Riding helps alleviate my depression, but I didn't ride today because I'm depressed. Woe is me. :(

Trainer day 11 mi @16.2 avg. Bit warmer than normal due to light winds - yes my trainer is outdoors. Will post a pic of my view.

Today was my first ride in a few days because of either rainouts or the holiday cookout. I believe I rode one day at the beginning of the week,but forgot to post it.
Anyway my legs were screaming for a ride today, so they got rewarded with a nice 2 hour ride.

50 hilly tandem miles today on the Screamer. The Cemetery Ride - rode past about 15 cemeteries in Morgan Co., IN.

3.5 hours on the mountain bike today that included some stalking of a herd of elk that was 30-40 strong and an awful lot of climbing

The view from on top:

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/837/4...b9a436e5_b.jpg

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1761/...ce183eef_b.jpg

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1806/...ec0ef3df_b.jpg

19 miles Saturday morning, first time outdoors on the road bike since I was hit by a car in early May. Felt pretty good most of the first 15 miles. Using the indoor trainer has helped maintain some fitness. Mostly a casual pace that felt slower than the 15 mph it turned out to be.

Shoulder began aching around 15 miles in so I stopped at the LBS to rest and poke around. They had a used Specialized Tarmac on sale so I took a spin around the block. Wow. Big difference from my '89 steel bike. That lightweight carbon bike felt like it climbed hills almost by itself. I can see now why I usually get dropped on climbs in faster group rides.

I love my Tarmac. It goes like stink and is surprisingly comfortable on long rides with crappy pavement. Did you buy it?

Nah, not spending any serious money until my injury issues are fully diagnosed and treated and I know how much it'll cost. My attorney is dealing with the driver's insurance company. It's likely any settlement will only cover my medical expenses. Meanwhile I'll keep riding my '89 Centurion. ;)

But that Tarmac was pretty sweet. I really expected it to be a harsh ride and it wasn't -- nothing that a good set of 700x25 tires at slightly lower pressure couldn't fix. Between the lighter weight, stiff and efficient bottom bracket and comfy hoods, it would really help with my main nemesis -- the dreaded climbs, especially our roller coasters with lots of short but steep climbs that basically become sprints. That's where I eventually get dropped on group rides. I can catch up by sprinting downhill and on flats, but eventually that grinds me down to the point that I'm cooked after about 20 miles.

Got ~22 miles on the new 'cross bike yesterday. Today the plan is ~40 miles, also on the new 'cross bike.
And it's a good thing I just got the new 'cross bike, because one of my road bikes is in serious disrepair, essentially unrideable (see post about last Wednesday's 100 mile death march), another one is packed up ready to fly out to Colorado for the Triple Bypass this coming weekend, and the other one has been stripped so I can sell it.

First World Problems, right?

Earlier this morning, I went on a beautiful 29½ mile ride in just under 2 hours. It was gorgeous outside, 72°F, and beautiful sunshine. Heck, EVERYBODY was outside today! :D

MY POST ON FACEBOOK
"Whew, what a bicycle ride!!! Beautiful day for it too. Lots and lots of people inside West Creek Pkwy off Patterson Ave. I rode from my house out to River Rd, and then out to Patterson, up Hockett Rd to Tuckahoe Creek Pkwy and the big Capital One complex. Then I did 2 laps inside West Creek Pkwy, trying to keep up with all the racers and their high tech Cervelo, Giant, Specialized, whatever... $5000 racing bikes. But all in all, I had a lot of fun. It was hilarious when I was done with my laps though, as the cops had Patterson Ave all barricaded with cones (Hope Church was going to be letting out). So, I stopped at Patterson, got off my bike, and the cops directed me across the street. I jogged beside my bike going across Patterson and went, "Ooooh...." as my legs were tired. One of the cops asked, "You're not cramping up, are you?" I said, "No, I'm okay... I was just trying to keep up those younger guys in there (points back towards West Creek Pkwy), and it's tough!". Then I turned my classic 1985 Fuji sideways so the two cops could see it, and I said, "Ain't it a classic? 1985... Still going strong too!". The younger cop looks at me laughs, "1985? Seriously? That's when I was BORN!" The other cop joins in and laughs and imitates that funny NFL football segment on TV and shakes his head and says, "C'mon, man!!" It was hilarious!! :lol: I got back on my bike, thanked the cops, who were still chuckling, and *very carefully* rode back home along Patterson Ave. 29½ miles in 1hr 56 min. Whew...."

This is Hockett Rd & Tuckahoe Creek Pkwy (seen at the top (mile 12) of the map below...)
https://i.imgur.com/X2VrgSk.jpg


And here's the layout map from MapMyRide...
https://i.imgur.com/Ln86C5t.jpg

19 mi @ 10 avg. Late start due to watching TDF. Winds awesome. Highest HR was going down hill! My up hill return trip speed doubled.

Ok, that's it. I quit.
I thought 14 miles at high cadence from the house to the ballpark and back was good..

My son and I did 26 miles @ 16 mph avg this morning along the middle fork of the Snoqualmie River. Beautiful scenery and perfect weather.

Ten easy miles this afternoon. Three modest hills going up and one going down. That one I started calling The 30mph Hill after it was repaved last year. You can get to 30 very quickly since then.

My daughter lives in Martinsville.. do you know Cedar Creek Wine & Brew Co? She and my SIL work there on the weekends. My SIL is assistant brewer.

50 miles on a very nice 89° day. It's going to get hotter every day this coming week, that's never stopped me before. Passed some kids maybe 11-12 years old with masks and snorkels, snorkeling in a 4' wide 2' deep dirt irrigation canal. I guess when you live in the desert you have to snorkel where ever you can. The canals are all over the place, I passed 8 today, I know where they are. On a hot day I stop at every one and soak my jersey and sunsleevs. Leaves me cold on a 100° day, the're ice cold, full of snow melt.

If you say so. :eek:

Commuted on the "(in) serious disrepair, essentially unrideable" bike so I can bring it to the shop this afternoon. Will wind up with ~11 miles for the day.

Bike, hike, float = cross training day at the Snoqualmie Summit recreation area.
The Pacific Crest Trail passes through right here, for folks seeking a walk from Mexico to Canada, or vice versa.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...26fe18d49.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7ed1bbb60.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6777052b8.jpeg

Got in 2.0 hours on a really humid day. I was soaking wet from all the sweat.

I'm just grateful when the temps are under 100° It gets hot, but the humidity is never over 20%. Cools you off. I couldn't ride in 80+% humidity. I'm sure I sweat a lot, but it dries so fast I don't notice it. And I'm very used to it, acclimated, I've ridden thousands of miles in it. Here it's ride in the heat or go home. I carry two insulated bottles that I froze 2/3 full the night before with a fair pinch of table salt in them. And carry one or two small bottles full frozen solid. I stop at every park and drink water there too.

Did the by-now-routine Tuesday early AM Club ride, 22 miles.
It kinda devolved into a hammerfest :(

I have mixed feelings about that: On the one hand, I know the spirit of the ride as intended is to be a cooperative (rather than competitive) group ride, and I think the riders who willfully disregarded that intention are arguably self-absorbed dicks.
otoh, it's nice to challenge one's self and just go with the fast kids. So I confess, I may have been an enabler!

40 miles on Sunday and another 40 miles today. This heat and humidity is really starting to get to me. Either I'm riding too far or I'm getting too old. Haven't figured out which one yet.

27.8 mi @ 10.2 mph avg with 1,200 of climbing. GREAT RIDE!