Gentlepersons! Your ride report pls.

[Too Tall]

Needed a few days recovery after leadup to first hard race of the season...took a few days.
M-W - Nada
Thurs. 1X20, Leg speed in the AM.
Friday - Leg speed AM. Sprints PM
Sat. - 30 miles endurance.
Sunday - 70 mi. HARD like a criminal. 1/2's in the training ride made it ugly.

Is it summer yet????

[Dr. Doofus]

Had a hard week with school -- your doofus is still learning how his kids learn, what works with them, and what doesn't (for those of you not in education -- you can't teach all kids the same way. AP, Honors, "College Prep" (an inflated term for kids who are, really, just average) and Tech students all have different learning curves and styles. Poor, working class, middle class students all have different perspectives on school, learning, and behavior that they bring to the classroom. A great all around teacher - which doof is not -- can figure out quickly how to work with the complex matrix of backgrounds and skills that he or she has in a given classroom. Your doof is a specialist - he is really, really, good with AP and Honors kids, and struggles with everything else. And last week he was one step short of a breakdown because it just wasn't working with his his two classes full of poor and working-class "college prep" kids...but now he has a clearer idea of what things to try, and if they work, they work, if they don't, well....)

Anyway.

M -- Rest (no bike. drove to Charlotte to install bars, which weren't there. Put on some Deda trad shallows to see if they'd work). Didn't get home until an hour past bedtime.
Tues -- Fried from school and the late night. Broke a spoke on the Gunnar. Wheeled out the Giordana and hated the round bars. No ride. Ran for 35 minutes and became stupid sore.
Wed -- Ungodly sore, no ride. Drove back to Charlotte and put the now-arrived WCS anatomics on the Giordana. Much better.
Thurs -- truly terrible day at school. Fatigued, depressed, and all-around ready to crack. Came home, went to sleep at 5, woke up at 7, had a dinner of 8 oz single malt. Yummy.
Fri -- Hung over. Rode 1 hr easy on trainer. Legs still sore from Tues run.
Sat -- 1 HR ez on trainer in the morning.
2 hrs simlulated crit solo. Found a 2 mile loop with five turns on it out in the country. Rode at threshold for 50 minutes, except whenever there was a headwind (each time around the north side...20 gusting to 35) doof punched it over the threshold and held it for two-three minutes). 1 Hour eeasy spin after.
Sun -- windy, cold, crabby. Long talk with the wife about things. 35 minute run with the dog. 2 hour ride with a tight hamstring (screw this running crap).


Today: feel happy, refreshed, ready for an all-bike month and some racing.

[dirtdigger88]

Dirt had a disapointing week-

Last week I was feeling stronger than I ever had this early in the year- now look a me- a wasted pile of rubble

I was only in town three days last week- it rained all three days

Were I was only has gravel roads for miles around- and it was but cold out

I only got about 70 miles in since last Sunday :crap: See this is why my dreams of racing greatness always get squashed year after year- My life is too damn busy to train consistantly- This morning I had every intention of riding early before work- but my son decided to not sleep for much of last night- so when the alarm went off at 5:45- I hit the snooze :rolleyes:

If I sound like I am complaining- I am not- I am just comming to a realization that I will never be able to ride my bike as often as I want- I have to learn to be happy with ridding as much as I can- :)

Jason

[RABikes2]

Sun -- windy, cold, crabby. Long talk with the wife about things. 35 minute run with the dog. 2 hour ride with a tight hamstring (screw this running crap).

Today: feel happy, refreshed, ready for an all-bike month and some racing.

