Machka 

Are you out cycling this weekend? Tell us about your ride! Or are you cycling inside? What are you doing to keep in interesting and keep yourself motivated. Or are you doing some other sports this weekend? What are you up to?


We're having another hot, sunny summer weekend here in Australia ... and January 26th is Australia Day, a holiday. Pity about that being right in the middle of the week, or we might have had a long, long weekend. But it still gives us an additional day for cycling purposes before the end of the month.

What's it like where you are?


Friday - a fast 12.6 km up the road and back. We're talking about including a day or two each week where we work on speed and strength - maybe doing hill repeats, intervals or just shorter faster rides.

And about 4 km of walking.


Saturday - it's already quite warm out there, and we're debating where to ride.

Machka 

Saturday 22 January

The shade temperature today topped out at 33C/91F and the on-road temperature reached 38C/100F ... just a tad warm.

We glanced at a map and chose a route we had not ridden before, but when we got going we discovered that we had probably selected the wrong road. Oh well, no big deal ... a ride is a ride. The road we chose was a gradual climb for quite some time, which was all right. I don't mind gradual climbs. And then it got steep. I made it partway up and then began overheating badly.

So, since we weren't on an event and were free to do what we wanted to do, we decided to turn around and go back to the town where we started. And once there ... we stopped in the ice cream shop!!



If we're going to ride tomorrow, I think we've got to set off earlier before it gets so hot.








(If you click the photos, you'll get to the whole "Cycling in Australia - Summer 2010/2011" set)

Machka 

Anyone else riding this weekend?

Halebopp

Road 30 miles today, half indoors on the trainer and half outdoors. Around an hour or so outside is about as long as I can go without my toes hurting like heck, so I've been splitting it up.

Got coaxed into running 12 miles afterwards, so I got a pretty good amount of exercise today.

Despite the 12 degree weather...

FL_MarkD

45 miles with the club today. Over the bridges and down the beaches from Clearwater to Redington Shores. Nice ride until we turned back north into the 15mph and increasing wind. 50 F so not to bad, but cool for us here on the West Coast of Florida. Very good ride with a bunch of good riders.

Mark

dnmhc

10 miles today outside. Not lucky enough for that 50 degree weather, it stayed under 30 F the whole time but luckily no wind. Hoping to get out and do around 20 miles tomorrow, but it's supposed to be in the teens for most the day so we'll see.

Carbon Unit

I did a 30 miles through the local hills today. I would have posted pics but I didn't take a camera with me. The weather started at 60 degrees F at 9:00 AM and was 68 degrees F by the conclusion of the ride. All in all a great ride.

jamesdak 

I knocked out a slow 24 miles today. A cold and windy ride got worse as a storm front came through. I knew I was in trouble as I watched the storm racing across the valley towards me. Totally whiteout from the snow and some serious winds. When it finally hit me the gusts were knocking me into the road and the snow was coming in sideways. Needless to say it was quite fun for a few miles there.

Had been planning a climb up one of the mountains but fortunately the storm stopped me from that pain. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

blacksquid

Nice ride today. Got in ~65km. 21F at the start, 23F at the end. At least it wasn't that windy out.

Machka 

Sunday - Rowan and I did set off a bit earlier to take advantage of slightly cooler temps and it was a cooler day today, only reaching 35C/95F in the sun on the road.

We decided to cycle 25 km out to a neighbouring town, then spend some time at the outdoor swimming pool before returning home. Lovely, relaxing summer day!

StephenH

Saturday, I did a 200k ACP brevet with Lone Star Randonneurs.

It was around 32 degrees at the start, but ever so slowly warmed up. We took off at 7:00 AM, shortly before daylight. I was in a group of a dozen riders or so, and managed to stay with them through the 100k control (which is not that common for me). Then most of them, who were doing the 300k option, took off to the north, while a few of them doing the 200k headed back towards home. (And there were some other riders strung out behind us, and a few speed demons ahead of the group.)

