Today I did the Assenmacher 100, and annual event that's usually the Sunday after my birthday (which makes it a good event to 'ride my age.' This year it was a week later. After doing 67 miles yesterday, I was going to do the 67-mile route today; but I got in with the animals from the local area and they were doing the 100 miles -- so what choice did I have???

We skipped the first rest stop and pulled in for a quick relief break at the second stop. I had a cookie. Then we were off! After a long stretch, we got to the lunch stop at mile 55. I had a PB sandwich and a banana. At that point, our average was 23.3 mph. I was hanging okay, even on the hills that were seeing some of the upright riders gapped.

We skipped the next rest stop too. My water was getting low, and I HAD to stop at the last stop to refill. A few miles before that stop, a group of about 8 did a breakaway. They were already 200-300 yards off the front by the time I saw them; but I gave chase anyway. I cut the gap in half, but then the piano fell on me. They slowed down, too; but they buzzed past the rest stop and so I lost them. I quickly refilled my bottle and was just heading out when the rest of the group stopped.

The last stretch was a slog into the wind and I watched my average drop slowly. Just when I was ready to bonk, along came the group to save me! They nursed me the last couple of miles and I was able to finish the 100 miles with a 21.7 mph average. My legs were so toasted that I almost couldn't climb the very easy grade to the parking lot to load up my bike.

58 hot miles after a gorgeous early morning waterski. The photo is of my daughter - seems like no one cares to ever take any photos of me :(

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=335550

100 miles in the Tour of Napa Century. best home made gingersnaps ever. I wore my 50+ jersey, and got some comments from some nice ladies that kept swapping places with me for about 10 miles, but I think the comments were more in the line of "isn't that old man cute, trying this ride?" rather than the "what a stud muffin rockin that jersey!"

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1661167

Awesome solo double metric today
Pirk

8 miles today,Schwinn Passage getting to a point where overhaul and frame touch-ups are necessary. Full on resto, new touring bikes are expensive.

84f
Winds E7
rel hum 44%
30.14 bar downward.

Not today, but I am working up to daily riding. I still haven't gotten my helmet, but I am driving the bike to the park, and I am doing laps for about 45 minutes each time. It is almost time for a tune up for the new bike.

I am finally getting over some fears of riding. This is why I have been baby stepping.

I am coupling my exercise with diet, lots of changes, all baby steps, but I feel great mostly, but I am care giver to Mom and a lot of dogs. They expend my energy, and that is why I am trying hard to build personal strength.

I suspect a happy future. Trying to live positive and strong. One day at a time.

Life is Good.

Jackie

27 miles earlier this evening on a club Dinner Ride. Meal at a local burger place was 20+ miles into the ride. Very tasty.
Fairly small group showed up with disproportionate tandem bias: 3 other tandems and a half dozen or so singles.

A short 20 mile at Waterfall Glen, by Argonne National lab. Was a pleasant day in the 80s.

Very dry and dusty on the trails around here and they have put a fresh thin layer of fine limestone powder on the limestone parts. I have to clean and lube my bike after every ride because of this - a real pain. I can't imagine what it is doing to lungs - the stuff hardens like cement when it gets wet.

Back to 32 mi commuting tomorrow.

Personally, I prefer long 20 miles. :)

62.3 @ 16.8 ave on the club ride (club ride + a few extra miles) on Saturday, and 28.6 @ 17.9 ( I should go with Garmin Connect here.. it had an ave of 18.0). on a solo ride on Sunday

18 miles on saturday on a somewhat convoluted route as I was trying to avoid pea gravel-the biker's bane.

No ride today. Have to get the house straightened out before the wife gets back on Friday. I'll be out again first thing in the morning.

Rode 29 miles at 15.4 avg. 3 rides in a row now that I have improved my PB avg. speed.

60F when I rode into work this morning. More summer-like 82 on the way home. Dry but humid. 21 miles total.

12.4 @ 20.2 ave this morning before work

Another nice 44 mile MUP ride today. Looked as if it was going to rain for a bit, but the clouds just kept moving along. Nice and hot, humid and windy.

23 miles, hot and sunny. :)

Got in a early 15 miles at 15.8 avg at 06:30 this morning, once again new PB on avg speed 4 rides in a row.

13 miles on the tandem after work this afternoon. Sunny and upper 80's. Breathing hard climbing our local hill - 5 mph is harder work than the 3-4 mph we used to climb it at.

A brisk (for me) 22 mile ride, 1000' of climbing, 17 mph. I couldn't keep up with the group, but frankly I'm not big on pacelines on sketchy roads. Full moon rising over the hills to the East.

26 miles this AM.

I wish there was a nice long MUP around here where I could go and early enough to avoid the MUP traffic.

12.2 @ 19.7 ave this morning before work

A very hot, humid and very windy 35 miles today. The massager will get a workout tonight.

Monday: 40 mile loop with my wife across the US border and along the Similkameen River with lunch in Oroville, WA.

Tuesday: 20 mile ride to Black Hills winery (pie training ride)

Today: Waterski day. :)

If there were ever a sign that the end of summer is near ... for us that means cooler temperatures and shorter daylight hours, and the end of riding season is coming. Lucky for you in Florida it means fewer tourists and better cycling weather. :)