And then you woke up from your nap?

80 miles, 3 hrs, SS MTN bike - the 8 % grade was down hill

OK, OK, you waterboarded the truth out of me.

I've been so ill over the past four days I wake up, do the bare minimum, and go back to bed. Plus it's cold and nasty outside.

Plus I started physical therapy for my back this past week.

Right now I'd be thrilled to ride up to the Krogers and back.

Happy now?

"MY average ride this winter has been 2 hours, 18-20 miles 50% paved, 50% dirt. During the week I start a 6am, home by 8. Kenda Nevegal and Kross up front. Its usually @40 degrees in the am. Then again, I'm in the 50+Thread because I actually am that old."

This is similar to mine, only mine is more like 12-15 miles, the temp is below freezing, and it's often done in the dark after work and supper. My mtb has studded tires for those icey patches and I use a P7 light up front, PBSF on the back. I think the studs may come off soon.

My average ride (literally) is 50 miles with my group from our club. This time of year we leave at 8:30am in 40-45 degree weather. It usually warms up to about 58-60. We usually have 5 - 7 riders (more during warmer weather). Our rides are almost always hilly, with 2500-3000 feet of climbing. Most of the steeper hills are relatively short (1 -3 miles), but there are some longer slogs. We all do a sprint now and then or charge to the top of a hill, but most of the time we tend to ride together with some chatting going on. There is always at least one formal break at a deli, bakery or coffee shop. We have LOTS of routes to take to the same destination. Good riding on both country and suburban roads.

Most of my rides are a lot like Mojo Slims except maybe just a bit warmer and more like 40 miles. Being the secretary for the club I am supposed to do a ride report and meeting report so I blog them and people can read them or not as they choose. https://thesemidailyplanet.blogspot.com/


My solo rides are done looking for new rides for both the A and B groups on off days. That hard part is I am not an A rider so I have to guess at the difficulty so the timing works out so we get to the coffee shop about the same time.

Your tolerance to pain is very low. HTFU and hold your ground next time, or at least drop the hill climb portion, we all know how you ride hills.

Let's see now my math might be a little fuzzy. 80 miles....8% grade....3 hours......

So you averaged 27 mph for 80 miles going uphill on an 8% grade? You sure your name isn't Lance?

I admit, I'm not much for riding when it's cold. By cold I mean anything under 50 degrees, 45 max, (yea so I'm a wimp). I just don't enjoy riding having to wear arm and leg warmers, shells, skull caps, etc. I still ride but it's not something I enjoy however........

Summertime is all together different. I try to ride at 2 to 3 times a week for my longs rides and a couple of times each week for shorter rides. Long rides average 80 to 100 miles each while shorter rides are 20 to 30 miles. In addition I also teach 3 spinning classes a week. These are great when it's cold outside.

99% of my rides begin at Montgomery High School in Montgomery (imagine that). Routes vary but the terrain is hilly riding through Montgomery and Grimes counties. The National Forest also makes up a good portion of the rides.

Average speed varies depending on if I'm riding solo, with the recreational group, or the race team. As we're all aware the wind can also drop the average speed. So I'll say my average is probably just a bit higher than average. I pass more than being passed for an average rider, (hey I like the way that sounds!)

Sarge

Thanks, fella. I caught the krud from you, and my back hurts, as well. I've got to start being a little more careful about which threads I open.

Well, I was my own worst enemy on the back... lifted something improperly late last week. That will pass.

Going to see my doc today to see if he can treat this krud or if it's just a cold.

Hope you get well and back on two wheels soon.

For some reason I keep humming the words of Weird Al Yankovic' song "Confession": "FYI it was not a cold sore....".

So that was you way back behind us!

We had the tandem out at Mt. Washington that day. Man, it was so cold that the shifter froze in the Low Gear. My Stoker Bride couldn't pedal due to a bum knee so she just huddled on the seat behind me while I pedaled franticly into the never subsiding wind.

Everytime I would slow down, there you were in my mirror. Just a small fleck at first, then slowly growing into a cycling figure. That was always my cue to start back up again.

I was noticing after about the first ten miles that the back of the bike seemed heavier than usual, but the wisdom of 35 years of marriage meant that I keep my thoughts to myself. Son-of-a-Gun! When we got to the end of the ride I discovered the rear tire had flatted and became wedged between the wheel and the left chainstay!

We skipped the Bakery as we were in a hurry to get to Toronto to see a guy about a bridge, that must be where we lost sight of you for the balance of the 80 mile climb. Thank goodness it only took two hours or I might have gotten frostbite!


He he he. I was sick Sunday and Monday and never even got out of bed. That must have been when we saw you out there.

Depends upon the season. Summer sunshine causes me to stray greater distances.. Club rides are twice a week. They average 60-70 Km. Particularly in the Summer, when maybe even 80. Winter rides, 50-60 Km. In the Summer I just might get lost and be gone the whole day and find myself doing a century at least once a week..
Almost all my solo trips winter and summer are used for errands.. 35 Km or so. That I do maybe 3-4 times a week..
No home newspaper delivery for us.. That is a big incentive to ride.. Causing me to need go 10 Km to the newspaper stand. One way.. I need my daily newspaper..

I like pie. wish I could ride like you but alas I require derailers

OK, here's the deal... I put on my riding togs. I get on the bike. I ride for some miles. I come back home. I nap on the couch. I smile.
That about sums it up