Did You Ride Today?

[cobbwheels]

I did my usual 71 miler with 5.5k ft climb after a month of not doing it.

However, I did it during a tropical storm. I thought it might be a good way to "ease" into the long road by riding with a thick cloud cover and a bit of rain where it's not too hot. But I was wrong. The headwind is strong due to the storm and it flipped over halfway into the ride and I met headwinds most of the way and then the sun came out between strong downpours so I encountered what felt like 100% humidity and 110 F heat index whenever the sun came out

I might have overheated so I grabbed my shirt wet from the rain and sweat and put it in my mouth and sucked the water from it. Remember I don't eat nor drink and rides anymore and consequently, I don't bring water bottle either so I sourced whatever water I can find from my clothes and hands wet from rain. When the rain is really pouring hard, I held my palm in front of my mouth to take in rainwater to drink. I got electrolytes from my sweaty shirt.

I am slower on this ride, from the headwinds, lower tire pressure in anticipation of rain and wet conditions, recovering from nearly 3 weeks of illness, and wet conditions.

It was a scary ride, the forest was even scarier when it's really dark because of the clouds and there's no other cyclists in sight. Suddenly, the towns feels so far away in between. While there are vehicles on the road, not many this time due to the storm. Far fewer than a typical Saturday. I would have loved it but the forest looked a lot more menacing when no one's around and it's dark and raining.

 

[Fourlegsgood2wheelsbad]

Wow I wouldn't last a day in those conditions . Enjoy your youth !

Left the "old Faithful " geyser in Calistoga at 05:20 to get it over and done with before the 100F plus or whatever expected today . So the ride was starting 60F in calistoga a little ground fog to 75F and bone dry in the next county when I finished up. Today just a dare ride over ( a bucket list item ) over Calistoga grade from NAPA to Lake Co. If i'd left 20 minutes earlier i'd have not shared the road with a dozen cars or so each direction passing me.

On a weekday it'd be a suicide run as much the road have no shoulder , and or drivers pass the fog line and rip around turns hugging the inside line . Saw a few those jerks today. But the weekend am are nearly zero traffic early.

So after the county line and begin to descend I took command of the whole lane while at speed for my own safety.
Good clean smooth road and by now the Sun had rose a tad..

Vey short predawn ride of just under 15 miles total and 2200 feet of vertical gain coming up the NAPA side of grade into LAKE co. Did a relieve video can not figure how to attach it.

 

[Mr. Beanz]

Solo 50 miles today. 15.9 average speed. Last year I dislocated a rib working heavy labor. Last Sunday, I was taking a pic of my bike when the wind blew it over. I took a couple steps to catch it full stretch while squatting to save it. I felt my rib pop losing my breath and almost falling to the ground. But I saved it so the bike is OK!
But the injury bothered me all week and the worst of it all on Friday. But I figured a ride on the smoothest trail around would be good for my rib. I felt good after a shaky start. Warming up the muscles does wonders.
At the coast, a very strange surprise. My coworker showed up surprising me. As I headed back, I passed him on his 3 speed cruiser so I slowed to take a few shots.
A warm one today sweaty legs and all.

 

[cobbwheels]

Wow I wouldn't last a day in those conditions . Enjoy your youth !

Left the "old Faithful " geyser in Calistoga at 05:20 to get it over and done with before the 100F plus or whatever expected today . So the ride was starting 60F in calistoga a little ground fog to 75F and bone dry in the next county when I finished up. Today just a dare ride over ( a bucket list item ) over Calistoga grade from NAPA to Lake Co. If i'd left 20 minutes earlier i'd have not shared the road with a dozen cars or so each direction passing me.

On a weekday it'd be a suicide run as much the road have no shoulder , and or drivers pass the fog line and rip around turns hugging the inside line . Saw a few those jerks today. But the weekend am are nearly zero traffic early.

So after the county line and begin to descend I took command of the whole lane while at speed for my own safety.
Good clean smooth road and by now the Sun had rose a tad..

Vey short predawn ride of just under 15 miles total and 2200 feet of vertical gain coming up the NAPA side of grade into LAKE co. Did a relieve video can not figure how to attach it.

