Nola_Gal

Well the weather has been beautiful so today I decided to go out and see how far I could ride. I rode 10 miles out on the river levee and then headed back. I had a bit of a fall back position since my sister lives between my house and that point but I didn't need to stop and get a ride home.

It was a lot of fun! There were a good number of people out without it being overly crowded. At mile 10, I got off the bike for a couple of minutes. A young guy out walking said to me as he walked by, "Don't worry, that muscle soreness is just the weakness leaving your body." I thought that was pretty cool. He could have laughed at the fat lady on the 'Cannondale speed machine' , but instead he offered encouragement!

What a great day!

coffeecake

Fletch521

Good Job!
Every time I want to extend my riding to new longer distance I park an one end of a trail and ride away from the car 1/2 the planed total distance. That way I'm either riding it or pushing it back to the car.

Good job on riding past the sisters house and completing your goal.

Neil_B

I agree, as you told the story, it was a great day.

So when are you going to ride the entire levee? (Outside has an article in a 2007 issue on riding the whole thing over two days.)

Nola_Gal

Thanks Historian, I found the article. It's got a lot of Katrina stuff in it so I'll bookmark it and read it later, after all, today is a happy day! Maybe one day I will ride the full levee. For now, I think I might set my sights on the Tour de Cure in May 2010. That seems doable and fun!

I bought my CAAD9 last year and am only now getting accustomed to it. (My back has gone out a few times, etc.) Now that I'm getting stronger, and feel more confident on it, I am having a blast. Hopefully by next weekend my rear will agree to another long ride!!

Neil_B

Yes, by all means read the Outside article, and then look at some of the "Joeybike" videos in the Commuting forum.

You should be recovered in a day or too. Aside from the sore butt - goodness, did I just say such a thing to a woman!? - did you have any other muscle pain or soreness?

Nola_Gal

Nope, no other major soreness, yet anyway. I imagine I'll be sore tomorrow but in the feel good kind of way.

With my previous bursts of short rides (say up to 9 miles), and reading on BF, I think I've worked out some of the obvious stuff...use my core muscles so as to not put too much pressure on my hands, don't lock out my elbows, and I think the seat is at a good height so my knees didn't bother me at all. I did have a little tightness in one hip, so when I stopped I stretched it out. One foot felt a little tight or something. I'm not using clipless pedals yet so maybe riding in running shoes had something to do with that.

With all that said, I was glad I had bike shorts and gloves. I guess little things mean a lot when the distances get longer!

Herbie53

That guys quote reminded me of something I saw on a sign at the MRM today.. "Sweat is just the tears of your fat cells"

FunkyStickman

Good job! It wasn't long ago I was where you are. Just keep riding, as often as you can, and your body will tell you what you need to fix.

Nola_Gal

Thanks everyone!

cyclist2000

Great ride, don't worry your rear will be begging for another ride by next week.

zpl

Congrats on your new milestone. I'm sure you're on your way to many longer ones, too!

Scott

Nola_Gal

Thanks! I'll have to keep Herbie's "sweat is the tears of fat cells' line in mind as I go along too!

Mr. Beanz

20 miles? that's great! Believe it or not, once you hit 20's, 100 aint far off.

I myself like to stop after 10 miles so for a brief stretch. Aint nuthin' wrong with that! Makes the next 40 or 50 more enjoyable.

cyclokitty 

That sounded like an excellent ride, Nola_Gal!

XYZsniper

How did you work up to it? My best so far is 18 miles a couple sundays ago. I have been trying to ride every other day at least 10 miles when weather permits. Should I try a different schedule or easier route?

old and new

Good Show !!

petflunky

Go ahead and try an easier route. Then, you will realize the hard route isn't so hard. That's what I had to do .

Nola_Gal, if you are going to keep using regular pedals and shoes, I suggest either a hiking shoe, or a skate board shoe. Both have stiff soles, and seem to work better on pedals that regular tennis shoes do.

And good job on the 20. Just keep going now, and don't stop

breadbin

funny!

oh and great story nola_gal, keep it up

Nola_Gal

New Orleans is pretty flat, though I could swear the 10 miles 'out' were downhill and the 10 'back' were uphill!

Sniper, I'm not sure my method should be copied...I've been going 6-9 miles 2-3 times a week with no problem. Usually, it's loss of daylight or some other obligation that would keep me from meandering further. Sunday I just decided to go outbound for 10 miles and then turn around. Once I passed my sisters house on the way home, it was either finish or don't get home! If you did 18 miles, I would guess you could do 20, but then again, I'm a newbie too!

I'm a little bummed as its supposed to rain all week. I don't know that I trust myself on those little 23 tires on slick, broken NOLA streets yet. Question: Is it worth it to swap out to 25 or 28 tires in terms of handling etc? I like to think I carry it well, but honestly, I do weigh in at lets say, under 220. Do I have to worry about messing up the stock wheels on the streets which in many ways are like cobblestones?

10 Wheels

I ride with 700 x 28's. They have more stability in hitting rocks, bumps, and holes.

Nola_Gal

Thanks 10 Wheels. My LBS said they would get some in this week.

mseebs

I remember when I first broke the 20 mile mark. It's a nice gap in biking that once you break it makes it a lot easier to keep going. Before you know it you'll be going even further.

Steve530

Good job, NOLA Gal.

I started riding again regularly last Spring. Mostly just weekends. At first it was struggle to do 6 or 10 miles. This fall, I've done 2 50K rides and a quarter century. Yesterday, I was able to ride 15 mph up a hill that I struggled up at 7 mph last Spring. As you get stronger, the miles get easier.

Check with your LBS about the wide tires, the the 28mm tires might not fit that CAAD9 frame.

BTW, I've ridden on flat land over at the beach. Seems like it's uphill both ways.

cyclist2000

Nola,

I ride 23s, 25s and started with 28s and I weigh 232. haven't flatted in years. I just make sure to pump up the tires before every ride. I don't think that you will have any problems with the 23s but 28s will be more comfortable.