Early morning ride. Trying to figure out how I can get some miles in with as busy as I am at work and the need to study for licensure. This was one possibility. Though anyone who knows me knows that I am so NOT a morning person. I gave it a good effort. But I was a little grumpy. Couldn't find my computer... which was part of the grumpiness. But that also means that I don't know exactly how far we went or how long it took us. I do know that it was very cold and very windy. We really just went out Woodley to the stop sign at CR 42. Then turned around and headed back. Definitely woke us up!!
Distance = approx 8 miles
Time = approx 1 hour
Showing posts with label wind. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wind. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Freezing Wind and Outdoor Expo
Woke up Saturday to... snow. SNOW! It's the end of April. Snow!!?? Actually I didn't mind. Except that it meant we couldn't ride. Or... wouldn't. I'm sure there was no accumulation on the roads. But I wasn't taking the chance. And, to show our total lack of commitment, we just took the bike rack off my SUV so we didn't want to put it on to take a ride in Cannon Falls. lol But we did run. And it was the windiest run I've taken in ages! Seriously. A couple times I found myself leaning so far forward I definitely would have fallen over if not for the wind. Thank goodness God didn't decide to have a laugh.... let up on the wind... and watch me fall face first. Ha ha very funny! lol We were warm enough because we'd dressed appropriately. Though my face was slightly numb when I returned. lol There were little ice pellets hitting me the entire time. Point is. No cycling this weekend. )= And I can't take my bike with me to Vegas on Wednesday so I need to get a ride in today or tomorrow. Arrgh!
Good stuff. Sunday Lorrie and I headed out to the Midwest Mountaineering outdoor expo. We got some great deals and some good information. I bought a very large waterproof canoe pack (Duluth pack-like) to carry all our gear. Then I got a couple large dry bags for our sleeping bags. SO FUN! I know. Geek! I don't care. When we got home, I put up the tent downstairs. Yeah. In front of the fireplace. lol BUT, we did not turn the fireplace on. Gas. *That* would have been too much! heheh I just need the sleep pads on my wishlist and a couple more dry bags. Oh... and eventually our own lightweight canoe paddles. Those would definitely come in handy! We'll keep renting Kevlar canoes. I don't want the responsibility!!
Good stuff. Sunday Lorrie and I headed out to the Midwest Mountaineering outdoor expo. We got some great deals and some good information. I bought a very large waterproof canoe pack (Duluth pack-like) to carry all our gear. Then I got a couple large dry bags for our sleeping bags. SO FUN! I know. Geek! I don't care. When we got home, I put up the tent downstairs. Yeah. In front of the fireplace. lol BUT, we did not turn the fireplace on. Gas. *That* would have been too much! heheh I just need the sleep pads on my wishlist and a couple more dry bags. Oh... and eventually our own lightweight canoe paddles. Those would definitely come in handy! We'll keep renting Kevlar canoes. I don't want the responsibility!!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Hills and Wind
Commute:
Distance = 3.74 miles
Time = 12 minutes
The Actual Ride:
Distance = 14.62
Time = 1.15.35
Avg speed = 11.6 mph
Max speed = 24.5 mph
So I'm at least approaching the 12 mph average speed! That's a good thing! Especially since this was my first hilly ride this season. We decided to head out toward Dennison on Woodley. The wind was blowing South to North so we had a pretty good side wind most of the way out. We saw a group of guys racing up one of the hills working hard against the wind. I admit I wondered what it would feel like to be that strong and fast. I've probably been that strong in the past so I can guess that one. But fast, not compared to those kind of riders. A goal in the making eh? Lorrie stopped at about the 4 mile point and I went on. So I got to turn onto Hwy 42 into a major headwind. I love working hard to go downhill. That's *so* fun! But, it's always in the back of my mind that coming back up will be that much easier. So I went out to just over 7 miles. At that point my brain starting pumping. It's getting late, I can see the sun dropping a little, what if the wind does as it sometimes does and hits me head on both ways, I'm hungry, is that the beginning twinge of a cramp in my underused leg, etc. So I turned around. Honestly, the major factor was wind. I honestly have had too many experiences where it's a headwind every direction. Seems to be mainly a Midwest thing as it happened more in Michigan and here than it did in California. Maybe it's the corn! Anyway, point is, I turned around. Problem was, I wanted to go even slightly further than I had before. That didn't happen. But my original thoughts about the wind were correct. I had an awesome tailwind coming up the first bigger climbs. That was nice. Then the side wind hit and going downhill wasn't quite so fast. I was climbing the 2nd to last hill and, really, the sun was in my eyes. There was Lorrie. But I didn't see her right away. She was right next to the road. lol That's how low and bright the sun was. When I got right up to her I realized it was her and stopped for a moment. She had just been chilling out enjoying the breeze and being outside. This is the epitome of Lorrie if there ever is one! So she jumped on my tail and we made our way home. It's always good to get the first hills and the first wind out of the way.