Stretch! And go race yer bike. Screw the running (I said the same thing 5 years ago). :p

[e-RICHIE]

i only had time for two 80km rides this weekend
but i did spot the afikoman during my last interval.
e-MENACHEM

[M_A_Martin]

Ginger spent her week prepping for a Trails 101 class at her favorite trail. Spent more time hiking than riding. Hiked 6 miles last Sunday researching and laying out some needed reroutes (real hiking boots and uneven ground for the new ACL...it did ok, but kept me off the bike for the week.) Did a 5 mile hike with the park manager on Friday morning to get approval of the proposed reroutes.
Saturday started cold and a bit cloudy, but not bad. A few people showed up early to do some chainsaw work on the new routes. I hiked two miles to the reroute and back. We got back from that fun in time to start the class. I had lots of RSVPs for the trail day and the trail building class (who wound up not showing). As the class started, so did the cold rain. Within an hour it had turned to snow.
The core group showed up though and we learned a lot in a short amount of time because all but one of us are experienced trail workers, we just needed the class to be certified. We all learned new stuff though, or were reminded of things we had forgotten...Proper tool safety, work rotations, duffing techniques, easiest bench cutting method, closing trails 101, etc. By the end of the class we decided we weren't doing any actual trail work because mose of us couldn't feel our toes anymore.

It snowed all Sunday and I stayed inside and slept the day away.

Good news is I get released from PT today and I'll be able to ride my bike more (PT takes up bike time...). I'm not even 70% yet, but I can't tell if I'm coming or going so we decided it would be best if I took a break. YAY!

[Len J]

Rode a good 3 hour 50 miles last sunday.

Traveled all week got back in Late Friday night after 3 hour plane delay.

Saturday was looking wet and windy but rain stopped about 9, got out at 9:30 on the fixie with a friend. Worked hard as the wind was steady at 15 gusting to 30. Did a great 3 hours including 3 X 10 minutes above LT (God that hurts) and a downwind leg where I was spinning a 42 X 17 at some ungodly cadence for 15 minutes trying to stay on top of the gear at 28MPH without bouncing. I think I saw either God or John Lennon thru the spots. Ended up with 3 hours.

Sunday, 3 of us started out for an easy LSD ride first 1.5 hours into the wind, and then working to keep the heart rate up with the wind. Another good 3+ hour ride that left me famished.

9 hours in 3 days of riding is about as good as I can do now with travel and family......I'll take it.

Len

[zap]

Tried to do some intervals on Thursday, but cold rain shortened my ride as one of my tendons started tightening up.

Other than that, farted around on the roads last week playing with new toys :banana:

[davids]

i only had time for two 80km rides this weekend
but i did spot the afikoman during my last interval.
e-MENACHEM
L'shanah Tovah, e_RICHIE!

A recap of my week:

It was school vacation week for my wife (the school nurse), although not for my daughter (the private school kid). So I was free of the morning drop-off responsibilities, if not free enough for a vacation. But I did get to ride more:

Monday: Patriot's Day here in Suffolk County. I get the joy of a family ride all over Hull. We take in the sights at a leasurely pace - Nantasket Beach, the giant windmill at Hull High. Bad Chinese for lunch, but a fun afternoon with my wife and daughter. 22 miles in 4 hours... It's the first time my daughter's been on her bike since October. Tough kid.

Wednesday: In the middle of my normal solo loop, I pass a young woman and give her a friendly wave. She catches up with me at the next light, and we strike up a conversation. I decide to do the friendly thing, and ride with her. She's fast enough so that I don't feel dragged down, but the next 10-odd miles are relaxed. (I like riding with other people! :) I'm not doing it enough right now. :() When I break off, I'm feeling fresh and strong, so I go full out on the way back. 22 miles at 16.4 mph. A very nice ride! p.s. This was the first truly warm day this season. The warmth felt really, really good!

Friday: Another solo ride on my loop. I'm pushing, but feeling tight and slow. Turns out I wasn't - 22 miles at 17 mph.

Saturday: Pouring rain. I help with the charoset (both apple and date this year - Yum!), set the table, review my notes for the Seder (We're hosting for the first time in years) and wecome our guests. The bike stays dry.

Sunday: The rain ends as I say goodbye to my in-laws. My friends have already bagged out, so I'm on my own. I do an extended version of my morning loop, riding south into the wind, and then home with the wind at my back. 29 miles at 17.4 mph. I like this trend! But I'm ready for some more distance. Soon, I hope...

[93legendti]

L'shanah Tovah, e_RICHIE!...


Did the calender change? I think you might be a little early. :)

The good thing about being allergic to wheat like I am is not having to train and eat matzah!


32 degrees and 3-5 inches of snow...the trainer was my best friend...

