March 24 rides!

[SouthernBelle]

Today was my weekly long ride in my century training plan. I slept way late so didn't get started until after 9. Planned on wearing my new jersey and shorts. Put on the shorts and knew immediately that I did not like these shorts (Cannondale Botanica). The leg grippers were uncomfortable. The strips of fabric down the sides that have the pretty decoration are almost sheer. I wore them about 10 minutes around the house and changed. Back they go.

The weather was gorgeous, 70-80s and sunny, windy at times. Despite that I was kinda draggy. Plus my feet hurt after about 20 miles. By 30 they were becoming an issue. So I got in a little over 44 miles rather than the 48-50 I had planned.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Susan, 44 miles is a great ride, and will strengthen you in your training probably just as much as the ride you had hoped to do.

DH and I had a really nice 20 mile ride after breakfast this morning- it's my "new" favorite route now. Lots of variety and rolling terrain. I felt good all over.

I gave my bike a pretty thorough cleaning afterwards, as I had let road spray and mud accumulate for the past 3 weeks or so. Scrubbed all the gears and chain too, and lubed everything up. Looks so PURDY now.

[makbike]

I took part in the 60 mile club ride that started less than a mile from my house. It was great to ride on roads I knew. The first 30 was easy (nothing major in the climb department) and the second 30 was a killer (lots of climbing). The best part of the ride was I able to ride with my BF (this does not happen very often). We both made in home in good time and in good spirits (he knows his rebuidling program is working and I know all those endless hours on the trainer were worth it). There is another 60 mile club ride tomorrow and I'm giving it some thought. Regardless I will ride tomorrow either with the club or by myself for it is suppose to be 80 and sunny.

[Crankin]

We lead our early spring warm up ride #1. We had 8 people, all nice. I was quite nervous at the beginning. I lead for about 6.5 miles, when I felt my groin muscle getting a little weird. I always feel like crap in the beginning and I did not like the feeling of having some of the guys on my ***, so after that i traded with my husband and I swept. Pace was a bit slow in the back, but more pleasant for me for my first longer ride of the season. One woman was really struggling on the hills, but did great. Near the end, the chair of the club's bike committee was slowing down a lot in front of me, so I made him stop and eat when he said he had a leg cramp. He was wearing shorts at 50 degrees, which I think contributed to the cramp. I stayed with him for about 5 minutes, and we caught up to the group who were waiting. I lead for the last 4.5 miles; I sometimes feel like I am just warming up when other people are getting tired!

No crashes, weirdo riders, or other catastrophes. Three of the guys joined Steve and I for coffee in Concord Center at the finish. A very pleasant day, just under 30 miles.

[SouthernBelle]

Lisa, Hope you're right!

Makbike, I looked to see whee your town was. I was hoping you were further south.

[Celeste]

Today was also my Century ride long training day with my TNT group. Goal miles 60...On the map it was just a little over 58. Smaller group today than usual; I may know why now. That was a rough ride between the wind, some on and off rain and very slick roads, dogs chasing us (lots of them..I felt like dog bait!), worms dangling from trees on some kind of weird sliky stuff , freeway feeder road riding with traffic and construction, debris and I now think I am having saddle issues.

We had longer stretches today between rest stops. First was 10 miles; second was 10 miles and the next two were 15 each. The last was 8 miles or so but I think that 8 miles was the hardest because we were mostly on the feeder road with so much traffic you could not call out and communicate very well. Lots of debris too. Several people got flats today.

I made it to just over mile 58 when I heard my back tire pop. I could see the end of the ride location but my tire had punctured as well as the tube. Grr. Oh well, SAG wagon to my rescue and I rode in the van the last half to three quarter mile. What a bummer! But hey! At least I made it that far!

Definately an interesting day to say the least! This is a distance record for me! Yippee!! My computer said 58.15 miles! Hooray! We took my beautiful Celeste Bianchi to the bike shop for a new tire so she is now cleaned up and back to normal. Now I am going to put my feet up. Ahhh!

Have a good week ladies!!

[SheFly]

Robyn - great day out for your ride today! We have to get it in now - I heard it's supposed to freaking S*** tonight... Sigh.

