Weekend Rides?

[redrhodie]

I did my lbs ride yesterday. It is really growing in popularity. There were probably around 30 of us.

We headed in a different direction than we've gone before, but I knew the roads well. It used to be my old commute years ago, back when I had my Dolce. It made me feel good to remember how hard this route used to feel to me, and how strong I felt yesterday. We were averaging 18 uphill at one point. Not too shabby.

We rode into Ninigret Park and did a few laps around the crit track for "fun" . Oh, the memories. I think I found my suitcase of courage lying there, battered and empty, from last September. Ha.

At one point, the road was covered in rocks the must have spilled from a truck. Golf ball sized. They came up fast and the we didn't see them until it was too late. Luckily, no one fell, but I got hit in the head by one that was kicked up by a passing car. Thank God for helmets.

Other than that, it was an awesome ride, with some of my favorite people to ride with. But, the continuing growth of the group makes me nervous. It feels more dangerous.

[Gypsy]

I had a great ride today. Super windy, but the temperature was great, the sun was shining and I felt so alive. This is why I ride my bike!

[Slowspoke]

I am feeling rather smug about beating mother nature. I was whining about needing to go grocery shopping and how ugly it was to shop on a Sunday. Crowds of rude people are not my thing! I checked the weather channel and it said rain at 12:30 through 2. I thought great, when I get home in the rain, I won't be able to ride. DUH I jumped off the couch, grabbed my dog (he runs on the walkie dog when I do short rides) and off we went. We got in a quick 4 miles. It still has not rained but the radar looks really ugly. Now I am going to wait a few hours so I don't have to unload groceries in the rain. Lesson learned? Ride first, chores don't go away!!!

Hoping to get in a longer ride tonight. While I wait this out, I think I will try to make pop bottle fenders for my commuter.

[Kubla]

Although my first 2012 ride was unusually early for me (late March), I wasn't able to ride again until today due to scheduling/weather issues.

Beautiful weather-sunny, a little breezy and warm enough to ride without a jacket. My goal was 10-12 miles; I managed 13+ and could have easily stayed out longer. (I say easily now, but I would have paid for it dearly tomorrow if I hadn't stopped when I did.) The route was a perfect combination of gentle hills, scenic stretches and straightaways that invited some short sprints.

I had to cross two busy roads (at a crosswalk) and am still amazed at the motorists that will not slow down for a "pedal-destrian" around here. Or, one side will stop to allow a crossing-while the other side speeds on through. <Sigh>

[Crankin]

Did another 32 miles today. It's about 78-80 and partly cloudy. Good thing, for the cloudy. We did one of the rides we lead, but made it a little shorter so we could eat lunch at a convenient spot. Only one big hill, lots of rolling hills. This ride goes through Concord, Sudbury, Stow, Acton, and back to Concord. I won't even say how slow my average was, but it was sort of intentional after yesterday's sufferfest. My back is a little wacky, but not as bad as it was when I woke up today.
It's supposed to be 90 here tomorrow. They are very worried about the runners in the marathon. I think I will be riding in the early AM.
There seems to be about 2-3X the amount of traffic this weekend. What is going on?

[Reesha]

I did somewhere between 50 and 60 today. The first 30 were so pleasant and easy and I really should have been putting two and two together. Basically I had a 30 mph sustained tailwind the whole way out. On the way back? A 30 mph sustained headwind with gusts up to 46! I also forgot my sunglasses since it was cloudy and getting dust, bugs, and other debris blown at you at those speeds is really unpleasant. Also my eyelashes were getting blown sideways! And then I failed to put on sunblock and my arms are nice and pink. Ugh. Well, at least I have palmer's cocoa butter formula on hand, and at least the first 30 miles were great!

[redrhodie]

I did somewhere between 50 and 60 today. The first 30 were so pleasant and easy and I really should have been putting two and two together. Basically I had a 30 mph sustained tailwind the whole way out. On the way back? A 30 mph sustained headwind with gusts up to 46! I also forgot my sunglasses since it was cloudy and getting dust, bugs, and other debris blown at you at those speeds is really unpleasant. Also my eyelashes were getting blown sideways! And then I failed to put on sunblock and my arms are nice and pink. Ugh. Well, at least I have palmer's cocoa butter formula on hand, and at least the first 30 miles were great!

