July 9th Bike Rides

**hibiscus09** · 07-09-2006, 07:59 PM

hibiscus, I think I rode there... I did not like it either!!!

My legs are still aching!

**jeannierides** · 07-09-2006, 08:10 PM

Well, my ride was less than successful. My bf and I went out for our Sunday morning ride before I have to go to work. We came to a stopsign at a pretty busy road (out in the country - no redlights), and I slowed so we could clear. I thought he was clearing to the left and I cleared to the right, but I never heard him say anything except stop stop! By that time I had rolled too far into the road - I thought - to clip out without falling into the middle of the road, and so I just sped up & crossed right in front of a pickup truck! Stupid stupid. I just panicked and almost got myself killed. Of course when I pulled off to stop, my bf was all over me. I told him I just couldn't do it, so we turned around and went back. It seems every time I ride I'm getting less and less confident - more afraid of the traffic, and making careless mistakes. Of course he's pissed off, and I'm thinking I should just go back to jogging!

**salsabike** · 07-09-2006, 08:27 PM

Jeanne, don't quit! You might need instead to develop your own approach to things like stop signs, if BF's aren't working comfortably for you. Like, each of you could clear L and R just for yourselves. And...maybe you could tell him later, when everyone's cooled off, that it would be more helpful if he...whatever would work better for you.

We did our last big tandem ride today before next Saturday's STP. 60 miles around Lake WA, which we have now done so often that it feels fairly easy. How exciting that we've gotten to that stage! Just wish I had another month to do the kind of high-mileage weeks we've done for the last few weeks. KnottedYet, she of the sharp eyes, spotted us again on the trail going past TiCycles, and yelled out "Salsa!"---so we got to meet in person, and I got to pat her new Brooks B 67. Yay! TE ride to come after STP (Mimi, glad your knee is OK). Anyway, gorgeous day, no wind to speak of, great ride.

Fredwina, those pics of your ride are gorgeous!

**KnottedYet** · 07-09-2006, 08:58 PM

Well, Salsa, when we have the TE ride after STP you can ride the B67! I noticed the Frogs in the stoker position, and that's what's on my Kona, so you should feel right at home! MimiTabby and Quillfred are right.... Brooks are faaaabulous!

**Duck on Wheels** · 07-09-2006, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by salsabike

Jeanne, don't quit! You might need instead to develop your own approach to things like stop signs, if BF's aren't working comfortably for you. Like, each of you could clear L and R just for yourselves. And...maybe you could tell him later, when everyone's cooled off, that it would be more helpful if he...whatever would work better for you.

I agree. Communication is complicated, not least within a close relationship. Keep the riding simple. Each look both ways. Each also warn the other (like calling out bumps, gravel, cars approaching) but don't assume that what hasn't been called isn't there. And if you're feeling extra nervous now, maybe find a quiet road/park/bike trail for the next few rides to regain your confidence, practice clipping and unclipping, and so on. The more aspects you feel you can do more or less automatically, the more of your attention you can give to aspects that can't be automated -- like watching the traffic.

**Fredwina** · 07-09-2006, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by tprevost

Great Job Everyone...

I just did a quick 10 mile recovery ride to our campground and back. Fredwina, I SO want to do Glendora Mtn!!!! I hope to get over there in the next month or so but I'm sure it will take several tries before I get very far up the road

Tracy

Tracy,
My club does this as a club ride from time to time. We leave from Claremont. Some folks go up to what's called "the shed", and some keep on going to Baldy Village over Glendora Ridge. It's about 50 miles either way. with either 3000 or 4000 feet of climbing. It should be on the schedule for Sept. or October.(too hot right now!) I'll repost back unless I hear great clamor for a TE- only ride,
Going up from Glendora , It about like the climb on railroad canyon for the hemet century, but 7 miles long. and its gorgeous up there. Always blows me away that it's only 5 miles from LA

**jeannierides** · 07-10-2006, 04:48 AM

Well, thanks, girls. I am not sure what I'm going to do. I love the idea of riding, and I love how I feel after I ride, but the rides are so full of what I'm not doing right (not gearing up at the right time, not gearing down at the right time, not staying close enough to the shoulder, worrying too much about the huge SUV's that seem to want to feel the paint on my bike), that I start out worrying about every little thing that I'm *going* to do. (And, of course, I DO understand that not fully clearing before crossing is not a little thing.) I realize that this whole thing is going to sound like I'm blaming him for my own inability to be consistant, and that after 2 1/2 seasons of riding I should be getting better and not worse.