Might be my youth, maybe not. I'm in my forties now and cycling is the only thing keeping me from taking maintenance meds! I only weigh 112 lbs at 5'8". I think that gives me large body surface in relation to body volume and weight. Helps cool down even if sweating doesn't work because of 100% humidity.

I see your weekday concerns. Those are the conditions I face in the mountains every time I do that 71 mile run. Doesn't matter how early I set out, doesn't matter what day. No shoulder and worse, drivers passing in the opposite lane, going to your lane. They don't care for cyclists. They will run you off the road. If you collide with them, it will be a head on collision.

I'm eventually thinking of quitting riding these long rides altogether. The 71 miler is my favorite long route due to the forest but it's also extremely dangerous due to the traffic conditions. The other routes near the city, you'll be dealing with much heavier, slow-moving traffic. It's actually safe because traffic is slow but stressful filtering through traffic the entire length of the ride and fumes from the huge volume of traffic will probably kill you instead.

I'll probably just do the nearby city loops and indoor training. I can still keep my fitness this way but most importantly, stay alive!

 

[cobbwheels]

Solo 50 miles today. 15.9 average speed. Last year I dislocated a rib working heavy labor. Last Sunday, I was taking a pic of my bike when the wind blew it over. I took a couple steps to catch it full stretch while squatting to save it. I felt my rib pop losing my breath and almost falling to the ground. But I saved it so the bike is OK!
But the injury bothered me all week and the worst of it all on Friday. But I figured a ride on the smoothest trail around would be good for my rib. I felt good after a shaky start. Warming up the muscles does wonders.
At the coast, a very strange surprise. My coworker showed up surprising me. As I headed back, I passed him on his 3 speed cruiser so I slowed to take a few shots.
A warm one today sweaty legs and all.

It's known that cyclists don't go well with heavy lifting and recently I've been doing free-weight strength training just to even things out. Good to hear you're healing well.

Your coworker is how I dress on rides, very loose casual looking just no glasses and I don't put anything on the pockets of my shorts but with helmet and crocs shoes instead of flip flops. Our bikes even look similar except having dropbar on mine.

 

[Fourlegsgood2wheelsbad]

got the worm- well before the hell of the days heat. , nice early solo out and back loop this AM .

Costco headlight for illumination along with my front facing strobe. reflective green windbreaker. Felt real strong and got my HR up where it should be . Happy to have accomplished over 22K vertical Since June 19th. Most all my rides short and punchy. Going got work up to the longer rides.

And learn to eat. This am just half slice of toast pre ride and a pouch of liquid IV in my WB.
hope I attached this correct. Take a look at the price of gas in the pic lol .

'Fun ride' | Relive

View my ride: Fun ride

www.relive.cc

 

[Mr. Beanz]

got the worm- well before the hell of the days heat. , nice early solo out and back loop this AM .

Costco headlight for illumination along with my front facing strobe. reflective green windbreaker. Felt real strong and got my HR up where it should be . Happy to have accomplished over 22K vertical Since June 19th. Most all my rides short and punchy. Going got work up to the longer rides.

And learn to eat. This am just half slice of toast pre ride and a pouch of liquid IV in my WB.
hope I attached this correct. Take a look at the price of gas in the pic lol .

'Fun ride' | Relive

View my ride: Fun ride

www.relive.cc

Nice. You have pretty nice riding grounds. Gas, 40 cents cheaper over there. Haven't seen that price in years.

 

[Fourlegsgood2wheelsbad]

Might be my youth, maybe not. I'm in my forties now and cycling is the only thing keeping me from taking maintenance meds! I only weigh 112 lbs at 5'8". I think that gives me large body surface in relation to body volume and weight. Helps cool down even if sweating doesn't work because of 100% humidity.

I see your weekday concerns. Those are the conditions I face in the mountains every time I do that 71 mile run. Doesn't matter how early I set out, doesn't matter what day. No shoulder and worse, drivers passing in the opposite lane, going to your lane. They don't care for cyclists. They will run you off the road. If you collide with them, it will be a head on collision.