[davids]

Did the calender change? I think you might be a little early. :)
It's one of our new years, isn't it? Check out Exodus 12:1 - 3 (I was perusing this for my Seder prep...):

12:1 YHWH said to Moshe and to Aharon in the land of Egypt, saying:
2 Let this New-Moon be for you the beginning of New-Moons, the beginning-one let it be for you of the New-Moons of the year.
3 Speak to the entire community of Israel, saying: On the tenth day after this New-Moon they are to take them, each-man, a lamb, according to their Fathers’ House, a lamb per household.
...and so on...

Now that I've defended myself - Oops!

Happy Passover, all! :beer:

[Marco]

What did you receive for having found the afikoman? Do tell...a shiney new red bike?

e-Moishe

[flydhest]

What did you receive for having found the afikoman? Do tell...a shiney new red bike?

e-Moishe

that would be enough.

e-seth

[Too Tall]

I gave the afikomen-kids Kennedy Half-dollars.

[davids]

TT,

You got off easy - $10 Target gift cards to ours... But it was, you know, worth it. It's for the afikomen!

[RichMc]

Monday --- Out for a 55 min ride after work doing a loop around Kailua. Kind of an easy pace at 16.4 mph average.

Tues -- Had to keep the shop open later for customer who was stuck in traffic. Got home. Got bike ready to go & gear on but got called by my sister 1 minute before out the door for short ride. Family problem discussion lasted 45 minutes so no ride.

Wed -- Hit the Kailua loop harder that night at 17.5 average for just about an hour.

Thurs -- Same route but at 17.6 average. It sure seems like I'm working a lot harder for a stinking .1 mph avg gain. Damn.

Fri -- night off with girl friend. A little pau hana down at Gordon Biersch.

Sat -- Cleaned up the Douglas Fusion and off to Island Triathalon and Bike for a "swap meet". Sold the Douglas! Now I've got some extra dough to invest back into the Marcelo I bought from Dave T. :banana: Girl friend went to her place for a few hours. I went home and pulled that Marcelo out into the sun. Sorry to say but the pictures Dave posted don't quite do the paint job justice. When this frame is all cleaned up (not that it's really dirty) and assembled I'll try to post some more detailed shots of Dario's workmanship.

Sun -- Did the Haleiwa Metric Century. Went the whole 100 klics. Got off to a bit of a fast start just to clear traffic. Somewhere around Sunset beach I hooked up with four other guys and we got a nice little paceline going at around 23 to 24 mph. There was good group cooperation and we ended up passing quite a few other groups in front of us. As we went around Kahuku point the brunt of the trade winds hit us and then punished us all the way down the coast. The average speed dropped to 19 to 20 mph. This was getting to be hard work but I managed to hang in there and still pull when my turn came. At about an hour fifteen into the ride a new guy that we picked up went into the lead with me in the #2 spot. Instead of staying at 20 mph he jumps the pace to 23 mph and that just blew my legs. Had to slid out and back and faster than I can type this I was dropped. Got to work with a few other folks on the return leg and that was fun. Managed the 100 km in 3:11 for about a 18.7 avg. In retrospect that was good for me but I hated getting dropped like that. Geez, the faster you become it ends up to be even harder work to get faster and stronger.

[coylifut]

Monday --- Out for a 55 min ride after work doing a loop around Kailua. Kind of an easy pace at 16.4 mph average.

Tues -- Had to keep the shop open later for customer who was stuck in traffic. Got home. Got bike ready to go & gear on but got called by my sister 1 minute before out the door for short ride. Family problem discussion lasted 45 minutes so no ride.

Wed -- Hit the Kailua loop harder that night at 17.5 average for just about an hour.

Thurs -- Same route but at 17.6 average. It sure seems like I'm working a lot harder for a stinking .1 mph avg gain. Damn.

Fri -- night off with girl friend. A little pau hana down at Gordon Biersch.

