This was the first weekend I was able to ride both mornings. Last weekend, I just didn't do it. The weather has been ridiculously hot for a long time now. Yesterday I got up and was riding by 745a. Today I waited a bit since "it will only be in the 80's." I neglected to account for the humidity today! Both days I rode on Mill Mountain. I've become fond of riding there because it's close to home and I'm all about convenience right now. It's nice now because someone has cut the weeds back and removed the last remaining tree. Of course there is a new tree down now on Big Sunny not far from the old road. I may toss the saw in the car and go cut it after work one evening. We'll see. The chicky ride is moving to the Cove for the month of August. Hopefully the regulars will continue to come. If not then at least I tried to host a ride. All I can do is toss out the idea. Can't make people come.
Well I'd better get back to schoolwork. Sorry this isn't more exciting, but the rides are pretty routine right now. Trying to get in better shape for the Montvale Mayhem in September. I want to have a strong race and actually feel good about my effort there.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
This Weekend Rides
Sometimes I just need time to do what I want to do. Despite my obligations to RCO, I decided I needed to do my own thing this weekend. I had some commitments at home that I needed to tend to and the earlier I got them done, the sooner I could go ride. I had an assignment that was due Saturday night that I hadn't even started writing as well. I've spent a lot of time lately do what other people need and want me to do; this weekend I happened to feel very selfish. Maybe it was partly because I've been in a real rut lately because of school, work, the weather etc; but when I saw the forecast, I knew I had to ride. So that's what I did.
Saturday I got a lot of stuff done in the morning, so around 2pm, I decided to ride out to the Cove and take in some singletrack. I haven't been out there in about a month, so I figured it would be as good as place as any to ride. I didn't want to drive to the Bennett Springs side, and my pass has the wrong license tag listed on it. I hate to listen to the water authority people bitch, so I just rode from home. It is about 6 miles from my house to the fireroad at the gate at the boat dock. They are not an easy 6 miles either as there are plenty of hills to climb and Reservoir Road is just evil in a couple of places. None the less it took me about 28 minutes to get there. Once on the property, I took the fireroad about 3 miles to Schoolhouse Trail. The fireroad seems a bit smoother than in the past. I guess the rain wears it down a bit, but still it has its rough spots. The grass was also high in places, so I reckon those guardshack residents aren't driving around the road as they are supposed it. Figures. Anyway, Schoolhouse was as awesome as always except for the one water/mud hole cross that is just getting worse. (There is a plan to fix it as I learned when I got home and read email today.) After Schoolhouse, I rode Little Bell, Enchanted Forest then took Songbird back to the fireroad where I debated how I wanted to go home. I elected to do the logical thing and take the shortest way which basically retraced where I had come from. I managed to get out of the Cove without too much suffering and I climbed Reservoir Road fairly well. I began to suffer on Rt 11 on the way home. I guess 23 miles in is a good time to start thinking you're stupid, but whatever. I did get back home safely (obviously). All total I rode 26.25 miles in 2 hours and 39 minutes which made my average speed 9.9mph. I rarely ride that fast on singletrack so you know a lot of my ride was on fireroad and road (~19 miles). Who knows, maybe I'm getting stronger and faster. We'll see. I just need to keep riding steadily to get better.
So Sunday, I woke up feeling kind of rough. I had gone to bed with a headache and woke up with one. This one felt like a sinus headache. Oh well, I still decided I would go ride, but just not at Montvale as I originally planned for my "next Sunday ride." Instead I headed out to Explore Park. I have not been there to ride in a really, really long time. It was nice, but way humid or so it felt (recall I said I didn't feel right). My head was soaking wet and I really struggled at times. Got frustrated from my lack of power then remembered that I bit off more than I could chew yesterday. Satisfied enough with the ride and the trails were super. I will definitely go back and ride there again. Perhaps I will feel stronger the next time without the previous day's torture. Saw some beautiful deer at Explore including a fawn that couldn't have been very old. Just precious!
In the end I enjoyed both of my rides this weekend, I still want to ride longer and longer, but the weather is turning hell-like again. Next weekend's rides will have to be done early! And of course the Chicky Ride is Wednesday night. I will have it as long as it's not 100 degrees. I have no desire to have a heat stroke. We've ridden before in 102 degree heat index, but not on Mill Mountain. Just have to play it by ear I suppose.
