november rides....outside and inside

[ny biker]

Last night's post-work hill ride was rained out, but the sun was out today so I'm planning a ride tonight. It's been breezy today too so I hope that has helped to dry out the leaves on the roads.

I've got some new clothes to try out. I have an Endura fleece jersey that's hi-viz pink with lots of good reflective bits, but it's not windproof. Some months ago I scored a Gore windstopper base layer on sale from TE, so I'm going to try it tonight under the Endura jersey. I'm thinking I'll wear a lightweight wool layer under the windproof top.

[Crankin]

Temperatures are going up, but there is still quite a breeze, but not 40 mph gusts like yesterday. It was 33 at 8:30 AM, and even though it was predicted to be 40 at 10, when my rescheduled group ride starts, I knew the real feel would be less. I got the urge to go to yoga and I did...
But I came home and got on my heavy commuter tights, a heavy base layer, regular LS jersey, and my winter jacket. Wore my heated gloves. The wind, and increasing clouds did make it feel colder,and I was, for once dressed correctly. Just did a little 11 mile loop, to get fresh air and continue my mindful feeling from yoga. This helped me when I started feeling like complaining about my slow speed. In fact, when this happened, I slowed down, and in the end, ended up with same average I usually have at this time of year.
It is going to be warm this weekend, 50-60. Doing 25 with a friend tomorrow, and not sure about Sunday.

[ny biker]

I rode about 17 miles last night. My pace was slower than usual and my legs were feeling it at the end (and this morning). But after not being on the bike for almost 2 weeks and lots of sitting and eating during that time, I had no expectations of speed. This whole year has been a fitness yo-yo for me -- every time I reached a point where I felt I had built up some strength and endurance, something happened to keep me from riding and cause me to start all over again. But, what matters is just getting out and riding when possible and enjoying the experience of it.

The new outfit that I tried out -- lightweight wool long-sleeved base layer, Gore Windstopper baselayer, Endura fleece jersey -- would have been good for slightly warmer temperatures. It was 45 when I started and a few degrees cooler when I finished, probably closer to 40 in the middle of the ride when I was in neighborhoods with lots of trees and creeks and relatively little pavement. I started with a vest on top of it, was able to remove the vest about a third of the way into the ride, but had to put it back on towards the end. I was comfortable going uphill but cold on the downhills and when I picked up speed on flat roads. The Windstopper fabric does indeed block the wind, but the base layer has a mesh fabric in back and on the insides of the sleeves. This kept me from overheating, but it also made my arms cold. So I will probably not use this same outfit again until the spring when things start to warm up again. In the meantime I want to test the Windstopper base layer with a Pearl Izumi jacket that I have. The jacket has a fleece inside and a wind resistant outside. I always seem to need a vest over it in order to be comfortable, so I'm hoping this base layer will combine well with it.

[Crankin]

Rode 24 slow miles with my friend this afternoon. Really beautiful out, about 50 and sunny. The real feel was 47, but after about 10 miles, I had to take my head cover and glove liners off. My ears were a little cold, but I had already experimented with pushing it up behind my ears, and I was still sweating. Usually taking the head cover off is the only way to stop this, as I didn't have a heavy jacket on, just a light wind jacket, a thin fleece lined jersey, and a short sleeved base layer. My fingers were starting to get cold at the end, as the light full finger gloves I have are vented. Then I noticed a hole in the index finger.
I stayed behnid my friend for quite a bit, as I just felt dead, but in the end I did go ahead. Average was still really, really slow, but I planned it this way. It's going to be 60 tomorrow, so I want to be good for a long ride with DH.
I had a flu shot yesterday, so maybe I am a little achy from that? Last year, I felt kind of sick for a day after the shot, but nothing like that this time.

