Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Ride 55 - A taste of Winter

Well - as y'all may recall I started riding in June so this cold business is new. Today was the Alpharetta century - I showed up - and brrrr. It was really really cold - 39 degrees! I chose my regular glvoes with fingers exposed - mistake! No headband over my ears - mistake....no warmers over my shoes - who knew? etc... Cold! After the first rest stop - still kept all the layers on. It warmed up around 11 or 12 (we started at 8). Also hit an incredibly steep hill! I think the people walking their bikes should cheer for the rider who ride up the hill! I don't blame them for walking... I almost did! I just thionk they should cheer us on. They didn't, so I yell actually grunt - YAY ME! As i make it up!! (Wrights Mill for any local people.) And so it was a hilly 64.8 miles. I screwed up my bike computer - and reset it in the middle! ARGH! So no good stats... Just a nice ride. My legs were tired at mile 1 - and stayed tired. Maybe cause I only hit the treadmill (Incredible workout - speed walk and hills) 2x insted of 3 this week? Not sure - but it was a bit tough.


After the ride I met a girl in the parking lot who rode the 30. She was waiting for her Ironman hubby to finish the 100. I told her all about our forum and who knows maybe she will join! I guaranteed her she could lose weight.... jist follow a few steps. It felt nice to be helpful. I know as I go along on this journey there's one/two things I am becoming an expert at - the newbie on a bike and the weight loss journey! So I kind of felt very helpful. Met her hubby as I was leaving! He was an amazing speciman - about 200 lbs and fit as a darn fiddle! He said he runs and the runners are all twigs! Anyway it was nice to meet them.

OK -Off toI go to relaxx and get ready for a Recovery Ride on our local paved trail tomorrow. Will be intersting to ride just a bit and not go up hills and do a metric :).

Thanks for reading! OHHH and I am off to read my Tour de Life book - did I mention how great it is! (Story of Saul Raisin).

Great ride Ms. B! Sorry bout the Gators chomping on the Dawgs today but at least you had a nice ride!

They didn't, so I yell actually grunt - YAY ME! As i make it up!!


So you went all Southern then, didn't you? :)

Congratulations on another successful ride, despite the cold.

39? Cold?

Here's from our New Years Eve Ride...
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o260/TomStormcrowe/Cardinal%20Greenway%20and%20other%20rides/NewYearsEveNightride009.jpg

25 degrees and dark, riding across the midnight hour from 2007-2008. :D

Enjoyed reading the re-cap of your ride missbumble. I too "discovered' bikes in june and am down 15lb. Having a blast. Keep the reports comming!

Here's from our New Years Eve Ride...


We have a ride on New Years day every year but sometimes it gets called off for too much snow.

Cold? How about 30 degrees on a 21 mile mtn descent in the pouring rain, soaking wet. Only a jersey and shorts!:eek:...First time I wanted to cry on a bike!:p

Wow, MissB. You're becomeing a real pro now!:thumb:

Thanks guys! Not so much a pro - as a very slow enthusiastic rider! I still am slow as molasses...but I show up , dress up and go!

MIssB, no worries at all.....you get out there. ;) Wait til this winter in Chicago, by the way. :p

Missbumble,

Hi, Carla here. The girl you inspired VERY much in the parking lot yesterday after the Century Ride. Thank you very much for your words of encouragement and enthusiasm. We are going on a "recovery" ride shortly. That never crossed my mind until you mentioned you were doing one today. So, you got someone off the couch!! Thank you. Congrats again on your weight loss! Wow. We went out to eat last night and my husband quickly asked me, "would Miss Bumble eat that?" I ordered a salad after that! Take care - have fun in Chicago and hope to see you soon! Happy Riding!

Missbumble,

Hi, Carla here. The girl you inspired VERY much in the parking lot yesterday after the Century Ride. Thank you very much for your words of encouragement and enthusiasm. We are going on a "recovery" ride shortly. That never crossed my mind until you mentioned you were doing one today. So, you got someone off the couch!! Thank you. Congrats again on your weight loss! Wow. We went out to eat last night and my husband quickly asked me, "would Miss Bumble eat that?" I ordered a salad after that! Take care - have fun in Chicago and hope to see you soon! Happy Riding!