**limewave** · 07-10-2006, 05:04 AM

DH and I did a 50 mile ride through rolling farm country. We stopped at a little cemetary for a picnic. It was beautiful, very windy though. We averaged 23 with the wind and on the way back only 16 mph. This was the first ride we have been able to do together in almost 3 years. It was wonderful.

**Kalidurga** · 07-10-2006, 06:12 AM

Jeannierides, maybe what you need is to practice riding without the BF. I'm sure he's a great guy, but even the most well-intentioned people can expect you to do it their way and get frustrated with you if you don't. If you can find a women's only group to ride with or, as Duck On Wheels suggested, get out there yourself someplace where there's less traffic, you could develop the confidence and skills necessary to not worry about what he thinks you should be doing. In riding, the most important relationship is between you and your bike, not you and your riding partner (even if it is a BF/SO/whatever).

Any bad ride should be a learning experience, not a confidence-breaker.

**tprevost** · 07-10-2006, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by Fredwina

Tracy,
My club does this as a club ride from time to time. We leave from Claremont. Some folks go up to what's called "the shed", and some keep on going to Baldy Village over Glendora Ridge. It's about 50 miles either way. with either 3000 or 4000 feet of climbing. It should be on the schedule for Sept. or October.(too hot right now!) I'll repost back unless I hear great clamor for a TE- only ride,
Going up from Glendora , It about like the climb on railroad canyon for the hemet century, but 7 miles long. and its gorgeous up there. Always blows me away that it's only 5 miles from LA

Fredwina,

I don't think I'd want to try it for the first time with a club; not sure I want any witnesses

BUT, great reference point (RR Canyon) as I live in Canyon Lake which is off RRCyn so I know exactly what to expect!

I may try to get over there in the next few weeks and putz around the bottom for a mile or so, then go up the 8-10 miles. Can you PM me directions to the base from the 15?

Thank you SO much!

Tracy

**kerrybelle** · 07-10-2006, 09:28 AM

I went with a group of friends for a great 34 mile ride. I live in a relativley flat area with some rolling hills, but nothing with very much grade at all. We drove up noth and I found that I can ride up some good hills. Lucky for me the steeper ones weren't too long. Still, I'm sure these hills aren't as steep as other areas, but for me they were pretty steep. I was thrilled to make it up up everything!

I even beat my husbands average speed by .01 mph. They couldn't believe it, since he goes down the hills sooo much faster than I do! Going down the steep hills really scared me! None of it was too easy but I did it and am thrilled about it. The other milestone was that I now have 1027 miles on my road bike. I only got it last August and didn't ride it over the winter months.

Kerry

**Kimmyt** · 07-10-2006, 09:33 AM

First century! w00t!

**alpinerabbit** · 07-10-2006, 10:31 AM

I rode 60 km to a mountain pass and back, the Schwägalp (note it ends by that chalet, not up in the sky). This was the last training ride before the Engadin bike marathon next Sunday, except for the carbo loading run I will do Wednesday.

It was hot and humid (for Swiss standards that is) - I lost 1 kg of weight between early morning and getting back, despite downing water as often as I could.

Jumped into my parent's pool on returning. Yeehaw. This morning I didn't feel a thing in my thighs. And that's diametrically opposed to what certain pro riders believe: that too much water (read showers) are bad for your muscles. There are some that are said not to shower at all during multiday tours

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