Sat -- Cleaned up the Douglas Fusion and off to Island Triathalon and Bike for a "swap meet". Sold the Douglas! Now I've got some extra dough to invest back into the Marcelo I bought from Dave T. :banana: Girl friend went to her place for a few hours. I went home and pulled that Marcelo out into the sun. Sorry to say but the pictures Dave posted don't quite do the paint job justice. When this frame is all cleaned up (not that it's really dirty) and assembled I'll try to post some more detailed shots of Dario's workmanship.

Sun -- Did the Haleiwa Metric Century. Went the whole 100 klics. Got off to a bit of a fast start just to clear traffic. Somewhere around Sunset beach I hooked up with four other guys and we got a nice little paceline going at around 23 to 24 mph. There was good group cooperation and we ended up passing quite a few other groups in front of us. As we went around Kahuku point the brunt of the trade winds hit us and then punished us all the way down the coast. The average speed dropped to 19 to 20 mph. This was getting to be hard work but I managed to hang in there and still pull when my turn came. At about an hour fifteen into the ride a new guy that we picked up went into the lead with me in the #2 spot. Instead of staying at 20 mph he jumps the pace to 23 mph and that just blew my legs. Had to slid out and back and faster than I can type this I was dropped. Got to work with a few other folks on the return leg and that was fun. Managed the 100 km in 3:11 for about a 18.7 avg. In retrospect that was good for me but I hated getting dropped like that. Geez, the faster you become it ends up to be even harder work to get faster and stronger.

Great ride report Rich. I plan on coming back out in January. Maybe we could to the metric century route. Sounds much like some of the roads I rode when I was out there last.

Are you doing any lifting?

[Todd Owen]

Saturday ... rode my 25m route... short by most of the other reports but it is at 5400 ft. and includeds 3 pretty good hills. Took out the CSi and after one season of feeling like I was sitting too far forward.. moved seat back just a bit and up barely. what a difference. My friend Gary only dropped me by 50 yards on the big climb not the usual 100 yards. I think I was just too far forward, and had no power. I do have a fairly long Femur so that is my excuse. Sunday... I took out the climbing machine... the Legend Ti and it seemed like I was stronger than I have been all year. COLD here yesterday.. 12 inches of snow in the foothills. Wore my Pearl Izumi Booties and needed them! the harlequin color looks even funkier with an overcast sky!

[RichMc]

Great ride report Rich. I plan on coming back out in January. Maybe we could to the metric century route. Sounds much like some of the roads I rode when I was out there last.

Are you doing any lifting?

Hah! The only lifting I'm doing is 12 oz curls on the weekend. Occassional I'll schlepp a few cases of ATF, brake cleaner and antifreeze up into the mezanine at work. I've thought about getting into a gym for additional leg work but time constraints put a damper on that. I'll just have to up the level of the bike workouts for now.

If you make it back next year maybe we'll just push the ride up the coast farther than the Hygenic Store - 7-11 that we stopped at before. We'll see. :beer:

[vaxn8r]

Had a hard week with school -- your doofus is still learning how his kids learn, what works with them, and what doesn't (for those of you not in education -- you can't teach all kids the same way. AP, Honors, "College Prep" (an inflated term for kids who are, really, just average) and Tech students all have different learning curves and styles. Poor, Working class, middle class students all have different perspectives on school, learning, and behavior that they bring to the classroom. A great all around teacher - which doof is not -- can figure out quickly how to work with the complex matrix of backgrounds and skills that he or she has in a given classroom. Your doof is a specialist - he is really, really, good with AP and Honors kids, and struglles with everything else. And last week he was one step short of a breakdown because it just wasn't working with his his two classes full of poor and working-class "college prep" kids...but now he h as a clearar idea of what things to try, and if they work, they work, if they don't, well....)


Dr. Doof, that was a good read...I enjoyed that. I bet you're a great teacher.

[spiderman]

my wife is an ap chem teacher...
...seems to me,
when the classroom time
learning curve clashes...
explosions are the cure!
...either that,
or oscillating reactions!
...and obtw to make this relevant,
the chemist and i
completed the 70 mile loop
of the minnesota ironman...
...it was her personal best
with the last 25 miles
against a gusty 30 mile per hour headwind!

[BumbleBeeDave]

I never can remember when the last one was I posted, sooo . . .

