Weekend Rides?

[Jo-n-NY]

2 great riding days on Long Island. Saturday preroad the route I was going to lead on Sunday. Then Sunday went without a hitch as I didn't even have to look a my cue sheet, saw that my Garmin was working just the way I wanted, except for one little thing that I have to figure out, no biggie so this ride was test for that also.

I hope with Spring officially coming in tomorrow the whether remains and we can say good bye to winter

[rubysoho]

I pledged to ride 85 miles this weekend because I had $85 left to raise for a Tour de Cure ride (ended up getting $75 worth of donations! ).

What I had originally planned to do was split the mileage up between yesterday and today. Except I worked yesterday and the threat of t-storms made me decide to not commute the 26 miles on my bike (I had an event to work so I couldn't be soaking wet!).

That meant 85 miles today. And I did it. And I sort of regret it but at the same time I don't. It is neat to know I could do it (though the last 20 miles wasn't easy!). I'm not sure I gained anything from it as far as training. I was really sore from the saddle beginning after mile 50. Sitting on the couch now I feel okay, legs are tired, but I'd probably cry if I had to sit on the bike again.

6:26:28 was my saddle time. Overall I took a little more than 7 hours with breaks.

[Catrin]

Awesome job Rubysoho, and you met your goal

[limewave]

Way to tough it out Ruby. Nothing feels better than sticking to and accomplishing a goal. Very impressed . . .

I did a gravel road race over the weekend. I was super-duper-quadruple stressed about it because I have been slacking on my training and my diet! I kept thinking I would get motivated and I never really did.

I had pre-ridden the course a few weeks ago and it was awful. My goal for the race was to average around 14.5 MPH (based on some friends finish times from the previous year). During the pre-ride, I could barely manage 11 mph and I was in serious pain and suffering.

Mentally, I was preparing myself for a good dose of humiliation. My DH was very encouraging. I overheard him on the phone with his friend--one of the guys I prerode the course with--and he was saying "one thing about Whump (that's me) is that she always manages to pull it out for race day, don't count her out."

Saturday morning, I found my race legs. I ended up averaging 15.5 mph over the course, beating my goal. Mid-race I decided I really, really wanted to finish in under 2:20. I busted my chops and came in at 2:19:45 and even passed one of my rivals in the final 2 miles. Its the first race that I have ever finished before her.

It felt great For those interested, I'll post a race report on my blog later this week.

[Catrin]

I can't wait to read your race report Limewave! It sounds like your rocked that race, thanks for sharing!

[deeannef]

Had a fun ride for our canine friends on Saturday in Redlands, CA. Great time with some good climbing and unfortunately way too much fog in the beginning.

[AppleTree]

The northwest weather parted long enough this weekend to do a 45 mile ride on the Centennial Trail! Gosh, I hope the weather continues to cooperate this spring for our training.

It was VERY cold to start. When we left the house it was nearly 40 degrees, and I thought, "that's not terrible", but by the time we got to the trail it had dropped down to 32...brrr. It was supposed to warm up to 56 or so later, and I did not put on the thermal tights. My knees were the coldest, at least I had warm gloves. I didn't warm up till I had cranked out five miles.

Anyway, it felt great to be out in the nice weather, and I did my best mph for a long ride, nearly 12...usually I can only manage MAYBE 10 or so...pretty good...for me anyway! I have really been trying to improve my speed.

I would have stopped to take more pictures. It was such a pretty morning, but as I say, I was trying to improve my speed for once.

The second photo was taken near the trail, just outside of Snohomish. So funny, with all the shoes covering it, I am not sure what the story is on that one.

[AppleTree]

Not sure why, my photos weren't included in the last post:

[Catrin]

Awesome ride today, 80 minutes and had no pain at all. Indeed, I felt stronger on the bike than I think I ever have 16 miles in 80 minutes and given that part of that was in the wind I am pretty happy with that!

[azfiddle]

Yesterday was a bit on the warm side- really starting to need more water. We did a ride east of Tucson on Marsh Station Road. Lots of nice desert out there, and although it parallels the railroad and freeway it's usually somewhat separated. 60 miles back to the car, but I talked the DH into picking me up 3 miles down the road so I could make it a metric century. I was pretty slow - I've ridden a lot this month and my legs could really feel it.

So today- no bike ride. We went birding instead, until the wind came up.

[Crankin]

On Friday Hiakukibou and I did 23.5 miles (for me) on one of our shorter routes. My legs felt really dead and I was just overall not feeling it! Good thing that Hirakukibou wasn't either, so we generally had a lovely, social and sunny ride, with temperatures around 46 degrees. I had been complaining about my shifting since DH put the new cassette on the rear with a 28, as my chain was being really wonky. On Friday, I realized it was my front derailleur that was causing the issue, as I could barely move it up from ring to ring. DH fixed it on Saturday.
Yesterday, it was kind of raw and cold, with rain in the AM. I thought I would run, but I still felt off, from allergies. So we drove to the museum lot at the North Bridge, walked into town, stopped and had a glass of wine, and walked back to the car. Today we did our first ride of the season with our friends, about 24 miles. A lot of climbing and felt much better. It was still kinda raw and cold, but we had fun on local roads that I haven't been on much this year.

[Antaresia]

I did the 50km ride today!

http://j.mp/HBrGT6

Ride Time: 2:21:57
Stopped Time: 39:29
Distance: 33.20 miles
Average: 14.03 mph
Fastest Speed: 28.29 mph
Ascent: 1047 feet
Descent: 1076 feet

Not bad considering I was riding my steel cx commuter! I don't feel bad when carbon fiber clipless team-kit people pass me, haha. It was beautiful, biking along the water front and I want to do it again, but on my own. I didn't enjoy it as much as I should have, trying to keep up with the faster bikers.

It was an organized ride, so I got a pin for doing it. I'm so happy about that, I feel legit.

[Fredwina]

I did a Donut Ride for Biciclista's DH - Ralieghdon:
Troy Lock

Mohawk Hudson Trail:

Cohoes Falls on the Mohawk:

Break Time:

That felt better:

[MojoGrrl]

I have a century coming up this weekend and really needed to get some miles in, so I did 63 miles yesterday with a new friend, with tons and tons of climbing, and got my first bee sting on the bike. It happened only about 15 miles in and I just kept going...it wasn't bad yesterday, but it's horribly red and swollen today. I went back out today for some more climbing and I'm exhausted.

[Owlie]

I've been doing short (14.8--the trail is well-signposted and I know how far my turnaround point is from the lot I usually park at!) rides after class to get used to my newly-fitted bike. So I rode last Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, and Monday of this week. Today, my knee was really unhappy with me for some reason--and it was my left, somewhat unusually. It might be the yoga...

I must say, I'm looking forward to it getting light (and warm) early enough for me to ride in the mornings. Trying to get to the trail during rush hour is a PITA!