I know how that feels! I call it paying the piper. I think it's better you didn't know in advance.

[Reesha]

I'd never have gone out had I checked. Well I might have done an E-W route instead. That tailwind was mighty nice! Too nice! "Paying the piper" is an awesome expression!

[bluebug32]

I did 48 miles and 4,450 feet of climbing today. Was a gorgeous, summery day so I wanted to take full advantage of it. Lots of other cyclists out (including many women!).

[Catrin]

I feel lazy today after reading about the other rides, but I did manage to get out and put in an easy 20 miles after the winds slowed tonight - it wasn't the ride I had planned for day but I will take it After all of the food I ate at church this afternoon I HAD to get something in regardless!

[Owlie]

I didn't go out. It didn't let up here until close to dark. I'm going to take a break from writing this scholarship application and get in some time on the trainer...

[makbike]

I got an early start but not early enough as the winds kicked up about 20 miles into my planned metric century. The first 20 miles or so were great but then it became a battle - the cross winds were literally moving me on the road and the head winds were unbelievable. The best I could do was hit a top speed of 11 mph while riding into the wind. Needless to say it made for a tough 62 miles but I completed it and glad I did. I have 2 1/2 weeks let in my prep plan before DH and I tackle our first century. Hope the winds die down by then!

[azfiddle]

Yesterday was rainy and extremely cold for April in Tucson. And did I mention windy (30 mph with gusts over 40). So I didn't ride but my DH attempted a 600k brevet. He finished 400k at 4 am and decided not to get up and try to finish this morning. Kudos to him though- it was brutal!

Today I rode 10 miles through Tucson to go to the twice a year "bike swap meet". I only bought a cookie from the youth cycling club but there was a gorgeous Specialized Amira with Ultegra at one booth for $3000- probably could have been negotiated down. I'm happy with my Ruby though. Then I rode to meet friends for a relatively easy ride - ended up about 25 miles or so.

We're usually part of a group that doesn't stop anywhere but for water/snacks/restroom, but we got sidetracked by a chalk festival at the mall, and stopped to draw our own pictures. Then we took a little back road to see the miniature horses and long-horned cattle. It was fun.


Sorry, I don't know how to turn that one picture from being sideways.

[WindingRoad]

Saturday I rode, not far, at all. Did my first 'real' mountain bike ride since moving out east. It was a bit harder than I originally thought it would be but I survived. I did cut out early because I was just getting so mentally fatigued and I didn't want to crash just because I was tired. I will say I crossed my first creek and actually went down two VERY steep downhills. It's a good thing my bike better at descending than I am, otherwise that could have ended badly. I went back to that park again today to do a trail run on much of the same part we rode but managed to find a whole bunch MORE trails in the process. Kinda cool. This of course was my first trail run in a LOOOOONG time so I know when I wake up in the morning and I can't move I will be thinking of ways to roll out of bed and crawl to the bathroom. I did some stretching this evening to hopefully work some of that pain out of my muscles but only morning will tell. Wish me luck that I can move... goodnight everyone.

[luv2climb]

Rode Rattlesnake Bar Road between Pilot Hill and Folsom Lake. It's another nice route with over 3,000' of climbing in only 22 miles. I've only ridden this road one other time (October 2010), and back then it was part of a longer ride so it wasn't nearly as pleasant due to almost bonking.

I got stung by a honeybee in Pilot Hill. It flew in my truck and had hitched a ride in my lap for God knows how long. I didn't notice it until I put my left hand in my lap and got stung in the pinky. Luckily the healing effects of exercise eliminated the pain within a couple minutes of climbing on my bike and riding away.

The bee was on the bottom of my shirt, so I walked over to a nearby bush and used one of the branches to nudge the bee off of me without having to touch it. The stinger stayed in the bee, so I had to be extra careful.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/168639182

Here's my usual sufferfest video full of suffer sounds on the climbs, so be forwarned!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQfZW8mod0E

Here's the pics I took on the way back to Pilot Hill from Folsom Lake.

Top of first big climb heading towards Folsom Lake


Top of second (and most difficult) big climb heading towards Folsom Lake


Private road sign