August 3 rides

[sundial]

Hubby got up early to meet with friends for a ride out in the farmlands. My mtb was really calling to me this morning so after they left, I loaded up and headed for the woods. I saw a goose, large fish, wild ducks, and a squirrel. It was a perfect ride--quiet, tranquil, and the relaxing.

How was your ride?

[mudmucker]

No ride for me this weekend. I am in West Virginia in a hotel room right now. I have been called on to provide expert testimony on a wind farm project I'm working on. Hearings begin Monday. I am told it will not be hostile. Although green energy, there is a lot of strong opposition to wind farm development. I will tell you now, I'd rather be on my bike.

I will be here through Thursday, so no riding. Not much riding last week either, as meetings with attorneys in preparation, precluded riding.

[Mr. Bloom]

I am told it will not be hostile. Although green energy, there is a lot of strong opposition to wind farm development.(

Green Energy in Coal Country...like Oil & Water... Good Luck!

I did 19 miles at the TriCourse with Silver - matching yesterday's personal best of 20.5mph. Then an easy 10 mile ride home while Silver did more loops.

Came home and had a hearty portion of scrambled eggs with cheese & chicken, plus an apple with my peanut butter/honey/raisin dip.

On this staycation, I topped 500 miles in the last 8 days. I think I'm taking tomorrow off.

[Becky]

How was your ride?

Truthfully, it sucked. (but I guess we all have those rides every now and then.)

DH and I met a coworker at a local park for a ride. I had some qualms about this guy being much faster and more skilled than me, so I asked him earlier this week if he'd take it easy on me and he assured me that he would. I don't have to worry about DH- he's always willing to stay with me.

Well, 2 minutes into the ride, Coworker and his friend hit "the Bathtub", a 30 ft. halfpipe- that was a good indication of the ride type and pace. DH and I both got dropped 10 minutes into the ride, at a park that we haven't ridden in ~8 years, and it became a ridiculous game of trying to find the other guys. So we split from them, rode for another mile or so, and went home. All said and done, it was 3 miles

<whine> I'd like to believe that I'm in decent shape and a capable rider, but today's ride made me feel like I needed training wheels. Especially disappointing after Friday's awesome ride. </whine>

Any ladies in the DE/PA area want to meet up for a moderately-paced, no one-gets-dropped ride someday?

[Zen]

Green Energy in Coal Country...like Oil & Water... Good Luck!

As a former West Virginian I can tell you not everyone there is big on coal. Ever hear of strip mining aka mountaintop removal?

<whine> I'd like to believe that I'm in decent shape and a capable rider, but today's ride made me feel like I needed training wheels. Especially disappointing after Friday's awesome ride. </whine>

You are in decent shape and a capable rider. IMO, the guy was a bit of a jerk and shouldn't have arranged to ride with you it he didn't intend to stay with you.
This is why I ride alone.

[7rider]

Becky, that's a pet peeve of mine. If you make plans to ride with someone, then you ride WITH them. If you're faster then them, for Pete's sake, slow down or wait for them. Do your race training another day. Didn't you plan to ride WITH someone?? Some folks have a hard time understanding the definition of "with". "With" does not mean "drop" or "tear the legs off of them." Come down and ride with us in Maryland!


Today, the shop ride took off like it was shot from a cannon. I don't know what kind of dope the lead guys were taking, but between blisteringly fast pace and traffic lights, the "group ride" got splintered into 3 or 4 sub-rides. Fortunately, I guess, I was at the back - as usual - with my C-ride buddies. We had about 15 on our ride...a fine size for me. Lots of smack talk. Lots of chit-chat. A few newbies. It was a fun ride, although a bit slower overall than last week. We don't need no stinkin' racer boys!

Did the extra loop through the park, so I came in with about 39 miles, just shy of 18 mph.

[mudmucker]

Green Energy in Coal Country...like Oil & Water... Good Luck!

