No shame in resting. The very fittest among us take rest days. As you get stronger and fitter, you will need fewer rest days, but when starting out, resting may help keep your motivation up since you won't be tired and sore every time you ride.

Yesterday afternoon, the wind blew briskly from the SSE at 23 mph. The temperature hovered at 97⁰ when I left work and spiked at 100⁰, for the ride and the day, as I climbed the last hill before I arrived at home. With the help of the wind, I was able to post my best time of the season, just under 42 minutes.

Yesterday's tailwind, though, was this morning's headwind and had only diminished by 6 mph. I spent more time worrying about the wind and, at several junctures, considered, very seriously, driving to work.

I toughed it out, though. It was a steamy 82⁰ when I left. The headwind was brutal but I kept a moderate pace as I tucked myself into an aerodynamic position on the drops (as aerodynamic as I could make myself would be a better description). In the end, the trepidation that I felt was misplaced. I was fearing fear. The ride was not bad, I kept a moderate pace and arrived in just over 53 minutes.

Took the longer route home today. It about a mile to the ride, but I actually enjoyed it more. I'm going to try riding in on this route on Friday. Tomorrow I'll take the car with the Trucker on the back. Going to stop at the Bike Shop for my 100 mile tuneup. The headset developed a squeak on the ride home.

Warm (78ish in the morning and 80ish in the evening) and humid and wet.

But it was much better than being in a car!

102ºF in the shade on my porch when I got home today - tomorrow is supposed to be hotter (up to 109ºF) and a bit muggy (though obviously nothing like the humidity many of you deal with on a daily basis). On the plus side, I found the fastest route in to work yet (22.1 miles - which I did in just over 70 minutes this morning!)...also thanks to the heat, almost no one was up on the fire/hiking trail I utilize on my way home every day. Looking forward to going to SF this weekend to escape the heat wave, even if I won't be riding for a couple days...

Heading out to Granite Bay on the bike path. Going to be hot, I think. At least it's calm. Nothing like riding into a 100F headwind!

Fast and furious today.

Long commute today. Just before I left my wife called to say she forgot our daughter's swim bag for "splash day" at day care. I happily volunteered to ride it over. Google tells me it was about 15 miles.

The only bad part was having to rush through showering and changing, which meant I was still sweating after I put on my work clothes. I hope no one noticed the big wet areas on the front of my shirt.

Not a bad ride but, I had to switch to mtb shorts as I recently trashed my last pair of road shorts. I don't know how people ride with them. I've got a couple pair in different sizes and man, are they uncomfortable. They bind, pull, slide, snag and, they're hot-even with the front vents open. I like the improved practicality and modesty but, they are so irritating (always tugging/pulling/binding) that they make an otherwise pleasant ride un-fun; I can't imagine using them off road where one needs even more meneuverability on the bike. Anyhow, I'll stop by Performance this afternoon and pick up some new shorts, I can't take it another day.

Proper rest and recovery is essential for everyone no matter what their riding / fitness level is.

Legs were a bit heavy after last night's ride, but no biggie. It's a nice day to ride a bike.

It was an OK ride this morning, a little humid. It seemed a bit lonely though, not as many riders as there had been when I first started riding in to work in mid spring. I should have known this would be the case as I've always noticed a drop off in the number of riders on the bridge as I crossed on the subway in July/August when it gets hot. It'll pick up again in Sept then drop off again as it gets colder.

I took my second ride to school today. I took the directions off of google maps, which told me it would take 44 minutes, and wound up taking it me about 38 minutes.

Legs were a little tight this morning, the right feeling somewhat crampy. I strained a muscle mowning the lawn last night (WTF?) and allowed myself to get a little dehydrated too. I latched on to a fixie rider and let him pull me for a while, it kept my pace up over what I would have otherwise done. I'm back in proper riding shorts after a few days in baggy ones-what a difference! I felt unemcumbered, un-restrained, cooler-just much more comfortable than what I had been wearing. The bike is running like a top and fun again. Hoping to meet a friend this weekend for some singletrack, otherwise will try to get in a little training.

After 6 straight weeks of 90+ temperatures, I thought I had acclimated to the heat, but this week has been the worst yet due to high humidity. The temperatures were actually hotter last week, but it was less humid and didn't feel as bad. My morning commute has turned into a sauna, and my clothes are totally soaked in sweat by the time I get to work. I have to clean my glasses after (or during) every ride due to sweat. On the plus side, the afternoon highs have only topped out about 95 F, about 5 degrees cooler than last week.

Nice ride in this morning - won’t be quite as cool this afternoon.