Plusses: I got to visit with some people that are normally in front of me so I don't get to visit with them. And I met some new people, one guy from Tyler, a couple of hours east of here, and Ralph from Springfield, Missouri, who felt that 32 degrees was perfectly balmy, and Kevin from Bartlesville, OK, who felt the same way.

Minuses: Most of the second half was riding solo into a headwind, so it wasn't as much fun. And on that part, my eyes started having foggy problems, so that by the time I got in, I couldn't really drive and all. And my knee started hurting for no particular reason. Otherwise, a pretty decent day. Took 9:53, I think. The ride was actually a 217k, 135 miles, although, being an ACP ride, it only counts for 200 and gets the time for a 200k. My current plan is to do an ACP Super Randonneur Series and this was the 200k for it.

A few of the riders at the second control:

BarracksSi

Friday: P90X legs & back. Saturday: P90X Kenpo.

Today: Five of us took off from the shop at 0845. Three were fast; one guy was gracious enough to take it easy and hang back with my slow ass. I didn't think that I'd last the whole 40 miles, but he and I eventually made it back.

Goddamn I'm cold. NOAA says it's 29şF now. It was probably 20-25 during the ride.

eyeheartny

Yesterday: 66km in gorgeous, sunny San Diego. Joined up partway through the San Diego Bicycling Club ride and had a fantastic experience in a huge group of cyclists. First time with a group of that size (at least 100 people) and it was a true thrill. Practiced paceline riding, enjoyed not having to worry as much about cars because of the sheer numbers, and pushed myself to ride faster. Amazing.

JonnyUtah75

Leisure 20 miles in Hollywood, FL. Took the broadwalk on Hollywood Beach north, didn't know there was a Canadian festival so had about a mile we had to walk it. Took back roads on the way back. Beautiful 72 degree weather.

GP 

Watching TV, playing on the internet and watching cyclists ride by while recovering from injuries received in a bike vs. car incident on the 17th.

Velo Gator

30 miles + 30 minutes of swimming yesterday, with a 5 mile run today.

jamesdak 

Another fun ride today. Roads clear so I took out the LeMond. Temps at 14 F. with only a mild breeze. Did right under 27 miles and then called it a day since my water was frozen solid. Also had sweat in my hair freezing and then dropping off inside of my glasses. Trying out a new Fizik saddle on this trip and it did ok. Made a minor adjustment at mile seven only.

Daytrip

I XC skied both days and enjoyed it immensely. I've got this new Craft ski jacket that's simply amazing. It's 5 degrees out with a stiff wind and I had a nylon base layer, insulated long-sleeve jersey and the jacket and stayed comfortable, even in the wind. A little too chilly for cycling, methinks.

jmX

117km hilly ride yesterday, temps in the mid 70s. Not a cloud to be seen.

I dunno how you guys get out and bike in the near freezing temps.

keisatsu

Been off of the bike for most of the week since I jacked up my hip somehow. Finally got out on the bike today, not the roadbike, did a session on the BMX out at some local dirt jumps.

Carbon Unit

Did you do a BCI ride yesterday by chance?

StephenH

Did a 20 mile ride today and my knee felt pretty much okay, so all is well.

BarracksSi

I only make it by wearing enough clothing. I had three layers below the waist (thermal bibs, polypro long underwear, thermal tights) and six layers on top (all synthetic: shortsleeve shirt, longsleeve shirt, polypro longsleeve shirt, cool-weather LS jersey, my poseurific BMC jersey, and a windproof jacket). Wool socks and windproof gloves worked just good enough for me, although I kinda wish I had nicer gloves and shoe covers.

Oh yeah -- and two cold-weather hats under my helmet (one beanie and one with a brim), and a neck gaiter.

jmX

No, but I was out on Santiago Cyn and Jamboree and came across quite a few people out there.

I figure you guys do wear a lot of layers. My issue is the motivation on cold days rather than the practicality of it. I can't even convince myself to layer up and get out the door even with temps in the 40's (we might have temps like that early in the morn), and sometimes even in the 50s. I'm spoiled I think.

More power to ya!

Carbon Unit

We may have passed each other because I was on Jamboree too.