As a former West Virginian I can tell you not everyone there is big on coal. Ever hear of strip mining aka mountaintop removal?

Believe it or not, most of the contention is about visibility issues/visual aesthetics, and avian and bat mortality, among some other socio and economic things. Some people don't like looking at them, and some people are ok about it. There is extensive consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office, in addition to assessing proximity to National Forests and such, with these projects. In addition to numerous bat and bird studies.

I wanna be on my bike. I guess I'll have to do that vicariously.

[Becky]

Come down and ride with us in Maryland!

I'd love to- where do y'all ride?

And thanks, Zen, for the the kind words. I needed that today. Now, to work up the nerve to ride alone!

[amy]

I had my hardest, longest, solo ride in traffic yesterday. So, I was feeling a little lazy today, but still wanted to go out and ride. So my husband and I went to the Rose Bowl and I kept a consistent pace for him on his inline speed skates. We don't often skate/ride together, so it was nice. The plan had been I would ride up the hills back home and he would drive, but I sat and talked with him in the shade and then threw my bike in the truck and went home. I didn't have it in me to do more hills. Yesterday was ALL uphill.

[Fredwina]

I was going to Chino Hills to get some photos of the non-existent quake damage. but I didn't wake up early enough, so I only made it to Chino before I had to turn around and head to church.
once I got there , I had a surprise:

we're in the midst of a massive remodeling project. the entrance was torn up to make it ADA(Americans with Disabilities Act) Compliant.
Then on the ride , I must have ran over something. I stopped to pick a goathead out of my tire. It's not good when you hear the air escaping out of the tire after you remove the thorn now try five thorns in one tire. So I changed the tire. And then I forgot what I going by CVS for.
But got home before it got 90, and had a good time, and that's what counts!

[bmccasland]

26 miles, 6 on road, 20 on the levee, where the "breeze" was plotting against me. I swear I had headwind both ways most of the way. Average speed was 15mph, of which I was happily sailing along at 19, and not believing I was only doing 13.

And on my way home, the road is being repaved (we have concrete roads, so it's more like pouring very large sidewalks). Anyway a bubba in a large black PU, got behind me, the lane next to me is torn up - gone - and he toots his horn. Where was I supposed to go??? But when we get past the construction zone, and head over to the other lane, and I turn and wave very cheerfully to him as he guns past. Geeze, it was only one block that he had to follow me.

Not all PU drivers are jerks. Had a couple hang behind me as I was making turns or proceeding from a stop at a traffic light, until I'm safely clipped in and rolling along. They could have passed me, but didn't. Guess the drivers weren't sure I was going to be steady, but I appreciate that they patiently held back.

And despite staying hydrated, and all that, I feel like crap. Am I being paid back for having the wild hair to rearrange my bedroom/sewing room? THAT only took 4 hours yesterday. Didn't eat dinner until 8 - cause I didn't feel it was that late.

[BarbaraAlys]

No ride for me today. I didn't get on in early in the morning because of my company being here, and now it is 105 degrees.

I'm not sure how I'll get a ride in all week, it will be so hot after work. I wish I had a shady path...

Barbara

[redrhodie]

I did 26 miles, and felt really sluggish. I figured it was the wind and hills, and the fact that I'm a bit sleep deprived. Then, when I got home, I realized my front brake was rubbing . Doh! I adjusted the brake, took a long nap, so hopefully next ride I'll see a difference! Anyway, it was a great workout. I slept like my new kitten (hmmm, wonder why I'm sleep deprived? ).

[sundial]

I did 26 miles, and felt really sluggish. Then, when I got home, I realized my front brake was rubbing . Doh!

I was out riding and thinking, why do I feel so sluggish? Must not have my mtb legs. Turns out my rear brake was rubbing. Doh!

[redrhodie]

I was out riding and thinking, why do I feel so sluggish? Must not have my mtb legs. Turns out my rear brake was rubbing. Doh!

Good to know it happens to the best of us .