Saturday I got a lot of stuff done in the morning, so around 2pm, I decided to ride out to the Cove and take in some singletrack. I haven't been out there in about a month, so I figured it would be as good as place as any to ride. I didn't want to drive to the Bennett Springs side, and my pass has the wrong license tag listed on it. I hate to listen to the water authority people bitch, so I just rode from home. It is about 6 miles from my house to the fireroad at the gate at the boat dock. They are not an easy 6 miles either as there are plenty of hills to climb and Reservoir Road is just evil in a couple of places. None the less it took me about 28 minutes to get there. Once on the property, I took the fireroad about 3 miles to Schoolhouse Trail. The fireroad seems a bit smoother than in the past. I guess the rain wears it down a bit, but still it has its rough spots. The grass was also high in places, so I reckon those guardshack residents aren't driving around the road as they are supposed it. Figures. Anyway, Schoolhouse was as awesome as always except for the one water/mud hole cross that is just getting worse. (There is a plan to fix it as I learned when I got home and read email today.) After Schoolhouse, I rode Little Bell, Enchanted Forest then took Songbird back to the fireroad where I debated how I wanted to go home. I elected to do the logical thing and take the shortest way which basically retraced where I had come from. I managed to get out of the Cove without too much suffering and I climbed Reservoir Road fairly well. I began to suffer on Rt 11 on the way home. I guess 23 miles in is a good time to start thinking you're stupid, but whatever. I did get back home safely (obviously). All total I rode 26.25 miles in 2 hours and 39 minutes which made my average speed 9.9mph. I rarely ride that fast on singletrack so you know a lot of my ride was on fireroad and road (~19 miles). Who knows, maybe I'm getting stronger and faster. We'll see. I just need to keep riding steadily to get better.
So Sunday, I woke up feeling kind of rough. I had gone to bed with a headache and woke up with one. This one felt like a sinus headache. Oh well, I still decided I would go ride, but just not at Montvale as I originally planned for my "next Sunday ride." Instead I headed out to Explore Park. I have not been there to ride in a really, really long time. It was nice, but way humid or so it felt (recall I said I didn't feel right). My head was soaking wet and I really struggled at times. Got frustrated from my lack of power then remembered that I bit off more than I could chew yesterday. Satisfied enough with the ride and the trails were super. I will definitely go back and ride there again. Perhaps I will feel stronger the next time without the previous day's torture. Saw some beautiful deer at Explore including a fawn that couldn't have been very old. Just precious!
In the end I enjoyed both of my rides this weekend, I still want to ride longer and longer, but the weather is turning hell-like again. Next weekend's rides will have to be done early! And of course the Chicky Ride is Wednesday night. I will have it as long as it's not 100 degrees. I have no desire to have a heat stroke. We've ridden before in 102 degree heat index, but not on Mill Mountain. Just have to play it by ear I suppose.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Wednesday Night Chicky Ride
I decided to dedicated Wednesday to riding my bike. No schoolwork, just me, my bike and a few friends. Advertised as the Wednesday Night Chicky Ride, we've resurrected the ride on a new night and a new location (for now). We've ridden several weeks now and have had a total of 8 different chickys come out! I'm excited about this as I know of at least 4 or 5 more in the Roanoke area who may show up at some point. For one more week, I plan to have the ride at Mill Mountain as we've done for the previous nights' rides. We've explored and ridden everything MM has to offer. I still love it due to its convenience to my work.
August may find me moving the ride to 6:30pm and to Carvins Cove for a few weeks. I know that two friends ride there at that time, so moving the time will help people get off from work at commute to the parking lot, and it will hopefully let it be a tad cooler. I also have hopes for moving the ride to the Explore Park in September or October. Will have to be there or Mill Mountain once time gets short as those two venues allow night riding. I don't think time changes until early November, but it does start getting darker sooner.
Meanwhile one more week on Mill Mountain then I miss the following week as I'll be driving home from Hampton that day and will need to catch up on schoolwork. =)
Personally I need to get back to Montvale and ride some more before my race in September. I like it there, but need to find the spots where I can utilize what skills I have to their advantage.
August may find me moving the ride to 6:30pm and to Carvins Cove for a few weeks. I know that two friends ride there at that time, so moving the time will help people get off from work at commute to the parking lot, and it will hopefully let it be a tad cooler. I also have hopes for moving the ride to the Explore Park in September or October. Will have to be there or Mill Mountain once time gets short as those two venues allow night riding. I don't think time changes until early November, but it does start getting darker sooner.
Meanwhile one more week on Mill Mountain then I miss the following week as I'll be driving home from Hampton that day and will need to catch up on schoolwork. =)
Personally I need to get back to Montvale and ride some more before my race in September. I like it there, but need to find the spots where I can utilize what skills I have to their advantage.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Frustration and aggravation
I'm tired of the heat, I'm tired of school. It doesn't seem like much is going according to my plans. I had to quit training with Lisa because of time constraints & the fact that Ohio U totally dropped the ball with financial aid. I had hoped to pick up riding a bit more, but the heat, my schedule and schoolwork has messed that up. I'm completely frustrated at this point trying to figure out what to do and when to do it. I getting burned out with school because the material is boring and it takes forever to do the required reading. My day today didn't go at all as I had hoped. One of these days I will get to post about a wonderful, fun bike ride again.
Meanwhile, let me get back to this stupid reading...
Meanwhile, let me get back to this stupid reading...
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