[rebeccaC]

Started a little later than usual for a santa monica mountains ride cuz the friend I was riding with can be a ditz and didn’t show up until 11. She’s an incredible climber though and it’s always a good challenge riding with her so I didn’t mind the wait that much. After the coast ride on the way out we rode up the steepest canyon road into the mountains, a 9 mile 2000+ft gain ride with some up to 12% grades. Madison has a smooth constant flow to her motion that helped my climbing with my first rides watching and talking to her when I first moved here. She's been a large influence on my determination and riding technique. Her willingness to help others become better riders and her positive attitude are gifts that i've always truly appreciated. We did three good climbs off and back to Mulholland hwy and came back down to the ocean at leo carrillo beach. Beautiful riding weather in the low 70’s the entire mountain part of the 78 mile ride.

We stopped at the Urth cafe by the beach in santa monica on the way home and took some drinks and their incredible cheesecake to the beach and watched the sunset....a good ending to a good ride

[salsabike]

Beautiful photo, rebeccaC. Thanks.

[Crankin]

Did a hilly 14 mile ride yesterday, before our Chanukah guests arrived. Weirdly, it was only 2 degrees warmer than yesterday, but it felt much warmer. I was a bit overdressed, but same scenario as yesterday, took off the head cover and glove liners, and dealt with it.
I have so much eating this week... last night, and tomorrow is my anniversary and we are going to a really great farm to table restuarant that is extremely hard to get into. Then Wednesday is my bike group's Chanukah party. I am planning on riding before the eating, but there is also an alternate hike. The past 2 years I've hiked, but it's not that fun of a hike, and the group goes too slowly for me. I've ridden at this party when it used to be up in Portsmouth, NH, and we would ride along the coast. For the past few years, it's been very close to where I live, which is nice, but I've let the cold weather give me an excuse.

[ny biker]

I did a 34-mile ride on Saturday. The weather was great, sunshine and in the 50s, and I think it was around 60 at the end. We rode to a small market/deli on the western shore of the Chesapeake and sat on their patio in the sun. They were playing Christmas music. There have been so many hot summer days when we've stopped there looking for ice, cold drinks, a table with an umbrella to shield us from the sun. Not this time -- the sun felt great. It was a bit cooler by the bay though, so it took a while for us to warm up again on the return ride. The water was a beautiful shade of blue and there were a few sailboats. I wished I had brought my camera.

[Crankin]

I got myself out the door and did my group's 23 mile ride before the Chanukah party. There was a 33 mile ride that was supposed to be at regular pace for the group, but then someone added in the shorter ride. Hence, the longer riders were going to be averaging 16 or so. I looked at the route, and said no way, so I suited up and and planned to be going slowly. But, I was surprised, although at the end we slowed and my average was way low, it did not feel slow for most of the ride. I stayed behind the leader (or 2nd behind him), and since there were only 8 or 9 of us, we stayed together, as there was no downloaded route for this ride. We didn't need to use human arrows, either, just waited twice. It wasn't like we were riding anyplace i hadn't been, except for one neighborhood in Acton, where I haven't been in years. My kids had several friends there, but never ridden there. The ride was pretty flat, with enough small hills to keep me busy.
We got back before the other riders and the hikers. I was able to clean myself up a bit without tons of people clamoring to get in the bathroom. Food was awesome (this group likes to eat), but I was restrained. I did have a glass of wine, 2 PM, though! I did not stay for the Yankee swap, which often goes on for hours.
A very pleasant day, and I am glad I went. My only annoyance was the one guy who always is half wheeling me, passes me, and then I drop him when we get to a hill. He calls out "car back, 2 cars back, 3 cars back," as well as other unecessary things. But, I think he got the message today, without me saying anything...

