I had a very bad day today (personally) & did not get my metric in. I did ride my 30 mile loop (very pissed off mentally) and ended up finishing it at my fastest time ever (19.6 mph) and felt a little bit better, but not much. We are expecting temps in the 80's tomorrow, so I am definitely getting in the metric tomorrow. I really need to get some new suntain lotion.

Well today was a humbling ride. I did get my Metric in, but at about the 45 mile mark, I hit the wall. I had to stop, get a bottle of water & just sit in the shade for 10 mins or so. I just couldn't breath and my legs refused to coorperate with me. I have it narrowed down to several reasons:

1. Last night, I rode really hard finishing about 6:00 p.m. Instead of eating well afterwards, I went drinking.
2. This a.m. I left for my metric at 11:00 a.m. and I think in the future, I need to give my legs at least 24 hours rest, but probably better with at least 36 hours.
3. During one point of my ride, I was doing the park loop & had some guy sprint to catch me & then try to pass me. Can't let that happen, so I cranked it up for 2 loops (6 miles) to make sure he knew he was not going to beat me on a climb, a descent or the flats!
4. There is a big hill at the 32 mile point (1200 ft climb in about 1.4 miles). Well I saw a couple bikers about 100 yards ahead of me & made it my personal goal to catch them before the KOM line. Well I didn't, although I did scramble up the hill in pretty good time. In fact at the halfway point, I was about 1.5 mph faster than my normal speed.
5. It was hot. My computer said 86 degrees (but it doesn't do real feel)
6. The pollen was horrible & I have pretty bad allergies. Thank goodness it is going to rain tomorrow to wash all the yellow away.

It took every bit of strength I could muster to make it home & just felt worthless. I pretty much felt like throwing up all the gel packs & Cytomax I had digested. I did go to McDonald's & get a double cheeseburger & that really helped me.

Anyway, I think I learned a really good lesson today.

I did my first group ride today!!! I rode with the "C" pace group. We did 21.03 miles at an average speed of 14.6 mph. It was an awesome ride. This was my longest ride to date (just got my road bike last week), but the weather was great and I actually felt good all of the way through. My calf cramped a bit on the last 3 miles, but after getting off the bike it was fine. Unfortunately, it's supposed to storm all day tomorrow...so I guess it's back to the trainer!

yes, first ride with the group around here that rides/trains specifically for the ms150. only rode with them for the first half of the ride (out & back)...did my intervals on the way back.

23mi, beautiful NC day

First group rides are always exciting! I am sure you learned a lot. Be sure to keep up with your fluids; that is where my cramps normally come from. The problem I have with biking is most of the time, I don't feel like I'm working too hard until it's too late. Eat before you are hungry & drink before you are thristy.

I did a solo century yesterday, on the good ole W&OD/Custis/Mt Vernon/4-Mile trails. This is the earliest century I've done. Last year I did five, but the first one wasn't until late July. I held up pretty well except for an obnoxious headwind in the afternoon on the way back, sunburned arms and nose, and an unpleasant little saddle sore.

I'm ready to do it again though! (if it weren't for the saddle sore )

Did 31 this morning on North Florida Bicycle Club's Tour de Durbin Crossing. There were about 50-60 riders across various speed classes. Absolutely beautiful riding conditions, 65 at the start and 72 at the end with very little wind. This is a great route the A team mapped out. Will be riding it again for sure.

Road race on Saturday. Rode much better, went all but 2 miles with the pack. Placed better this time too. First Crit today. That sucked. Stayed on the lead lap, placed okish, but felt like I really should have done alot better.

40mi recovery ride. felt great today...tapering down to burnsville next weekend.

Was suppose to clean my house because my family is coming in from out of town this week, buuuuttttttttttt, decided to go ride my 30 mile loop and make it back in time for the NASCAR race & the final round of the Heritage. Pretty good ride, but I think I need to alter my route. There is one road that really needs to be repaved and it is just way do bumpy. Avg speed 19.2 & almost 1500 ft of climbing.

22.5 normal evening loop. Left at 10:30 pm, nice night.

I rode on the road for 13 miles, then I reached Brown Moutain entrance and road all the way up, and bam the wheather was great, the ride was the same. What a thrill to bomb down it afterwards.

Took out my mountain bike for a ride tonight. Did about 12 miles & felt great, but took it way easy. I have a metric this Saturday & want to be in good form so I am trying to rest the legs this week.

I'm kind of shocked that no one has ridden in 4 days.

I'm ridin', just not talkin' about it!

Rode Thursday and Saturday. This is my first 2 day ride week since Feb. Might even have time to ride on Sunday to make it a 3 day ride week.

yes, well, possibly.

rode 59mi yesterday, burnsville metric (3000' climbing). today, weather dependent, will be some riding on the blue ridge parkway.

59?

that would kill me at this point.

good job.

Yes. I got rained on a bit. Boo.

Isn't a "metric" supposed to be at least 62 miles?

yes, it is supposed to be 62mi for a metric. ask the burnsville coordinators about that

trust me...for me, at least, 59mi was plenty, especially after that last climb.

you should come out for our SEBF ride in May. check out the thread. you can do it!!

I guess they expect you to get in a 3 mile warm up before the ride.

Here is my report for the last couple days:

Saturday - Rode a metric century in the Wheels for Meals event benefitting Meals on Wheels. If you are looking for an organized century next spring, please consider this one. I thought is was excellent & well organized. You can pay the entry fee or raise money. I did both raising over $250 so I got a free jersey; which is really nice. They also had a 40 mile & 25 mile routes. It was extremely well marked and supported. We passed 5 rest areas during our 65 mile ride. Although it started in downtown Greenville, it went northeast into a very rural area. Roads were in great shape & barely saw any traffic once we got out of town. There was some climbing (5000 ft total) but nothing too serious. Afterwards it was an all you can eat Chick-Fil-A buffet & free massages, but we rode downtown for an adult beverage. Weather was beautiful & made some new cycling friends who live in the area. About 300 riders total. Everything went well with the exception of me running over a snake and screaming like a little girl (no offense to any little girls on this board)

Sunday - I did a recovery ride of 10 miles on my Hummer (mt bike) with my neighbor who is just getting into cycling on a hybrid. We have a 10 mile loop that we rode last week. It took 55 minutes & our goal was to break 50; we finished in 46, so that was exciting.

Monday - I waited for all the t-storms to clear the area and then headed out on my 30 mile loop. Saw ANOTHER snake (which I don't like at all) and one my roads was closed to construction so my loop has been reduced to 28.5 miles until June. However, it was really windy. Felt like a head wind no matter what direction I was going.

On a previous century I actually rode around for few blocks after completing the route because my odometer hadn't hit the magic 100 mark.

Yes, I can be silly that way.

Not silly at all. Been there, done that, got several T-shirts

I rode to day with the "Hammer Group". Feeling rather saucy, I decided to ride my bike to the start so that added 7.5 miles there & 7.5 miles back (warm up / cool down). The ride its self was 32 miles at about 20 mph; total ride 45 miles, top speed 41.2 & 2300 ft of climbing.