We got out again today as well, for a longer ride. Went with DH and another friend, plus a couple on a tandem. We did some pretty good hills (headed to Harvard...), and after 57 miles, my legs are toast.

I feel good about 125 miles in the past three days though. That puts me at 160 for the week, making this my biggest week of the year.

Now PLEASE, Mother Nature, can you skip the snow????

SheFly

[Kano]

Thirteen point somethin' on the new Roubaix!

Thru subdivisions, and for a while I was sure we were lost -- met some darling little girls, "why are you riding your bikes here?" and "we ride our bikes here" -- and the BIG question, "what's that thing on his glasses?" (DH's mirror)

New bike handles beautifully. possibly needs a little adjusting in the shifting, but maybe that's just I need to learn how to use them! I had a weird noise at first, only while pedaling, which of course concerned me. Surprise, surprise, it went away after my first drink from the camelbak -- I guess the ice shifted into a comfortable position!

What a beautiful day in our neighborhood!

Karen in Boise

[mimitabby]

Lycra at the Opera. our ride leader on the right...

Okay, the morning came early, dark, rainy and windy. Raleighdonson is a night owl.
How was I going to wake him up before 8am? Besides, it was dark rainy and windy.

We decided to drive to the theater in Redmond which was showing the Barber of Seville LIVE from the NY Met.

DH at the last minute offered to take us and our bikes to the theater so we could just ride home. OH. I liked that idea.

Raleighdonson just got a brand new Raleigh one way; a fixie, and was unusually eager to ride; so we did.

Me on SPD's for my first real ride, he on his new bike for his first ride of any distance.

The opera was fantastic, funny, beautiful catchy lyrics... then we went to a THai restaurant for a late lunch, and when we left it was pouring. But then it stopped. We hardly even got wet! we rode along the Sammamish river trail
at a scorching 16 mph for a good ways, following a couple on a beautiful lavendar Mercian (yes, now that i've decided to get a Davidson I will be dogged by Mercians) eventually we quit following them and slowed to a pleasant 14 mph.

I was enough behind my son to watch a drama of a dog on too long a leash that charged him ... Raleighdonson went off the trail handy-ly, and did not get hurt, and the dog owner was sufficiently aroused so that when i came by the dog was firmly in his grip.


All along the way, I unclipped and reclipped my right pedal, the whole ride went off FLAWLESSLY.

Thanks everyone for your support, suggestions and encouragement

[roguedog]

Went out on a gorgeous ride from Sunnyvale to Saratoga with an apprehensive, nervous co-worker.

He had some troubles with the hills but other than that was a wonderful little jaunt for him.

Afterwords, in true newbie style, we went to the bike store so he could get clipless pedals, sidi shoes, a real bike jersey and some spare tubes.

We even went to his place so he could ride around clipless just to test the waters. Went fine. He even faked an emergency stop just to see if he'd panic and fall over. He did fine.

Woo.. he ain't ever gonna ride with me again cuz it's too expensive ) (since I couldn't get Mimi to spring for a custom Ebisu, I had to make someone else pay today )

Evil One aka RD ....

[mimitabby]

you're pretty good Roguedog, maybe it's good (for me) that you live in another state!

[DebW]

I missed Robyn's ride today because I didn't get home from Harris Cyclery until 12:45 and her ride started about then. I did get out at 4:00 pm with dh for an 18 mile ride. It was windy and I was still tired from yesterday, so only averaged 15 mph. Dh got a flat (big staple) near the turn onto our street so I went home, got the car, and picked him up. Then he decided to change the flat by himself. He needed a little coaching (No.! No! No tools to install the tire! Now push up the valve stem. Now check the seating.) Good that he is practicing tire changes.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Mimi, great photo!!!

I just LOVE that you and your son are both enjoying bike "firsts" together. How wonderful is THAT?

[SouthernBelle]

Way to go, Mims! Fun wasn't it. After a few rides, we want your opinion on the difference.

[Fredwina]

I did a 300K(190miles) brevet in "only" 18 hours! In between the 11,000 feet of climbing and 20 mph wind, it was a day to remember! Report to follow