Last Sunday . . . 30.5 road, 17.8 average, then 20 with BBGeneva on our mtb’s.

Monday . . . Rock scrambling in Vermont with BBGeneva

Tuesday . . . Hiked Hadley Mountain with BBGeneva (we were both on “spring break”), then riverloop with Keybank Tom, who said it would be a “mellow” ride. Ha. Ha. . . . 31.6 miles, 18.7 average.

Wednesday . . . Short ride, racing the approaching thunderstorm. I won. 14 miles, 18.8 average.

Thursday . . . 15.8 on mtb’s with BBG, including stop at farm stand for hamburgers and Schoharie Crossing statehistoric site. Only 10.6 average, but great fun.

Friday . . . 28 miles road, 18.4 average.

Saturday . . . Pouring rain. Went down to Woodstock shopping and watching hippies mold in the rain. Found a great big carpenter ant in my Strawberry Sundae at the local taqueria--YUCK! :eek: Girl behind the counter gave me a chocolate sundae to replace it, then dug around for more in the strawberries! :eek: :eek:

Yesterday . . . 38 miles. Went up Crawford Hill--two miles with probably 7-8 grade with jumps to 10%, but it ALL felt like 20%! Gratified to see my winter training program worked--I practiced blowing up on hills in every spin class and did it very well here. :rolleyes: Then 20 mph (at least) headwind the last 10 miles back into town. 15.7 average. Again, YUCK!

Monday through Sunday . . . 127 miles.

BBDave

[bcm119]

Had a great ride Saturday around Kings Valley. 46 miles in a light to moderate rain, but it was that perfect temperature where you don't notice yourself getting soaked. Also, the Maxfield Creek dog was a no-show, I saw 2 big bucks, and the wind seemed to be at my back for 75% of the ride.

I just love riding on rough roads with 25c tires inflated to about 97 lbs. Theres a magic spot for tire pressure, and when you get it just right, cornering and descending on chip seal feels really good... tough to explain. The tires sound right and the frame vibrates right...

[Ray]

Sunday - just a little over 30 miles, but I realized at about 15 miles that I felt good so I found all the hills I could and punched it on the climbs and relaxed on the descents. 15 miles of my version of intervals.

Monday - uh, about 5 miles just bopping around town doing errands.

Today (Tuesday) - Metric century on the Spectrum. Awesome day, good miles. Came upon a really nice woman about 6-7 miles in and rode with her for about 10. She's a racer and had to hold back to allow me to survive on the hills, but it was a nice 10 miles. About 35 miles in, I got mildly lost and a guy gave me directions that included a couple of miles of "trail" that he claimed was in pretty good shape. Pure friggin singletrack, with lots of loose dirt and rocks. The Spectrum's not too bad off-road, although fatter tires than 23s would have made it better. UNDERBIKING! Had a rest stop at a local orchard shop and ran into a guy with a new Seven Onandata (sp?) Fun to compare custom bikes. His had much quicker handling than he liked, but he didn't have enough experience to know what to ask for when getting sized up. He's pretty happy with it otherwise. The only tough part was about 5-6 miles on an exposed ridgeline with 25-30 mph sidewinds. Otherwise, pure fun.

Looks like rain tomorrow and Friday, but I should get a ride in on Thursday.

This temporary retirement isn't bad at ALL!

-Ray

[Bruce K]

I was on vacation last week in Captiva/Sanibel Island, FL.

Around the fishing, seashell hunting, book reading (3), and generally spending a week on "Island Time", I managed to log 190 miles between Saturday and Friday doing about 2 hours each day. Half of each ride was either with or against a 15-20mph breeze almost every day, but temps close to 80 made it very nice.

Saturday the 23rd was travel day and SUnday AM was lousy here. I had too much to do with unpacking, bike reassembly, etc. anyway.

Last night was our club easy/recovery ride.

All in all not a bad 10 days.

Now the riding is back in "Real Life" - fit in around work, "honey do" stuff, and family life.

BK

[spiderman]

monday to and from work, then 20 on the rollers
today...40 plus with ice pellets and a 30+ mph wind.
ouch!
somehow the cold, wet felt great...