Interestingly, I was not winded the entire time. I know I'm not in great shape cardiovascularly. So what that tells me is my legs are even worse!! lol Won't take long to catch them up to my underdeveloped cardiovascular shape... got the legs from both my parents. But once they catch up, I've got some major work to do before July!! Nine days of riding seems impossible at this moment! Well, not really. I wouldn't have signed up if I thought that. But I do have my work cut out.
Distance = 3.74 miles
Time = 12 minutes
The Actual Ride:
Distance = 14.62
Time = 1.15.35
Avg speed = 11.6 mph
Max speed = 24.5 mph
So I'm at least approaching the 12 mph average speed! That's a good thing! Especially since this was my first hilly ride this season. We decided to head out toward Dennison on Woodley. The wind was blowing South to North so we had a pretty good side wind most of the way out. We saw a group of guys racing up one of the hills working hard against the wind. I admit I wondered what it would feel like to be that strong and fast. I've probably been that strong in the past so I can guess that one. But fast, not compared to those kind of riders. A goal in the making eh? Lorrie stopped at about the 4 mile point and I went on. So I got to turn onto Hwy 42 into a major headwind. I love working hard to go downhill. That's *so* fun! But, it's always in the back of my mind that coming back up will be that much easier. So I went out to just over 7 miles. At that point my brain starting pumping. It's getting late, I can see the sun dropping a little, what if the wind does as it sometimes does and hits me head on both ways, I'm hungry, is that the beginning twinge of a cramp in my underused leg, etc. So I turned around. Honestly, the major factor was wind. I honestly have had too many experiences where it's a headwind every direction. Seems to be mainly a Midwest thing as it happened more in Michigan and here than it did in California. Maybe it's the corn! Anyway, point is, I turned around. Problem was, I wanted to go even slightly further than I had before. That didn't happen. But my original thoughts about the wind were correct. I had an awesome tailwind coming up the first bigger climbs. That was nice. Then the side wind hit and going downhill wasn't quite so fast. I was climbing the 2nd to last hill and, really, the sun was in my eyes. There was Lorrie. But I didn't see her right away. She was right next to the road. lol That's how low and bright the sun was. When I got right up to her I realized it was her and stopped for a moment. She had just been chilling out enjoying the breeze and being outside. This is the epitome of Lorrie if there ever is one! So she jumped on my tail and we made our way home. It's always good to get the first hills and the first wind out of the way.
Interestingly, I was not winded the entire time. I know I'm not in great shape cardiovascularly. So what that tells me is my legs are even worse!! lol Won't take long to catch them up to my underdeveloped cardiovascular shape... got the legs from both my parents. But once they catch up, I've got some major work to do before July!! Nine days of riding seems impossible at this moment! Well, not really. I wouldn't have signed up if I thought that. But I do have my work cut out.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Red Wing Loop thru Cannon Falls
Distance = 40.72 miles
Time = 3.12.57
Max speed = 35.5
Average speed = 12.7
Still not ready to do the entire Red Wing loop, which is about 85 miles. I'm hoping to do it sometime before the snow falls. But it's not a priority. Along the way we passed a turkey farm where the turkeys seemed to have free reign. That was pretty cool except the fact that we knew they would also be slaughtered. Arrgh! But there's another turkey farm along Hwy 19 where they all seem squashed into a very small space. So at least this way they have happy lives while they're alive. ANYWAY... there was quite a bit of climbing early on and we kept thinking there needed to be a descent soon. Finally we had one into Cannon Falls. That was very fun! We stopped at Subway in Cannon Falls to share a sandwich. Very good idea! We also had to ask directions since both of us were turned around. lol I would have gone right and the guy giving us directions said left. Oops! I need better maps and a better sense of direction. (= I wasn't feeling great after Subway... almost like I was dehydrated. But I'd been drinking water like crazy so that didn't seem possible. We turned out of Cannon Falls and ended up in a pretty bad headwind. We stopped at a little convenience store for a few minutes to get out of the wind for a few minutes. Then I asked Lorrie to lead, which she did. Except that she's still stronger than she thinks so I had to work pretty hard to keep up with her! lol We didn't ride down Hwy 19 this time but were able to follow more of the route this time. More headwind! I pulled off at one point into some farmer's year to stand under a tree out of the sun for a moment. Lorrie was nearly out of water. We were a mess! lol By that point we could see one of the wind turbines so we knew we were pretty close. Still seemed to take forever to get to Hwy 3. Finally there, we headed to Goodbye Blue Mondays for a coffee drink and to cool off. Then the last 2 miles or so to get home... with iced coffee in my hand! lol Good ride! (= Always!
