Wed March 26 Rides

[Mr. Bloom]

Yeah! The temp was 62 after work

12 miles at 16.7mph

Went to Lake Monroe - roads closed due to high water. Had to climb 23% peak grade (10% average) to get around the flood.

Used hand signals at a stop sign and had a driver come along side and thank me for doing it...unfortunately, he was so close that it unnerved me and I almost lost my cool. I just kept quiet and didn't respond. Roads were not good for conversation (winter sand residue, pot holes, and 8% downgrade!)

[RolliePollie]

Just got home from my most difficult ride of the season so far. 24.7 miles with about 1,600 feet of climbing. I'm trying to take it easy and not hurt my ankle, which I injured 4 months ago. Anyway, it was chilly and windy, and the roads are still really sandy from our last winter storms. But some of the trees are trying to bloom and leaf out so it was a very pretty ride. Near the end, which of course includes one of the worst and longest hills on the ride, I thought I was going to die. This ride would've been pretty easy for me last fall so it was a bit depressing to struggle through today. But I did it! It sure feels great to be out on the bike again.

[Zen]

It sure feels great to be out on the bike again.

Yup. It always feels good to be on a bike. Well, unless it's pouring rain, freezing , or horrible traffic.

But on a day like this no matter how far, how fast, or how hard, it's good to be on a bike.

I visited my FX at the lbs and rode around some (just to make sure it fits )
It fits

[sundial]

My rides are confined to road in front of my house. Every where I usually ride is either 1) under water or 2) closed to traffic. Wah! Anyone have cheese for that whine?

[Mr. Bloom]

Every minor road (the ones good for riding) that are east of Home #1 were under water all last week....even the one they just raised above flood plain

[KSH]

Sounds like nice weather there Mr. Silver.

It was 80 degrees here today... with winds gusting up to around 30 mph. Yea, no thanks. Being blown off your bike by strong winds one time... is one time too many!

So I came home and got on the trainer for my 1:20 interval work on the trainer.

[KSH]

Just got home from my most difficult ride of the season so far. 24.7 miles with about 1,600 feet of climbing. I'm trying to take it easy and not hurt my ankle, which I injured 4 months ago. Anyway, it was chilly and windy, and the roads are still really sandy from our last winter storms. But some of the trees are trying to bloom and leaf out so it was a very pretty ride. Near the end, which of course includes one of the worst and longest hills on the ride, I thought I was going to die. This ride would've been pretty easy for me last fall so it was a bit depressing to struggle through today. But I did it! It sure feels great to be out on the bike again.

Great job Sara! That sounds TOUGH! I can't imagine it. Here in Texas we are pretty spoiled. Mostly flat around these parts.

[lauraelmore1033]

Thought I'd take a stab at doing some of those there hill repeats people keep talking about. I didn't feel like doin' it in traffic, so I picked a hill I know of on the 520 trail with a 7% grade and 435 feet of elevation gain over 1.2 miles. I don't know if that is actually a "bad" hill or not, but it sure feels bad to me. I'm not big on doing these things in a regimented fashion, so I figured I'd climb the hill 4 or 5 times, in "gasping like a fish out of water mode" and call that an interval workout. During the third go at it, I was so pooped that I had trouble catching and overtaking a guy that was walking . The spurt that was required to overtake and lose walking guy just about did me in, so I decided that would be my last repeat. I'd also made the mistake of parking 7 miles away, so the ride back to the car seemed endless. Twenty miles in all, but I was toast. Next time I think I'll park closer to a shorter hill.