July 26 rides

[pfunk12]

I missed the shop group ride this morning. Did you do it, 7rider? I came to the conclusion that I need a lifestyle change. I'm not getting enough sleep during the week so I tend to play catch-up on the weekend and sometimes I miss the early group rides. That's an entirely different post/thread.

I left my home later in the morning and went into the park. I had a feeling that I would be seeing a few of the group cyclists based on my timing. I was cycling by myself when I came to a dangerous curve in the road. I always, always slow down there. And because the curve is on a fairly steep descent, you are most likely going very fast. I saw a woman cyclist on the other side of the road where the curve begins - motioning me to slow down. I slowed and asked her what was going on and she told me that there was an accident. My first thought was that it was one of the shop riders. I came around the curve and saw a few cyclists near the guardrail and a few cars that had stopped. I asked one of the cyclists what had happened. He said that he was coming up the hill when he saw a cyclist coming down around the curve. I'm assuming that he was going too fast, couldn't manage the curve and he missed it. He flew over the guardrail. The roads were also slick because it had rained a lot last night. It was a horrible scene. There were 2 people kneeling down with him telling him to hang in there - that the ambulance was on its way. It had just happened - about 2 minutes before I got there. He was drifting in and out of consciousness. I am assuming that at some point, he was alert because they knew his name (he had been cycling alone so no one at the scene knew him). They were patting him saying, "Max...stay with us, Max. The ambulance is coming." A few of the shop riders came down the hill and stopped and asked if he was okay. When they heard that he was unconscious, they all muttered (like me), "Oh sh*t". We all left because there was nothing that we could do and the very narrow road was getting blocked by us and the vehicles that were stopping. As I got to the bottom of the hill, the fire truck and ambulance were headed up. I thought about that guy during my entire ride and I still can't stop thinking about him. I hope that he is okay.

[7rider]

Oh, that sucks. Was that on Ross coming down the hill from the loop off Military? A stark reminder why DH and I don't like riding wet roads - particularly in Rock Creek Park which stays wet long after the rain has stopped and is frequented by fast moving cyclists (often in packs). You have precious little rubber in contact with the road on a bicycle. Consequently, DH and I stayed home, had a big breakfast, and supported the local economy a bit (went shopping).

[pfunk12]

It was Ridge Road. You know how when you add on the mileage in the park and you go up Ross Road...get to the stop sign...make a left and go down Ridge? It was that curve close to the bottom of Ridge before you get back on Beach. I can see how anyone can easily be going too fast and not being able to manage the curve. When I left the scene, I caught up with a B rider - an older guy who's 19-yr-old son does the A ride. When he first saw the accident, he assumed that it could be his son. He said that his son has had his share of cycling accidents and non-cycling accidents. You were smart to stay home. I took it easy during the entire ride.

Oh, that sucks. Was that on Ross coming down the hill from the loop off Military? A stark reminder why DH and I don't like riding wet roads - particularly in Rock Creek Park which stays wet long after the rain has stopped and is frequented by fast moving cyclists (often in packs). You have precious little rubber in contact with the road on a bicycle. Consequently, DH and I stayed home, had a big breakfast, and supported the local economy a bit (went shopping).

[Crankin]

39 miles in really gross humidity and moderate heat. I hate riding in weather like this, and since it's been so cool this summer, I feel less acclimated. We didn't go out until close to 2 PM, after watching the Tour. So, the decision was to do a very slow hill ride. Our first climb started at about 4.5 miles and even though i was going 6-8 mph, I felt like cr@p. Finally warmed up after that, but i was ready to pack it in and do just 20 miles when DH convinced me to go to Harvard and Bolton. Most of this route is shady, so that helped. I actually got into a good rhythm on the longest climb, but when I got to the top, I had already finished my bottle of Acclerade and stopped to put some Nuun in my second bottle, which was plain water. Also poured some of my DH's water down my jersey.
After a nice downhill section, my DH slowed a lot and we made a left to go over a highway bridge. For some reason, my chain slipped, and as I was putting it into the big ring to get it back, I heard someone whip by me and snarl "on your left." I was about to call him a bad word, when I realized it was our cycling friends! They weren't sure it was us, since we were going so slowly. We stopped and chatted for a bit and then we went on. When we turned toward Concord, it started thundering and I pondered taking a shorter route that involved yet another climb, but we went on, after I had to stop and loosen my shoes and get another Gatorade at a gas station in Acton. The thunder held off until we were pretty close to home and I was happy to finish, but happy I did the ride.

[TrekTheKaty]

I was almost sidetracked by a new sport--kayaking! Then, I realized I could go for my morning ride with family, then go home, change and load up the kayak--repeat. I cycled around Creve Couer Lake, then returned for a paddle. Now I know how to get away from the crowds on weekends Came home and watched the end of the tour. DH was so proud I did a double workout that he took me out for dinner!

Now if I can just figure out how to haul my bike around with my kayak. Maybe I can drag Lightning around on a tube behind me!?

[NoNo]

The forecast called for storms and it was supposed to be hot and humid. So I told my parents and brother to get to my place for 9AM and we'd ride in the morning then go out for breakfast. 13 miles along the shore, thankfully before the heat kicked in. Got to breakfast just before the church crowd, then made my dad and bro put the A/C in my living room It was only noon and I couldn't see just sitting around all day, so I took them to the hiking trails in town and we walked a few miles. Spotted lots of wildlife, sloshed through the mud, and enjoyed the shade of the forest. It was a very good day

Edit: While we were riding I spotted something I'd never seen before: a self-powered lawn mower. Think one of those Roomba vacuum things, only for your lawn. It even managed to not go over the ledge. I guess there's no excuse for not getting the lawn done now!