Time = 3.12.57
Max speed = 35.5
Average speed = 12.7
Still not ready to do the entire Red Wing loop, which is about 85 miles. I'm hoping to do it sometime before the snow falls. But it's not a priority. Along the way we passed a turkey farm where the turkeys seemed to have free reign. That was pretty cool except the fact that we knew they would also be slaughtered. Arrgh! But there's another turkey farm along Hwy 19 where they all seem squashed into a very small space. So at least this way they have happy lives while they're alive. ANYWAY... there was quite a bit of climbing early on and we kept thinking there needed to be a descent soon. Finally we had one into Cannon Falls. That was very fun! We stopped at Subway in Cannon Falls to share a sandwich. Very good idea! We also had to ask directions since both of us were turned around. lol I would have gone right and the guy giving us directions said left. Oops! I need better maps and a better sense of direction. (= I wasn't feeling great after Subway... almost like I was dehydrated. But I'd been drinking water like crazy so that didn't seem possible. We turned out of Cannon Falls and ended up in a pretty bad headwind. We stopped at a little convenience store for a few minutes to get out of the wind for a few minutes. Then I asked Lorrie to lead, which she did. Except that she's still stronger than she thinks so I had to work pretty hard to keep up with her! lol We didn't ride down Hwy 19 this time but were able to follow more of the route this time. More headwind! I pulled off at one point into some farmer's year to stand under a tree out of the sun for a moment. Lorrie was nearly out of water. We were a mess! lol By that point we could see one of the wind turbines so we knew we were pretty close. Still seemed to take forever to get to Hwy 3. Finally there, we headed to Goodbye Blue Mondays for a coffee drink and to cool off. Then the last 2 miles or so to get home... with iced coffee in my hand! lol Good ride! (= Always!
Monday, May 07, 2007
Partial Webster Loop
Partial Webster Loop with Northfield Bike Club
Distance = 26.05
Time = 1.55.02
Max = 25.5 mph
Avg = 13.5 mph
I'm not sure why I chose today to ride with the Northfield Cycling Club! It's freezing cold... in the 30s maybe and windy as hell! So it was me and 7 guys who race. lol They dropped me immediately so I just tooled along at my own pace trying not to be blown off the road. One of the guys had given me directions so I felt pretty comfortable. Besides, I had my phone! lol I looked up at one point and saw a bunch of them coming toward me. I figured they'd had a mechanical or something. But they were coming back for me. Embarrassing!! So they basically surrounded me to protect me from the wind and we rode that way for about 25 miles. I cannot tell you how strong that wind felt. The wind in California was strong but there is something about a frozen wind that takes it out of you and feels thicker. We decided the air molecules band together more when it's cold. All I know is my face was pretty frozen and I thanked God every moment for my shoe covers! The first part was into the wind but then we got to ride some with the wind. That was very nice! I could actually keep up and even went a little faster than some of them on the downhill. I kept wondering why I chose this day to ride with them. I guess I figured they'd take it easy when it was so windy. But I should have realized that only the hardcore riders come out in this weather. Oh well. It ended up being a great experience with really nice guys. We ended at Blue Monday for some warm coffee. THEN, I had to get back on my bike and ride home. I was already getting stiff and did not want to be cold again. I hate to admit that I was whooped after that one and had to sleep a few hours. A shower would have been better to warm me and wake me up. But I just wanted to lay down!
Distance = 26.05
Time = 1.55.02
Max = 25.5 mph
Avg = 13.5 mph
I'm not sure why I chose today to ride with the Northfield Cycling Club! It's freezing cold... in the 30s maybe and windy as hell! So it was me and 7 guys who race. lol They dropped me immediately so I just tooled along at my own pace trying not to be blown off the road. One of the guys had given me directions so I felt pretty comfortable. Besides, I had my phone! lol I looked up at one point and saw a bunch of them coming toward me. I figured they'd had a mechanical or something. But they were coming back for me. Embarrassing!! So they basically surrounded me to protect me from the wind and we rode that way for about 25 miles. I cannot tell you how strong that wind felt. The wind in California was strong but there is something about a frozen wind that takes it out of you and feels thicker. We decided the air molecules band together more when it's cold. All I know is my face was pretty frozen and I thanked God every moment for my shoe covers! The first part was into the wind but then we got to ride some with the wind. That was very nice! I could actually keep up and even went a little faster than some of them on the downhill. I kept wondering why I chose this day to ride with them. I guess I figured they'd take it easy when it was so windy. But I should have realized that only the hardcore riders come out in this weather. Oh well. It ended up being a great experience with really nice guys. We ended at Blue Monday for some warm coffee. THEN, I had to get back on my bike and ride home. I was already getting stiff and did not want to be cold again. I hate to admit that I was whooped after that one and had to sleep a few hours. A shower would have been better to warm me and wake me up. But I just wanted to lay down!
