OldTryGuy

Was hoping for a 56 mile ride on the Paramount but had to head home to get van to transport biking friend back home since he was not feeling too well. Got in 41 easy miles so hopefully hammering on Saturday's ride is still possible. My friend has recovered.

MickeyDee

Today was my first ride on a "regular" route with my new Bianchi that I used to ride on my Trek hybrid. It's a short route but a good workout at just under 7 miles. Last time I rode it was 7/21 and I averaged 11.7 mph and it took me 35:18. Today, was a different story and I feel good! I averaged 14:24 mph today and it took me 29:43 to complete.

Such encouragement! I don't know what it is, but when I get on my bike I just want to go and go fast if I can. My lungs and my legs don't always like that though so I have to be careful. I think the cooler weather out today probably helped quite a bit too.

Rubble

Set off this morning on the Legacy Trail in Sarasota with 30 miles in mind. With 22 being my longest so far I figured 30 miles in my third month of riding made some sort of numerical sense.

Legacy is a rails to trails project. I guess they left this as evidence.

It crosses over several bays along the way

And it even has a SW Florida hill, aka an overpass, which gives about 50 in elevation change

Legacy Trail ends at the old Venice train station


From here it connects to the Venice Waterway Park. This is a path the runs along the Intercoastal waterway. I think I'll skip this 2 mile section in the future. It's concrete sidewalk so you get that 'thump thump' every 20 feet that had me up off the seat most of the time.

The next point of interest and my turn around point is the Circus Bridge in Venice. The Ringling Circus used to winter in Venice and they crossed this bridge to get to the train station.

From here I rode back north 12.5 miles to the northern end where I began. There's a big push now to raise funds and get govt permission to add 8 more miles into downtown Sarasota

I really concentrated on keeping my cadence high today (spin vs mash is something I've read on here) and boy did it help. I found I was doing 13.5 to 14 mph without as much effort. A lot more cardio but less muscle burn.

Thankfully it it was a cloudy morning. With the "feels like" temp in the mid 90's adding the sun would have been almost brutal. Still had to wring out every piece of clothing.

However, I got off my bike at the end of the ride and walked somewhat normal and could still feel the area between my legs so it was a nice ride. Now, if I can figure out how to keep my hands and arms from going numb without having to shake them out every couple miles I'll be all set to go even further.

Ravenwing

My first 30+ mile ride today as well! 31.24 miles at an av. speed of 14.6 mph, 1814 ft of elevation gain. Really nice loop, despite some rough, broken up pavement for a few miles. Just picked up a Selle Anatomica saddle the other day, and I question whether I'll ever ride anything else! No chafing, no pain, I am really impressed. I was skeptical about leather saddles, but this thing has made a believer out of me.

It was a nice, dry, mostly sunny day with temps in the high 70's, but some moderate headwinds and lots of hills mixed with some (sort of) flats. Best ride I've ever had.......I am so stoked! Here's a link to my Garmin Connect page for the ride if anyone's interested in having a look at the map, stats, and graphs. https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/858785696

OldTryGuy

2.25 miles today. Got to main drag and saw the rain heading my way, turned around and back home just as it caught up with me. Should have gotten out at 0200 when I woke up.

Excellent ride report! You are quite right about the thump, thump, thump..... with the Waterway. 120psi in my tires and no fun. If you continue south from Shamrock Park through S. Venice then N. Englewood, you will be rewarded with new/fast pavement down Manasota Key.

Seat adjustment/change, bar/stem-change/adjustments, riding position adjustment, different padded gloves or n+1!

Better pro-fit to bike

Got out at 2130 on the grocery grabber for 20 warm/humid miles.

JimF22003

100 mile ride, partly on the Blue Ridge Parkway, including the brutal Vesuvius climb. 8000 ft of elevation gain.

https://www.strava.com/activities/364475636

This is the first time I've climbed up since switching to a 34/32 11 speed setup. I thought stupidly that I'd just be able to spin up the mountain. Uh, no. It was just as hard as ever on the 16-17% stuff. I could spin a little bit more on the 12% areas.

I can't believe I even got up it before with a 28 small cog previously. The very first time I climbed it, I had a 26. Was I really that young and strong only 5 or 6 years ago? Or am I just old and weak now? Have to think about that one.

02Giant 

HTT Ankeny-Woodward-Ankeny 49.6 mi @ 20.7 mph avg. 2:24:44

3rd overall out of 103 Strava users, missed 2nd by :51

https://www.strava.com/activities/36...nts/8714838446

Greybeard712

That 32 has to make a major difference with that big a climb. I have a 30/27 (chain ring/cog) on the Allez and a 34/28 on the Roubaix and the Allez is easier. 30/34 on the trike, heavier machine, it will climb but slowly. But I'm not "best friends" with gravity. BIG KUDOS to you!

Catching up: Thursday 18.5 on the Allez
Rain Friday (no ride, I was grumpy all day)
Saturday 17.7 on the trike
Sunday 16.5 on the Allez (I'll get the seat angle right eventually)

2015: 3111 Miles ♂ Monthly Avgs: Day 18 - Wk 128
2013-2015: 7785 Miles–Total Avgs: Day 16 - Wk 112
Allez 753.1 - Roubaix 756.6 - Sirrus 393.1 - Trike 1207.0

jimmuller 

We did 71.0 miles on the tandem yesterday. We left the house at 8:30. Couldn't ask for better weather, temperature in the mid 70's all day, blue sky, low humidity. First stop, unplanned of course, was at about 20 miles. We passed Hutchins Organic Farm and my sweetie asked if we could stop. Of course she bought about 20lbs of veggies that we had to carry for the rest of the day.

