Machka 

What have you been up to this weekend? Have you been cycling outside? Cycling inside? Swimming, skiing, canoeing, snowshoeing, weightlifting .... ??

Tell us all about it!



Saturday - Rowan and I took today off!!

We didn't have to work. We didn't have any cycling events, arts events, travel plans ... nothing!

We've been doing a lot of cycling over the past 7 months, and I think in the last week or so it has been time for a bit of a break. Plus we're getting an early taste of winter here. A cold weather system blew in on Thursday afternoon. There's snow on the mountain tops.

So ... exercise today was a 1 km walk, up to the grocery store and back.

And the rest of the time was rest, puttering around the house, photography, a little bit of bicycle building, and cake making.


Yummy ...


My touring bicycle is starting to come along ...

More touring bicycle photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/machka-...7626350069999/

generalkdi

Did my first real rides of the year!

Thursday : 32kms mostly flat.

Friday : 54kms on a very hilly+windy ride. It was the hardest 54kms I've ever done, 2nd ride of the year, we went up the big hill with a tailwind, then, moved on the top of "the mountain", during 15kms with the wind in the face (about 25km/h) was really hard we were actually slower than going up the hills. Then, we went back downhill on a very dirty road so we had to brake a lot to prevent crashes. Back at home altitude, we did 10kms on flats with that tailwind, 35km/h all the way home. Very nice day, at a 0C temperature.

Saturday : Will do a little recovery ride, probably around 20kms flats.

Sunday : Nothing

StephenH

I rode a 200k perm solo today. My stoker was riding down in Austin, and I couldn't get anyone else to ride with me. But on the plus side, it was a beautiful day, nearly ideal riding conditions, relatively flat course, and I made a personal-best time of 8:13. The bluebonnets are in full bloom, and everything is all greened up from recent rains, so it was nice.

Machka 

I would love to get on a route like that, with our tandem, for a 400K. It has been very tempting to try to figure out a way to be in Manitoba when they run their 400K, but unless they're running it quite late this year, I don't think that would be doable.

I miss flatland randonnees.

Andy Somnifac 

Crit this morning.

Report:

After a weekend not feeling 100% last week (knee wasn't feeling the greatest), I just sat in the pack for 2 races last week (a road race and a crit). 2 more finishes towards my eventual upgrade. 8 down, at least 2 more to go. We'll see how comfortable I feel when I have enough to upgrade on paper.

And in today's race, I had my first result. Nothing stellar, but I was pleased. Course was a standard 0.5 mile, 4 corner crit. Field was small, 19 starters. We lined up, we started, we rode in circles. I sat in the pack for a while. I then figured that since I really hadn't done much work in any race I decided to get on the front and stretch things out a bit. I spent 4ish (5?) laps up front, giving a teammate who pulls a lot a chance to rest a bit.

I pulled off with about 5-6 laps to go to recover. With about 3 laps to go, one guy got off the front. He'd tried twice before but hadn't made it stick. With two to go it looked like he was going to make it stick. I continued to recover in the pack. We came across for the bell lap. With half a lap I knew I had to go. I don't have much of a sprint to speak of, so my only chance is off the front late. So, I went with two corners to go. I started getting a gap, but going into the last corner I took a poor line through the corner and didn't carry the speed through that I wished I had. Coming down the finishing straight I put my head down and kept going, but I was starting to pop. I got caught by 2 guys who came off the front of the field a little later than I did. They came by me probably 50 meters out from the line. So, I ended up with forth instead of 2nd.

Lessons learned: I need to work on things like 30 second and one minute power. In the meantime, maybe I should go just a little later. And don't screw yourself by taking a crappy line through the final corner...

Tomorrow? Probably get 40-50 miles in, depends on the weather.

Standalone 

I took up tang soo do.

Trained Thursday and Friday. First two lessons. Today? Soreness-enforced recovery day.

I'm going to the all-ages white belt classes with my sons, ages 5 and 7. It's a serious workout. Cycling ain't nothin'.

valygrl

70 miles 5500 feet, up to 9100 feet. We're having one of the driest Marches on record here, fire season is going to be a doosey, but I'm enjoying it now!

rumrunn6

44 miles. previously only did 10 miles (last weekend). before that I rode some last fall. hoping with more riding I'll get my legs back. I know I took a big jump today but after the hot soak I was fine to take my daughter to the mall for softball cleats and then both kids to the high school play tonight. getting to work by 6am tomorrow and working on my feet all day is gonna be interesting.

