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Thread: August Riding

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Concord, MA
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    13,394

    August Riding

    I took a pretty nice 21.5 mile ride by myself this morning, before some really strong thunderstorms and hail moved in this afternoon. In fact, still going on.
    Went out about 9:30, when it was humid, but not so hot, and partly cloudy. I knew I wanted to ride west, but since i was on the edge of rush hour, I kind of decided my ride would be dependent on traffic and traffic lights, in the beginning of the ride. My route was not anything special, but I just don't usually go this way when I am by myself. Had several polite drivers wave me on in spots, as well as a few spots where I usually have to stop and wait, but there was no traffic. There was a detour as I was getting into West Acton, and I discovered a that the back of an elementary school where we start some of our group rides has a port a potty and some parking. Usually, we park in the front and if someone needs a bathroom, it's a block away. It got progressively cloudier as my ride went on, there was breeze, and it was shady, too. However, if I stopped, it felt oppressive.
    Felt good when I got home, and then spent the afternoon with my DIL, making a vegan chocolate cake for my granddaughter's first birthday, as we just found out she has a dairy allergy.
    2015 Trek Silque SSL
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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
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    After not riding at all, other than on the trainer, since my accident on April 21, I am getting very excited to get back out there. Although it's not a great time of year to head to Florida, I have to pick a place to stay for a year or more for my orthodontia, so we're heading back to Winter Garden on Sunday (from NC). So, early next week I should be able to ride outside again at last. Can't wait! It's gonna be hot and humid, and we'll have to get going early to beat the heat and the nearly daily t-storms, but I am so excited to be able to ride again.

    Will be interested to see how it goes after such a looooooong break!
    Emily

    2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
    2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
    2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Concord, MA
    Posts
    13,394
    Good luck, Emily. You can deal with the heat for one season and perhaps you can get away for a couple of weeks if it goes into next summer. I only had to see the dentist once a month at the end.
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  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    northern Virginia
    Posts
    5,897
    Yay Emily!!

    A dairy allergy for a baby... that can present a challenge. Do they think she might grow out of it? Either way, happy birthday granddaughter!!

    I was going to go out and ride after work tonight but my ankle has been bothering me and there's been a chance of pop-up thunderstorms. So I'm going to wait until tomorrow night. In the meantime I'm trying to plan a ride for Sunday. The weather looks like it will be great, not too hot at all, so it will be a good chance to ride in rural northern Maryland (there's no shade for miles up there so it's not good on a very hot day). I had a route all ready to go, but then learned that the road in front of the park where it starts is closed for construction until January. So now I'm working on rerouting it from a different starting point.

    - Gray 2010 carbon WSD road bike, Rivet Independence saddle
    - Red hardtail 26" aluminum mountain bike, Bontrager Evoke WSD saddle
    - Royal blue 2018 aluminum gravel bike, Rivet Pearl saddle

    Gone but not forgotten:
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  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Concord, MA
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    Yup, and there is a slight possibility that she has a soy allergy, too. Sigh... she inherited all of the bad stuff from my family. She's going to have to drink almond milk. Still on breast milk. Anyway, she went to the allergist Monday, so the dairy thing is official. They do think she may outgrow it, but only time will tell. She has an Epi-pen. She barely eats to begin with. My son looked like a concentration camp survivor between ages 3 and 6, because of his pickiness. She does not, she is just very little. I think it's behavioral. She actually pushes you away if you try to feed her. However, if you just ignore her, she will start eating, as long as it's something she likes. I think they will have their hands full with this one. She is very sweet, but fierce and determined as hell.
    2015 Trek Silque SSL
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    2011 Guru Praemio
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    2017 Specialized Ariel Sport

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
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    Traveling Nomad
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    Quote Originally Posted by Crankin View Post
    Good luck, Emily. You can deal with the heat for one season and perhaps you can get away for a couple of weeks if it goes into next summer. I only had to see the dentist once a month at the end.
    Yes, it totally depends on the ortho, type of braces, etc. I'm on a couple of ortho boards, and some people are only going in every 6-8 weeks. That would still give us time for some traveling! Once a month appointments would limit our options a bit, but not totally. And I'll be having to make semi-frequent trips to NC (unfortunately the part of it where we are and cycling is terrible) to visit my mother. She needs a lot of help now with my step-father's poor health and her being 82. I feel guilty even leaving her, but we've been here for over 3 months now and have gotten a lot of things squared away and where they will be easier for her between my visits.

    NY, so sorry your ankle is still bothering you. You've been dealing with that for awhile!
    Emily

    2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
    2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
    2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    north woods of Wisconsin
    Posts
    1,110
    Emily, that is wonderful news, just wonderful. I am happy for you. You'll do fine in that Florida heat. You've done it before. Plus, you'll need to keep rides short to get back into shape, anyway. Best of luck and keep us posted.

    August is a transition month for us, up here. We go from our short summer season into a more fall like weather pattern by the end of the month. Already cooling down, it seems. Highs in the 60s, today and rain. It's a bitter/sweet thing for me. I ride all year long, even in the snow, as most of you know, but I do enjoy my short summer riding season. Nice not to have to bundle up and just ride with a top and bike shorts.

    NY, I've been tuning the new Krampus to get it where I want, including the seat. You mentioned the seat shape in the July thread and I've also noticed the wide variety of seat shapes on some WSD saddles. Some do have more of a dome shape on top and some are flatter. I find the dome shaped saddles to be trickier to adjust. Not sure why that dome shape is there. Maybe it's a performance thing. I don't know. Anyway, best of luck.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Concord, MA
    Posts
    13,394
    Did the same 25 mile ride as last Friday, but it was just me and Jack, the other leader. No one showed up. He did change the end, but it was really hot and humid, and my stomach was reacting to some red onion I ate last night... so I didn't want to do the extra 5 miles. We both agreed to just go back to the start, as he was ready to go to the senior center and play pool! Without the stress of keeping up with the group, I actually had a faster average than the other times I've done this repeating ride.
    Despite the heat and my stomach, I am glad I went. Tomorrow is my granddaughter's first birthday party, so unless I am organized and do a short ride in the AM, before we go and before it starts raining, we will be doing a long and hilly ride on Sunday.
    2015 Trek Silque SSL
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    2011 Guru Praemio
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    2017 Specialized Ariel Sport

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
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    Quote Originally Posted by north woods gal View Post
    Emily, that is wonderful news, just wonderful. I am happy for you. You'll do fine in that Florida heat. You've done it before. Plus, you'll need to keep rides short to get back into shape, anyway. Best of luck and keep us posted.
    Thanks, NWG! Fortunately, I've gotten pretty used to heat and humidity again in NC this summer, though this last week has been much nicer than usual (lower humidity and temps -- I even wore a light fleece to walk my dog a couple of mornings, unheard of for here this time of year!!) But you're totally right that I will have to ease back into rides. I have been riding the trainer on my MTB but have managed no more than 45 minutes once a week, as it's so bloody boring, plus a pain to set up in our motorhome. It's just enough to keep me from getting serious saddle sore when I start back to riding in Florida. Hoping to get out on the trail sometime in the coming week. A bit nervous -- but excited too!
    Emily

    2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
    2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
    2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow

 

 

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