April rides

[Crankin]

I went out yesterday morning, with rain threatening. It was warm, though, about 64 and humid. Rode 15.8 miles, through familiar, beautiful roads in West Concord and Sudbury, and decided to come back by way of a more main road in Maynard, to my home, so I could get some flat riding and get my average up! My arm warmers were off after mile 8.
Very glad I went out, wished I could have gone longer, but I had a lot of stuff to do, and I didn't want to go grocery shopping in the rain. Got back in a timely manner, and I only had winds and sprinkles while shopping.
When I was leaving, both of my neighbors were out there, when I brought my bike out from the basement/backyard, into the parking area. One of them runs and also rides. She is probably 10 years older than me, but is in great shape, so maybe I can have another riding buddy.
Winter returns tonight, with snow and cold temperatures for the next 3-4 days. Sigh.

[azfiddle]

I've chalked up two commuter rides: to work and back on Friday, plus a trip to the bakery for a total of 22. Today I rode across town for a workshop I was a co-facilitator for. I broke the rules and brought my bike inside the university building but then no one else was using the building except us. About 17 miles today. The weather, which has been unseasonably warm all through February and most of March was cooler than usual yesterday and close to normal today- but very pleasant temps in the low 70's on the way home.

[azfiddle]

"Let's go for a breakfast ride tomorrow" I said. "Fine" he said, even though he woke up a little late. "How far do you want to go?" he asked. "Not 60 miles!", I said (thinking maybe 30.....). "Let's get in a little climbing first" he said.

So I let him decide and we went east and north although unbeknownst to me he was set on trying some special tacos at a restaurant on the far west side of Tucson. We got to "breakfast" at mile 43, around 1 pm, by way of the "loop" path that encircles Tucson. There we were at the trendy new courtyard shopping and restaurant plaza. "If they're still serving breakfast I want the breakfast burrito with avocado" I said. He stood in line to order while I waited like a vulture for a table in the shade to open up. "I got you the avocado torta" he said. "What? I wanted the burrito!". "I heard you say avocado" he said. It was interesting - a big toasted roll with beans, avocado, a fried egg, tomato slices and some chipotle dressing - but not what I really wanted. I ate part of it. Then 10 miles more home for a total of 53 miles.

Husbands- gotta love 'em.

[Pax]

I really hope to get out soon, the snowbirds are heading home and they finally finished the construction surrounding our place, now as soon as the pollen goes I'll be good to go.

[Crankin]

That breakfast sounds really good, AZ.

[azfiddle]

Crankin, the breakfast he was dreaming of was something a friend told him about: beer battered deep fried avocado tacos (we've been trying out being vegetarians). The torta was good but not what I planned on: eggs, potato, avocado burrito. I don't particularly like fried eggs with runny yolks.

We only recently discovered this place. I had another breakfast place in mind, but was happy to do the longer ride- most of it was flat on the multi-use path that nearly encircles Tucson.

[ny biker]

I could never do a breakfast ride -- I have to eat a couple of hours before riding or else I'll pass out. I'd have to make it a "Breakfast II: The Sequel" ride.

We had a big all-class ride scheduled for Saturday morning, with routes of different lengths for different ride categories all starting at the same place and sharing a rest stop. I was supposed to lead one of the rides. It's in a pretty flat area, which is not ideal for the training I need to do right now, but I figured that pushing myself to ride fast would make it useful. But then the weather intervened and we had rain in the morning, so the ride was postponed for a week. The forecast for the next day did not look inviting -- under 50 degrees and windy -- but the Saturday rain was expected to end by early afternoon. So I made plans to do an afternoon ride with a friend. We used a cue sheet from a ride we had done about a month earlier, 36 miles with a decent number of hills including two that are steep. I'd say it seemed slightly easier than when we rode last month, but not by much. So I still have work to do! There were a few random raindrops near the beginning and the sun was behind clouds more often than not, which kept things on the cool side. But pollen levels were down thanks to the rain, and overall conditions were good for a nice ride.

I considered riding again on Sunday, either joining a friend for a short ride or just easy pedaling on the indoor trainer while watching TV. But instead I decided to go out for a walk.

The all-class ride is rescheduled for this Saturday, and right now the forecast says cold and windy. I don't think many people will show up if conditions don't improve -- people who don't usually ride through the winter won't have the gear or the motivation to ride in the weather we're currently expecting. I mean, I do ride through the winter and I'd rather not go out on a cold windy day, especially when the forecast for the next day is much better. I'm actually struggling with the commitment I've made to lead rides like these, because I have no say in whether or not they get canceled when the weather is bad.

[Crankin]

NY, when I do a breakfast ride, I eat a small breakfast before the ride, like whole grain cereal with almond milk and fruit, and we plan to eat the real breakfast at a place not too far from home, so we don't have to ride far on a full stomach. Or, if the breakfast is in the middle, we make sure we have digested a bit, and proceed slowly at first.

[emily_in_nc]

20 miles in the neighborhoods + one rural road around my mom's place on a gorgeous spring day. Started out in the upper 50s, ended around 70 degrees. Sunshine, low humidity, and light winds that started picking up at the end of the ride. Gorgeous azaleas & flowering trees everywhere. Lots of green green green. Doesn't get much better!

Due to a large number of RV projects plus family time plus cooler than usual spring weather many days, we're only getting in around one ride per week while in NC, but I guess that's enough so we don't fall completely out of cycling shape. We're still hiking around the very hilly campground daily and doing some workouts inside a couple of times a week.

[pericat]

We went for a short ride with the dog this Sunday; he's getting on toward 11, so going at dog speed is not fast. But he's not bad, paces really well for short bursts. We were in the middle of the island, on some Crown lands, pretty rough in spots. It was lovely weather; almost summery. Stopped to listen to some wrens, and then to nibble chocolate while lying about on moss in the sun.

[azfiddle]

Pericat, that sounds lovely!

[ny biker]

Your dog looks like a nice riding companion.

[pericat]

It was! We like to go out that way on weekends once the drier weather starts. Take dog and bike into the middle, then flop onto moss and read, nap, eat a bit of lunch or apples. There's a dogwalking group that comes through pretty regularly while we're there, so we'll be invaded by the furry masses as they go and have to batten the lids on any edibles...

If I get this right, this is a pic from last year, high summer in the woods, that's my partner:

[pericat]

Thank you! He's a good buddy; he makes me go slow enough to hear the birds.

[Pax]

Pretty pup, pericat!


I got to ride today!! Guess the gym and working for a living is helping (I have to walk some at work), my legs felt much stronger and I went a bit farther.