Nice post for Miss Bumble, she's (along with others) an inspiration to us all.

I can see it now WWMBE (What Would Miss Bumble Eat):D

OMG! 39 degrees! :eek: Spare me from the "cruel jaws" of the Atlanta winter! :roflmao2::roflmao2:

Sounds like a nice ride!

Missbumble,

Hi, Carla here. The girl you inspired VERY much in the parking lot yesterday after the Century Ride. Thank you very much for your words of encouragement and enthusiasm. We are going on a "recovery" ride shortly. That never crossed my mind until you mentioned you were doing one today. So, you got someone off the couch!! Thank you. Congrats again on your weight loss! Wow. We went out to eat last night and my husband quickly asked me, "would Miss Bumble eat that?" I ordered a salad after that! Take care - have fun in Chicago and hope to see you soon! Happy Riding!


WOW - Hey Carla - I am so excited you dropped into our Forum. I too very much enjoyed meeting you and your husband! Feel free to PM (Send a Private Message) me - and I can give you my number etc if you ever want to chat or ride! Take a look at the forum posts here as they are sooo motivating! I believe that this group has totally inspired me and I look forward to posting here as well. I am losing slowly - but it's all good!!

To Send a Private Message left click on Miss Bumble on the left of this post and choose send a Private Message.....

Thanks again for popping in!! I am so impressed that you took the time to look us up and have joined our Happy community!!

Fall rides can be tricky. How much will the temps go up by and when. So how much clothing/layers do you need.

For a short commuter ride I (1) have a hybrid with bags and lots of room for extra, and (2) its only 5 miles so who cares of you get it wrong. On long rides I don't have the luxury of having lots of bags... I want to travel light if I am going to ride over 50 miles. Food and drink for 80+ miles is hard enough to pack on the bike with just 2 bottle holders and a handlebar bag.

When I did my recent self supporting 82 miler the weather started at 34 F. I ound that the toe coveres orked to keep the near frozen air out of my shoes, but the extra compression from the material was also causing my fee to go numb. I had to put on a 2nd layer of gloves, and I later realized that those also making my hands go numb as well (at least no frost bite). I still need to get some good breathable gloves that work well between 32F and 45F. The problem is that with some equipment choices, you only know you made a mistake till it is too late and you are in the middle of the ride:(.

Great job in hanging in there!

Happy riding,
André

Fall rides can be tricky. How much will the temps go up by and when. So how much clothing/layers do you need.

For a short commuter ride I (1) have a hybrid with bags and lots of room for extra, and (2) its only 5 miles so who cares of you get it wrong. On long rides I don't have the luxury of having lots of bags... I want to travel light if I am going to ride over 50 miles. Food and drink for 80+ miles is hard enough to pack on the bike with just 2 bottle holders and a handlebar bag.

When I did my recent self supporting 82 miler the weather started at 34 F. I ound that the toe coveres orked to keep the near frozen air out of my shoes, but the extra compression from the material was also causing my fee to go numb. I had to put on a 2nd layer of gloves, and I later realized that those also making my hands go numb as well (at least no frost bite). I still need to get some good breathable gloves that work well between 32F and 45F. The problem is that with some equipment choices, you only know you made a mistake till it is too late and you are in the middle of the ride:(.

Great job in hanging in there!

Happy riding,
André

We have been riding in the 32-45 degree range quite a bit here (33 degree ride today) and I can highly recommend the Spenco Cold Snap gloves. Buy them big though. I have just average hands and XL is just barely big enough. (Source of gloves=Performance as I recall.)

Thanks guys! Good advice!!

Congrats on the ride!! 39 degrees IS a bit chilly, eek. I really need to invest in a pair of full-fingered gloves, my old fingerless ones are great, but not for anything below 55.

I haven't really ventured into the world of colder-weather riding, I'm going to have to do a bit of shopping to stay warm, it seems.