturday morning with just the sun, some cool weather and come back relaxed and smiley instead of stressed and upset about weather..again... lol

[salsabike]

Wow, RebeccaC! Those are some two climbs you did! Brutal.

We did our monthly 100k tandem ride yesterday on my favorite route AND saw the yearling filly we'd seen as a new foal a year ago! I thought you all might like to see her--

[SheFly]

Meh, just went to meet friends for a nice hilly ride and it's raining. It wasn't supposed to start until much later. It's also windy and not so warm out. We turned around. There might be a window to do a short ride in a bit, but right now, I am drinking more coffee.

Windy is an understatement! Just back from 47 miles. It rained, and felt like it might turn to sleet at one point! The wind was brutal in every direction, too. Still good to get out, and the sun did shine for a little bit. Guess I didn't need that sunscreen on my arms though - never took the arm warmers off.

SheFly

[colorisnt]

Salsabike,

As a former equestrienne, I think that's so cool!

I took my "horse" out today on about a 14 mile ride. Brings me up to about 94-95 miles for the week. Not too shabby despite AWFUL weather. I led our group once on the way there and back and then hung back for some riders pacing slower and worked on resistance. This is the women's group in town I look forward to riding with all week so it was awesome. Now, I'm back at my office about to dissertate some more while the SO works a Sunday shift. Beautiful weekend for riding and feeling great. This is how I know I am getting back into good shape. I can ride three straight days with some high mileage and do great.

[Crankin]

After another aborted attempt (I was putting my shoes on, looked up, and it was pouring), I got out and did the shortest loop possible from my house, 8 miles. I did wear my old rain jacket, since the demise of the newer, expensive one on yesterday's ride. As soon as I started climbing Strawberry Hill, I knew I should have taken a rest day. Anyway, I had it all, rain, gusts of wind so bad I was blown into the middle of the road, and sun. While I did get my average up to a decent speed for me, I was lagging way behind DH. I am glad I went out, as DH said, where else can you get an 8 mile ride and climb 500+ feet?
I should rest tomorrow, but it's boot camp day. Probably no rest until next Friday. Weather not looking good for our club ride we are leading next weekend.

[emily_in_nc]

Wow, sounds like nearly everyone had bad weather this weekend! Not here in KC...we had it last week, but this weekend has been GORGEOUS.

Today was a recovery ride for me, 30 miles, and I avoided all the hills I could. I stopped frequently to take photos of flowers and such. My legs felt kinda sluggish, but not as bad as I thought after yesterday's hard effort.

For those of you suffering in rain and still-not-quite spring, here are a few of the photos I took today as I rode around.

Attachment 17078 Attachment 17079 Attachment 17080

We are supposed to have glorious weather until Thursday. By then I'll be ready for rain and a day off the bike.

Sorry about your jacket, crankin. Sucks when something like that happens!

[Boudicca]

Windy here too, flags straight out and bitingly cold. Group of six, but I was the snail. The slower riders didn't show today (I am usually well ahead of them), and I was riding my Bike Friday, which is a lot heavier than the regular road bike. And I was probably just feeling slow. But it's the only bike I have with fenders and the forecast said it might rain.

It didn't, but it never really warmed up either.

[shootingstar]

It has been wet light snow, melting on ground and some light rain the whole day. However unlike yesterday, I bicycled more today --a grand total of probably 12 km. The ride was interspersed with 2 public outdoor art walks ..in recognition of Jane's Walks worldwide. Jane Jacobs was a Canadian who became known for her theories on urban livability for better urban planning --ie. walkable, vibrant cities and neighbourhoods.

[rebeccaC]

a very leisurely ride through the venice beach alleys to photograph some of the street art etc. and then to the farmers market. going to ride to my fellowship meeting soon and then spend the night catching up on some of my work. The past few days of heat broke and it was a delightful low 70's today with a cool breeze from the ocean.



salsabike....nice image, she's a beautiful filly!!...i just luv the greenness of the PNW....maybe not the rain that keeps it that way though

[Sky King]

I think I will title this, "why we plank" or something like that, to bad the DH didn't get the shot when I was under the fence. Am sending to the Wilderness Ranger as we aren't so sure this fence is legal - no gate and it is BLM land, not private land. Another terrific ride in the Owyhee Desert. Flowers were out in force. Only saw one snake (bull snake) Did some riding in the dark and saw numerous little desert pack rats. Spooked a herd of deer while stopped to admire a herd of Antelope - crazy.

[emily_in_nc]

I think I will title this, "why we plank" or something like that, to bad the DH didn't get the shot when I was under the fence. Am sending to the Wilderness Ranger as we aren't so sure this fence is legal - no gate and it is BLM land, not private land. Another terrific ride in the Owyhee Desert. Flowers were out in force. Only saw one snake (bull snake) Did some riding in the dark and saw numerous little desert pack rats. Spooked a herd of deer while stopped to admire a herd of Antelope - crazy.

Glad you're going to bring this fence to the ranger's attention, Sky King. That doesn't seem right if it's BLM land.

Love the photo!