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Santiago Canyon
Distance = 48.57
Max speed = 32.5 mph
Time = 3.32.19
This ride occurred the day after the worst day of my entire life! I had met Gail in Los Osos, CA for a day while she was visiting a friend in San Francisco she had met online. She had, up to that point, been courting me like you wouldn't believe. She had been telling me she loved me and wanted another chance to prove to me she could be a good partner. When she saw me, something else happened completely... actually, I'm quite sure something happened while she's been staying with the SF woman, which then affected how she acted toward me. ANYWAY.... suffice to say. WORST day of my life! I drove home in the rain for about 4 hours. It was around 11pm or so when I got there. Then I had to get ready for this ride. And then I couldn't sleep. So when I got up at the buttcrack of dawn this morning, I was not happy. But I was determined to ride. I was feeling a little competitive I guess. There was a woman there named Elaine that didn't look to be in the same shape I was in. But she was cruising. So I did everything I could to hang with her. She actually gave me tips on how to shift gears before stopping. I suppose that was a nice thing to do. Just because it's my first AIDS Ride doesn't mean it's the first time I've ever ridden a bike! lol Anyway, we climbed pretty far up Santiago Canyon out of Long Beach. I rode up alone most of the time. Just staying on Elaine's wheel. I cried part of the time. Wondered what I had done to deserve the treatment Gail gives me. It's hard to climb and cry at the same time. I've tried running and crying and it works out about the same! lol So I tried to take deep breaths and just climb. But my thoughts could not be controlled on this day. /= At the top, we stopped at a little private lake that was having a fishing contest. Cute! I met a guy named Kenny and we shared a sandwich as neither of us could stomach a whole one. We ended up riding most of the way back together, which was nice. We seem to have similar styles though he is faster than I. I also rode with a guy on a hybrid who is HIV+. He was talking about a dead lover and being +. I figured my worries were nothing compared to his. So I left my shit behind on that canyon for awhile. We got back into Long Beach and everyone stopped at a Starbucks. There were a few of us that didn't really want to stop. So we hung for a few minutes and then took off together. I dragged a couple for about 10 miles in a horrible headwind. Then they started moving in front a little and pulled me for a little while. That was the longest straight flat I've experienced in a very long time. It was so windy. There were times I would just yell into the wind to get a little more energy. Counterproductive possibly... but it felt good. It was nice to see D'Azul sitting in the parking lot waiting for me! A nice long cry on the drive home and I am working on mental and physical recovery. This too shall pass!
Max speed = 32.5 mph
Time = 3.32.19
This ride occurred the day after the worst day of my entire life! I had met Gail in Los Osos, CA for a day while she was visiting a friend in San Francisco she had met online. She had, up to that point, been courting me like you wouldn't believe. She had been telling me she loved me and wanted another chance to prove to me she could be a good partner. When she saw me, something else happened completely... actually, I'm quite sure something happened while she's been staying with the SF woman, which then affected how she acted toward me. ANYWAY.... suffice to say. WORST day of my life! I drove home in the rain for about 4 hours. It was around 11pm or so when I got there. Then I had to get ready for this ride. And then I couldn't sleep. So when I got up at the buttcrack of dawn this morning, I was not happy. But I was determined to ride. I was feeling a little competitive I guess. There was a woman there named Elaine that didn't look to be in the same shape I was in. But she was cruising. So I did everything I could to hang with her. She actually gave me tips on how to shift gears before stopping. I suppose that was a nice thing to do. Just because it's my first AIDS Ride doesn't mean it's the first time I've ever ridden a bike! lol Anyway, we climbed pretty far up Santiago Canyon out of Long Beach. I rode up alone most of the time. Just staying on Elaine's wheel. I cried part of the time. Wondered what I had done to deserve the treatment Gail gives me. It's hard to climb and cry at the same time. I've tried running and crying and it works out about the same! lol So I tried to take deep breaths and just climb. But my thoughts could not be controlled on this day. /= At the top, we stopped at a little private lake that was having a fishing contest. Cute! I met a guy named Kenny and we shared a sandwich as neither of us could stomach a whole one. We ended up riding most of the way back together, which was nice. We seem to have similar styles though he is faster than I. I also rode with a guy on a hybrid who is HIV+. He was talking about a dead lover and being +. I figured my worries were nothing compared to his. So I left my shit behind on that canyon for awhile. We got back into Long Beach and everyone stopped at a Starbucks. There were a few of us that didn't really want to stop. So we hung for a few minutes and then took off together. I dragged a couple for about 10 miles in a horrible headwind. Then they started moving in front a little and pulled me for a little while. That was the longest straight flat I've experienced in a very long time. It was so windy. There were times I would just yell into the wind to get a little more energy. Counterproductive possibly... but it felt good. It was nice to see D'Azul sitting in the parking lot waiting for me! A nice long cry on the drive home and I am working on mental and physical recovery. This too shall pass!
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