Wednesday July 9 rides

[sundial]

I went out with a friend to do a 28 mile jaunt. It was cool, overcast, breezy and just lovely weather compared to the heatwave I endured yesterday. Toward the end of our ride we got caught in a shower, but at least it wasn't a deluge.

Anyone else survive yesterday's heatwave to enjoy a ride today?

[MillieNZ]

but it was a beautiful sunny day....... just very cold winters day

I went out with DH for a lovely 20miles jaunt ............. although nearly got caught out getting dark as the sun went down............ felt good to be out though

(forecast for weekend - rain )

[Blueberry]

Spinervals here (enough with the afternoon thunderstorms!!). Can anyone just not stand when doing Zoot challenge? I just converted all the standing sprints to sitting sprints...but I feel like a whimp

[solobiker]

Taking time off from biking because I injured my back at work. Ride some miles for me. Thanks. Hope to be back out again in a week or two.

[mudmucker]

I'm on vacation. I love vacation. After yesterday's wilting in the noon heat, I said I wouldn't go mid-day again. I lost track of time with stuff I was doing in the morning and soon it was nearly 11 am. Shoot. But then I knew a front was coming through so I timed it. I said I'll wait till the clouds start coming in so it'll be cooler, and jump in on a ride before the actual rain. All I needed was an hour because I was going to do a short hill ride. My tendonitis is completely gone and I wanted to do some hills. So about 1:30 it got cloudy and I went out. Not only that, some very strong breezes were blowing to cool me off. Wind didn't matter to me today because I was going to be riding hills.

I go north into Royalston which is up. I like to use this route as a training hill. I also like to use this route to measure my fitness level and see where my legs are really at.

I had a very slow start to the season with some ailments and fit issues that I had to resolve. I know at this point I am not in the same condition as I was at this time last year and I may not get there at all. I'm not getting the distance miles in and I doubt at this point that I will actually do any real long rides. However, I have to stop comparing to last year's fitness level - it's counter productive, it takes the fun out of the riding, and if I try to match last year quickly I could re-injure myself. I vote for fun. If I can continue to do 30 miles errands by bike and commute to work then that will make me happy this year.

So I thought I was going to inflict myself with a painful ride but I ended up feeling great. I was spinnin' with the planets today, universe was aligned: clouds cooled things off, my legs felt great and had no pain, ankles and knees formerly with tendonitis was gone, hills did not re-aggrevate knees, I went up the hills feeling strong and good, and I didn't get winded except on a couple of sections (need to get a new HR monitor though). So although my legs and joints are stronger than I thought, I was still lacking in a bit of power (ok, compared to last year) but then, that's what training hills are for. Each time I do this route I can see a difference in the very next ride. So, next ride will be better. I am lacking in endurance still - I was glad when the last hill was finished and glad that it was only 12 miles - it was enough. But it was a good day.

So now post ride my legs feel great. Have I said I LOVE my new carbon shoes with Look Keo pedals?

[berkeley]

I did my first group ride with the company team at high noon.

I was so overheated by the time we got back to the office, my face was shockingly red. Like people stopped me in the hallway to say "Are you ok?"


It was a quick 15 miles at ~14.5 MPH. But the heat.

I biked to and from work also, so total for today was 23 miles in all.

[Crankin]

I went on a group ride today with my "old people" group. Well, not everyone is old, but there are a shocking amount of 70+ year olds. Most are 40-65.
We started from someone's house in Portsmouth, NH, about an hour and 15 minute drive for me. I was nervous about the weather... heat and humidity. The ride had been shortened to 35 miles from 45. Then a group of the "faster" riders decided to do the 45. I didn't go with them, because I really wasn't sure how I would fare in the weather.
I took my Camelbak with water and 2 bottles of gatorade. I drank all of the water and 1 and a quarter bottles. We rode to Nubble Lighthouse in York Beach Maine. Pretty and a little cooler up there. At one point I saw a temperature sign that said 96! And, did I mention the humidity? But, I felt fine. On the way back, I was frustrated with the pace, so me and a few others went ahead of the leader and then we waited for the group. Lots of pretty scenery , harbors, marshes. When we got back, we had a gala lunch, but it was hot, so I left at 3:30. The "fast" group was really late getting back; one of the older gents had crashed and was disoriented. He is a surgeon and refused to go to the hospital. I am glad I didn't go with them.

When I got home, I was cleaning my chain and it came off. I got it back on, and then felt the rear tire go flat! By this time it was thundering out. So, I changed the tire, really the very first time I did it by myself. I think Nubble Light is a jinx for me, since this is the only other place I have had a flat tire, on my century a couple of years ago. I can't figure out what happened. The tire was not flat when I took it off the rack and wheeled it across the driveway.
My husband found a hole in the tube when he got home, in a weird place. I am worried there's a cut in the tire, but I felt and looked and didn't find anything. Well, I guess I will find out tomorrow when I ride.

[sundial]

Taking time off from biking because I injured my back at work.

Oh no! Do you know a good chiropractor or massage therapist? I'll ride some extra miles for you until you get back into the saddle again.

[Susan126]

Got a 45 mile ride in today. Very warm and sunny. Stopped half way at the Black Diamond Bakery for FOOD! I was famished!


My Bike taking a break while I eat.


The Black Diamond Bakery.


MMMMmmmmmm Delicious! A turkey and swiss sandwich, chips, two pickle slices, and a cold glass of ice tea.

[OakLeaf]

I took my computer off the bike to charge the battery, and forgot to put it back on, so it's like tonight's ride never really happened

It was the same route we did three weeks ago, so at least I know the distance and elevation change: 37.68 miles, 1985 feet of climbing.

But I really missed my cadence monitor, and I really really miss comparing my speed and HR (especially going up the big hills) with the last time we did this loop. Particularly because I was feeling strong tonight, where last time I was feeling horrid and riding really slow.

I even got to play with the boys some I was totally intimidated when I got to the starting point because most of who showed up were the strongest riders and I was the only woman. But there was one guy I knew I could hang with, and the ride leader I can mostly usually hang with as well. As it turned out, the first guy was having an off night; we dropped him not long after we stopped for water at the midpoint. But the ride leader was riding strong. One of the really strong guys stuck with him for company and encouragement - and I stayed with them the whole ride Joined them for a few hill and sign sprints (not that I could sprint with them, but I could catch back up).

It was just what I needed to cheer myself up after a crummy few days.