[ny biker]

I got myself out the door and did my group's 23 mile ride before the Chanukah party. There was a 33 mile ride that was supposed to be at regular pace for the group, but then someone added in the shorter ride. Hence, the longer riders were going to be averaging 16 or so. I looked at the route, and said no way, so I suited up and and planned to be going slowly. But, I was surprised, although at the end we slowed and my average was way low, it did not feel slow for most of the ride. I stayed behind the leader (or 2nd behind him), and since there were only 8 or 9 of us, we stayed together, as there was no downloaded route for this ride. We didn't need to use human arrows, either, just waited twice. It wasn't like we were riding anyplace i hadn't been, except for one neighborhood in Acton, where I haven't been in years. My kids had several friends there, but never ridden there. The ride was pretty flat, with enough small hills to keep me busy.
We got back before the other riders and the hikers. I was able to clean myself up a bit without tons of people clamoring to get in the bathroom. Food was awesome (this group likes to eat), but I was restrained. I did have a glass of wine, 2 PM, though! I did not stay for the Yankee swap, which often goes on for hours.
A very pleasant day, and I am glad I went. My only annoyance was the one guy who always is half wheeling me, passes me, and then I drop him when we get to a hill. He calls out "car back, 2 cars back, 3 cars back," as well as other unecessary things. But, I think he got the message today, without me saying anything...

It's sometimes a fine line between calling out helpful information and being annoying. I know one person who always yells "Car back" in a very loud voice, even when there are only one or two people riding with her and we're all close together. But then there are the people who ride in front of you without giving so much as a hint about potholes and debris that you need to avoid...

Wednesday was chilly and cloudy here with fog expected at night, so I did my weekly hill ride on Thursday instead. We're having this unusually warm weather right now and it was in the low 60s with sunshine yesterday. But it was also kind of humid, especially after the sun went down and temps dropped to the high 40s, which were the conditions when I was riding. I was warm when I first started out, where I ride alongside a highway. But as I rode into the neighborhoods with less pavement and more creeks, it got noticeably cooler. On hot summer days it's great to reach the cooler part of the ride, but this time of year it can make it tricky to figure out how many layers you need. Fortunately last night I was dressed more or less correctly and was mostly comfortable, though it was chilly going downhill. Originally I planned to do the shortest version of the route but since I know I will probably have to start riding indoors soon, I decided to only take some of the possible shortcuts. In all I rode about 17.5 miles.

It was nice to see all the houses decorated for Christmas and to notice the different styles -- some were understated with just wreaths and electric candles while others had lots of colored lights and other decorations. One large house had a wreath in every front window -- I counted 12 plus the big one on the front door. (It's a beautiful house with a great front porch, I envy it every time I ride by.)

[Crankin]

Did 32 miles today. It's 55 out, and starting to feel slightly creepy being so warm in the middle of December. But, I'll take it.
We wanted a lunch destination ride today, but we didn't end up doing exactly as we planned. Still, plenty of climbing before lunch, nice lunch at Nancy's Airport Café, in Stow, and then back a very different way, that maximized flat, but busier roads. I was mostly dressed correctly, though it never felt quite as warm as it should have, as it was partly cloudy, with a steady light breeze. Tons of riders out today, as well as runners, walkers, and generally lots of traffic doing holiday stuff.

[ny biker]

We rode 41 miles yesterday. I led a club ride. The weather was fantastic, rising from 60 to the mid 70s. Some clouds in the sky but they were white, not gray, and there were patches of blue and peeks of sun. We rode a route that we've done many times before but not recently. It was a great day.

[Crankin]

I think we need a December thread, now that it's about half over...

[Helene2013]

Did only a 16km ride yesterday, but outside. That is very unusual for us. No snow, warm with a 8c. But I think that will be it for now as freezing rain tomorrow and temperatures will be dropping. But it was so much fun riding outside. In the end the sun was hiding and wind picking up so we got cold feet and the back of my neck was really cold. But for the rest of body I was good.

[ny biker]

I think we need a December thread, now that it's about half over...

Ha! I never noticed! Too many things going on right now -- December is flying by.

While Christmas shopping after my ride yesterday I stopped at REI and got some chemical toe warmers. I want to be able to wear them on top of the cleats in my shoes -- that is where my feet get cold (and they will get cold soon -- this weekend was fantastic but reality will be back soon). But I think maybe adding an extra layer of anything under part of my foot will cause discomfort. We'll see.

Glad you were able to get outside, Helene.