HokuLoa

Totally. You know its going to be a hard year when every rancher, farmer and large property owner is preemptively burning perimeter ditches. Riding through the walls of smoke is less than enjoyable...

Where did you ride?

StephenH

I wish we could have done this one on the tandem. One of my goals is to get under 8 hours, and we probably would have done that today. It seems like we've ridden in the wind and cold several Saturdays, then they had ideal weather on the Sunday when I wasn't out there.

Supposedly 4000' of climbing on this route. No big steep hills, but I'd be riding along one time thinking "Whee, 22 mph is fun!" and then a few minutes later, be wondering why I couldn't get over 12 mph.

valygrl

Gunbarrel-Lyons-Raymond-Ward-Boulder-Gunbarrel. My favorite. Except maybe for that loop in reverse.

HokuLoa

Absolutely fantastic weekend of cycling in Colorado and I am elated! I started the "weekend" early to ensure I had the ride time I desired.

Thursday - 53miles and 2600ft of VERY pleasant riding. I intended 40ish miles but I was having so much fun I took a few more turns down the road.

Friday - Took a day to rest and work on the bike a bit (should have done more as I found out). I also wanted to save some legs for a little Friday night dancin.

Saturday - 65miles and 5300feet. Super James!!! A day FILLED with first-in-a-long-time moments and miles. A metric century, a number of PRs for the year, and the first HC climb for me in a very long time. So, this is the first time in 3yrs I've been able to complete the portion of the ride from Jamestown to the Peak to Peak Hwy (multiple injuries). A portion of that section is roughly 3.5miles at an avg of 8%+ with nastier sections over 10%. I LOVE the ride and I am sooooo thrilled to be back on it. A seriously momentous accomplishment for me and I was ear to ear despite a few issues...

The day before I cleaned and did a bit of work on the bike. Basically some new treads and a drive adjustment. I had intended to do a complete overhaul but work got in the way so I had to postpone. Bad idea as it turns out. About mile 26 (fortunately after the crest of the major climbing but still on the dirt road and way out of cell range) my rear hub decided to complain. After getting on the paved Peak to Peak Hwy I noticed not only was my rear hub noisy but I was also having trouble keeping speed up a very gradual incline. At first I thought my legs must be zapped but then I realized my descending was 25% or so slower than usual. By the time I got halfway down to Lions the rear was protesting very loudly and the cassette was not looking so hot. It took a laborious and excessively long time to get home but I made it. Smile still plastered to my face, in need of a new wheelset/cassette/chain, exhausted, and irrepressibly overjoyed to be cycling!!!

Oh and when I stopped to inspect my mech issues I remembered to snap a pic...

HokuLoa

Nice. That area was gorgeous today. What a lovely day in the hills!

c_bake

I met up with a local club for a nice jaunt up the canyon north of Boulder.

https://app.strava.com/rides/5667133

Machka 

Sunday - Walked 1.6 km and Cycled 27.3 km

We cycled up a local road, and Rowan tried out his video camera ... so I did a lot of cycling past the camera, turning around and cycling back. But I also had the chance to get a few photos of our local cycling area.

Rowan, setting up his video camera ...


A little pond along the way ...


Early autumn foliage ...

valygrl

Wow, I know we're not supposed to talk about average speed here, but - wow anyway!

Did you hook up with the RMCC ride? I saw them on the_P2P.

valygrl

Nice!

StephenH

Who says we're not sposed to talk about average speed here? Nobody but other bike riders knows the difference!

valygrl

He who must not be named.

dstrong 

Ride report from my first organized ride of the year...the LBJ100

HokuLoa

Howdy neighbor! Fun area yesterday, no? P2P was blessedly empty. I think I was passed by no more than half a dozen cars between Overland Dr and Lyons. what a day!

HokuLoa

Machka, your photos make me drool! They remind me so much of home...

c_bake

Sure did and they had a big turn out for this ride. Have you ever ridden with them? I'm sure at some point I passed you going the other way!

c_bake

It was (for me) the best riding day this year! You're right, the traffic was light, even riding up Left Hand to Ward there was hardly any traffic. Funny, I was scrolling through the posts and I saw the picture you posted and I thought to myself "that looks familiar". It's hard not to stop and take pictures once you reach the dirt section! Anyway, that's a great ride, I haven't done it yet this year...was there a lot of gravel or no?

alexaschwanden

I didn't ride today or Saturday, because my road bike is in the bike shop getting repaired. i will try to ride my backup road/commuter bike to get some miles in.