Some years ago I posted a pic of this interesting sign in Carlisle. (My avatar is an excerpt from that pic.)



The barn underwent renovations for over a year and the sign disappeared, but eventually came back.



Yesterday we had the good fortune to ride past that barn as the property owners were showing the barn to some friends. We stopped and I thanked them for putting the sign back up and we chatted for a while. They showed us the barn's interior and told us a bit about it. IIRC it was built in 1769. I said when we saw the contractor's sign out front I'd hoped that the guy had a sense of history. They said oh yeah. All the American contractors they'd contacted were afraid to touch it because it was over 200 years old. The contractor who did the work was from Germany, and for him the age was no problem, that he'd worked on buildings that were 1000 years old!

They had always intended to put the sign back up anyway. In fact, it was a traditional assignment for the 3rd graders in the Carlisle grade school to research that sign. A different side of the barn also carries this great sign of days gone by.



Yes, there were chickens in the barn, but only in the newer addition.

Then we meandered over to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and north to Chelmsford.





Just opposite that Bartlett sign on the way back we spotted what we think was a young great blue heron.





The ride back was pleasant and uneventful. The view from Fern's wraparound porch.



A rest stop in Lexington.



To paraphrase a Klingon saying, it was a good day to ride.

sbiker63

Yep, 35 miles yesterday and the same loop again today. Did 20 each day M-F. Friday night even rode in a rain (no lightening). Certainly not "century status", but with working and taking care of things at home, I am pleased. Feels good.

JimF22003

54 miles, 4K of climbing on a beautiful route that is part of the Trans Am Rt 76 through Virginia. Saw one or two traveling bike tourists near Natural Bridge.

Greybeard712

Perfect day for the Monday group ride - 19.4 miles (for me, 14.5 group). Couldn't ask for better weather. Finally got the Allez seat angle dialed in.

2015: 3130 Miles ♂ Monthly Avgs: Day 18 - Wk 127
2013-2015: 7804 Miles–Total Avgs: Day 16 - Wk 112
Allez 773.5 - Roubaix 756.6 - Sirrus 393.1 - Trike 1207.0

SammyJ 

Wonderful afternoon for a good ride!

TCR Rider

Weekend catchup. We're out in Montauk Point for the week. Wonderful riding out here on a lot of freshly paved roads.

Sat. 8/8 59.4 miles @ 16.2, Sun 8/9 41.7 miles @ 16.1, Mon 8/10 33.7 miles @ 16.4 The only downside of riding out here is that it can be quite windy being right off the ocean at the tip of Long Island.

JanMM

Not today. Four miles yesterday. But on Saturday, we were at Natural Bridge State Resort Park in Kentucky, where we rode 37 quite hilly miles with five other Hoosiers. Very nice!

Taken by one of our tour leaders:

OldTryGuy

75 wonderful miles even though during the 45 mile club ride section we had some liquid sunshine. Haven't felt that good since way before my whole cancer thing.

JanMM

22 miles as a bike commuter today. Not too hot, a bit humid but supposed to be much drier and cooler next couple of days. Did I mention I had a tailwind much of the way home this afternoon?

Greybeard712

Perfect biking weather for a 3 guy group ride. 65° to start, 29% humidity, 78° at the finish of a 25.7 mile ride. 30mph at the high point, avg of about 16mph. It doesn't get any better than this.
I do have the Allez seat angle finalized (not in this pic). The Roubaix notwithstanding, this is the best bike I've ever owned.

2015: 3172 Miles ♂ Monthly Avgs: Day 19 - Wk 132
2013-2015: 7845 Miles–Total Avgs: Day 16 - Wk 112
Allez 799.3 - Roubaix 756.6 - Sirrus 408.6 - Trike 1207.0

bobbyl1966

I am not 50 i am 48 years old i hope is okay i write here. Today i do 20 miles in hilly trail. No have ride for almost 4 years.i be bussy. i not sastify with my ride i have to walk for some feet 3 times. Maybe i use wrong size crank and cassete for that trail. i have 53/39 crank and 12-25 9 speeds cassete. my bike is steel and weight around 25 pounds. What bikes do you ride and what size crank and cassete you use

JanMM

19 miles today as a Bike Commuter. Much less humid than to be expected in August. Very nice.

JanMM

Both my single bikes are recumbents with 11-32 cassettes - both have triple cranks - one with 30-39-48 and the other with 30-39-52. Both weigh about 30 pounds.

02Giant 

I got out this morning, went easy didn't push, ended up at 34.8 mi. @ 19.7 mph 1:43:01 91% of my heart rate was in the 106-140 range.

OldTryGuy

Had a triple H, HOT-HUMID-HEAVY, ride on the classic Paramount today and felt a nostalgic program's tune would relate the distance bicycled and bring back some good memories for others. Enjoy all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrrcSieqMH8

JanMM

Another bike commuting day: 24 miles riding to and fro.
Hot and sunny this afternoon but fairly dry. (Note: Not Phoenix dry.)

TCR Rider

Got in 40.2 miles @ 16.8 with 1312 ft climbing. Last ride in Montauk for now heading home tomorrow. I must say I love riding out here. Unrelated note - our neighbor at the place we're staying is none other than the Sandman himself. Yankee great Mariano Rivera. Really classy down to earth guy.