The interesting part about today’s ride was all the notes left along the trail. I take the W&OD trail and someone left out about a dozen notes throughout the trail written on white sheets of paper and placed under small pebbles. After passing a few I decided to pull over to see what it was all about. Well - it wasn't written in any way I could comprehend, looked like kids having fun. Over the past couple of weeks someone has been also writing out pretty cool quotes and math problems all along the trail in chalk. Now if only I could get them to put down the solution!! So I guess positive and pretty cool graffiti for a change!

We had a big, big rain last night, and I think it rained till about 0200. By 0430 it was clear and the roads were about 50/50 wet and dry. An absolute beautiful morning and a great ride.

Now the problem. It is not even suppose to break 90 degrees and I forgot my jacket and gloves. hehe

12th day on work now in a row - looking forward to actually having a weekend this weekend! :-)

This morning's commute was the best during the 12 day stretch, with the likely exception of one day when I had enough time to stretch my 7 mile commute home into a 16 mile ride (though I still wanted more). Anyway, this morning, with a slight tailwind and legs feeling strong I was doing a solid 20+mph along the river on the trail and riding at least 1 gear higher than I normally would most of the way. Average speed was was 16 mph vs. my avg. of around 14 or 14.5.

Tomorrow I sleep in... unless I decide to get up early to go for a morning bike ride

Last night's commute

Yesterday was the day I've been waiting for all year. Opportunities for silly commuter racing have been pretty slim this year. Perhaps I haven't been in the right place at the right time. I know I'm not that fast, but I pass a lot of other cyclists, and very few have taken up the challenge to chase me. To date, no one has passed me while I was riding my road bike. I've been beaten a couple of times while riding my mountain bike, but only by people who looked like they should be able to beat me (i.e., guys on road bikes).

Last night, I was riding home on my road bike, and came up behind a guy on a mountain bike. A 29er with front suspension and big knobby tires. I caught up at a stop light and we exchanged curt hellos. This guy looked like a pretty serious cyclist; he was wearing the gear, and had on a Camelbak hydration system. I could also tell by looking at him that he was in pretty good shape. I knew that this guy would be up for a challenge.

The light turned green, and he took off like a shot. He really knew how to work his gears to get the best possible acceleration. The first thing I noticed as he pedaled away was, Ho. Lee. Crap!, his calves were bigger than my quads (which admittedly isn't saying much). I gave chase and soon the road started going downhill. This guy didn't let up for an instant. I managed to keep up, staying a few meters behind him, but just barely. He knew I was there, too, as he would glance back at me periodically. Ultimately, the race ended because we caught up to some cars and had to slow down (there was a timid driver going under the speed limit...grrrr), and once we got to the bottom of the hill, he went east and I went west.

Even though the race didn't last enough to determine a clear winner, I know when I've been beaten. Had the race continued on flat ground, I have my doubts that I would have been able to keep up for long. Ever since I got my road bike this year, I've been waiting to be humiliated by another cyclist, and it finally happened, and I'm glad. Keeps me honest.

This morning's commute

About 12C and raining lightly. I decided to wear my rain jacket, but despite claims to be breathable while still repelling rain, I sweltered in that stupid jacket, and ended up drenched anyway. I would have been drier without it. Half an hour after I got to work, the heavens opened, and the real rain started.

I recently had to change my route due to some construction. Evidently, I'm still programmed to ride the old route, as I suddenly realized I was heading the wrong way (the old way) and had to backtrack to my new route. Lost in my own thoughts, I guess.

50F, gray, breezy

Dude it was a treasure map.... Follow the clues it takes you to Herndon and you get a pet skunk

Decided to try to hammer the short route in to work as I had to drop my son off at the time I usually start work. I did pretty well, passing a lot of traffic down Cariboo Hill and setting a new personal best for the route on this bike. A touch over 38 minutes. Should be good for a few points in the virtual TdF!

Man its starting to get hot out, its times like this i dont like having a temp. on my computer got her up to 117 on my way home yesterday that was with the actuall temp. being 95 we will see today with temps supposed to be over 100 beautiful morning

Killed it on the Airport Ride last night so I took it super-easy this morning. You have to go slow to go fast.

My commutes were...Interesting, on the average.

Nothing exciting on the morning commute...But this afternoon, riding on one of the multi-use paths on Camp Lejeune, I happened upon a young woman taking phone-pictures of herself. I was coming from behind, so I'm not exactly sure what she was doing, but she dropped both arms across what appeared to be a chest with the shirt strategically pulled down. Scared the crap out of her, too.

Other than that, it was a normal sweaty NC afternoon commute.