I'm eventually thinking of quitting riding these long rides altogether. The 71 miler is my favorite long route due to the forest but it's also extremely dangerous due to the traffic conditions. The other routes near the city, you'll be dealing with much heavier, slow-moving traffic. It's actually safe because traffic is slow but stressful filtering through traffic the entire length of the ride and fumes from the huge volume of traffic will probably kill you instead.

I'll probably just do the nearby city loops and indoor training. I can still keep my fitness this way but most importantly, stay alive!

Nice. You have pretty nice riding grounds. Gas, 40 cents cheaper over there. Haven't seen that price in years.

The 4:20 is a weed reference here . Someone played a joke . Lots around here. Mmm feeling nice about now .

Gas "on the lake" would be typically $2.50 -$3.00 a gallon over pump price . The views and lack of traffic make living here worth it.

 

[Mr. Beanz]

The 4:20 is a weed reference here . Someone played a joke . Lots around here. Mmm feeling nice about now .

Gas "on the lake" would be typically $2.50 -$3.00 a gallon over pump price . The views and lack of traffic make living here worth it.

4:20....ha ha I'm not hip to a lot of things nowadays.

 

[Fourlegsgood2wheelsbad]

Determined to not be discouraged by the daytime highs. I waited it out till about 7:00 PM then left with temps above 90F and falling ( its 10:20 PM and still 80F) . Heat was least concern. No pics this ride just worked on pushing inches and throwing some sprints and "break-aways" with my imaginary rival cyclists. Cut a minute plus off my route , happy about that. This a short version of my out and back loop so barely 16 -17 miles maybe 1500 ft ascent. Got in as Sun was setting.

Few cars on the route , and pretty much all of them waved and continued on. A few shouts of "go -go -go". Maybe I only heard what I wanted and it was just their cars stereo playing a commercial.

Regardless I felt strait on fire tonight. Would have liked to seen a pinch higher avg speed , and even faster time but my excuse is that I ran 2 miles with the Husky this AM before Sunrise. Oh , and the old knee issue ect ect. Seem more familiar and hitting the straits faster and corners hotter and deeper.

Feels great to get home . Cant sleep Would like to add my own music to the "relive" app.

 

[Mr. Beanz]

Determined to not be discouraged by the daytime highs. I waited it out till about 7:00 PM then left with temps above 90F and falling ( its 10:20 PM and still 80F) . Heat was least concern. No pics this ride just worked on pushing inches and throwing some sprints and "break-aways" with my imaginary rival cyclists. Cut a minute plus off my route , happy about that. This a short version of my out and back loop so barely 16 -17 miles maybe 1500 ft ascent. Got in as Sun was setting.

Few cars on the route , and pretty much all of them waved and continued on. A few shouts of "go -go -go". Maybe I only heard what I wanted and it was just their cars stereo playing a commercial.

Regardless I felt strait on fire tonight. Would have liked to seen a pinch higher avg speed , and even faster time but my excuse is that I ran 2 miles with the Husky this AM before Sunrise. Oh , and the old knee issue ect ect. Seem more familiar and hitting the straits faster and corners hotter and deeper.
View attachment 6627

Feels great to get home . Cant sleep Would like to add my own music to the "relive" app.

One thing I would wish for, own music. Free account limited tunes. Paid is about 16 (?)

But only a choice from their tunes. Sadly.

 

[cobbwheels]

Determined to not be discouraged by the daytime highs. I waited it out till about 7:00 PM then left with temps above 90F and falling ( its 10:20 PM and still 80F) . Heat was least concern. No pics this ride just worked on pushing inches and throwing some sprints and "break-aways" with my imaginary rival cyclists. Cut a minute plus off my route , happy about that. This a short version of my out and back loop so barely 16 -17 miles maybe 1500 ft ascent. Got in as Sun was setting.

I'm usually faster when there are other riders around not that I get on someone's wheel. Early saturday morning is where we have many weekend warriors on the road. I like it. It feels safer than being the only rider on the road against many cars.

I forgot to report about my modified (re-shaped) wide commuter saddle. First time I used for 71 miles, no stopping, wearing board shorts (no pads), no cream, sat down the entire ride no standing, and soaking wet from the rain on top of it. No chaffing, no soreness, no numbness. In fact, nothing. My butt feels exactly like I only sat down the office chair all morning. It seems like you can ride the saddle on any casual shorts or pants without cream all day without discomfort. And despite losing fitness for 1 month of only short and easy rides, I actually beat the first hour of climbing and flat segments of my ride. At the very least, the wide saddle was not less efficient than my TT/road saddle.

It's way more comfortable than any road saddle I've tried while wearing padded cycling shorts and using cream in dry riding conditions.

It made me realize a few things about saddles and butt comfort in cycling. Either saddle designers have very low standards in terms of butt comfort, entirely convinced by the tradition "you have to 'man up' your butt" to ride. Or, it's just another ploy to make cycling even more expensive to force riders to become very particularly with the shorts they wear and the creams they use. Ofc, it could simply be a matter of aesthetics. Weight, inconsequential. Performance had so little to do with it as I found you can make a saddle as efficient as road/race saddle but with the comfort of an office chair. Something you can sit on all day with any pants or shorts without feeling the need to stand up.

 

[Mr. Beanz]

I'm usually faster when there are other riders around not that I get on someone's wheel. Early saturday morning is where we have many weekend warriors on the road. I like it. It feels safer than being the only rider on the road against many cars.

I forgot to report about my modified (re-shaped) wide commuter saddle. First time I used for 71 miles, no stopping, wearing board shorts (no pads), no cream, sat down the entire ride no standing, and soaking wet from the rain on top of it. No chaffing, no soreness, no numbness. In fact, nothing. My butt feels exactly like I only sat down the office chair all morning. It seems like you can ride the saddle on any casual shorts or pants without cream all day without discomfort. And despite losing fitness for 1 month of only short and easy rides, I actually beat the first hour of climbing and flat segments of my ride. At the very least, the wide saddle was not less efficient than my TT/road saddle.

It's way more comfortable than any road saddle I've tried while wearing padded cycling shorts and using cream in dry riding conditions.

It made me realize a few things about saddles and butt comfort in cycling. Either saddle designers have very low standards in terms of butt comfort, entirely convinced by the tradition "you have to 'man up' your butt" to ride. Or, it's just another ploy to make cycling even more expensive to force riders to become very particularly with the shorts they wear and the creams they use. Ofc, it could simply be a matter of aesthetics. Weight, inconsequential. Performance had so little to do with it as I found you can make a saddle as efficient as road/race saddle but with the comfort of an office chair. Something you can sit on all day with any pants or shorts without feeling the need to stand up.

I don't get you. You said the same thing and same claims with your last saddle. Then you complained about it and ditched it.

Ftr, I have $20 shorts that I've claimed to be comfortable. So it's not all about high price hype recommending cycling shorts. Of course there are high price snobs but cycling shorts aren't all about soaking people for money.

I've done 114 mile rides with 12,000 ft and never stood up as I was more than comfortable.

It's great you don't need cycling shorts but you shouldn't down talk them as they really are a bonus in comfort on the bike.

Great you don't use creams, cycling shorts etc, but you're the guy who ditched your last saddle after experiencing fit and comfort issues.

 

[Fourlegsgood2wheelsbad]

Speaking of comfort in the saddle I prefer a bib short with padding no cream.
At a touch over 60 Kg and a bit skinny ATM with lotsa thigh gap if it can be a guy thing.

So no cream need here but padded shorts ok so far and cheaper been more comfortable.
Something to say for the chinese made stuff. I did buy an american made bib short recently , sizing was an issue. The chamois on the american brand actually shorter in length and less comfortable IMO than the cheap bib shorts from china .

I guess the peter pan look is for me (lycra ) , if I try to go baggy I will catch the saddle nose on the baggy crotch area in certain conditions.

 

[Mr. Beanz]

I tried these Chinese shorts, Wosawe brand. $20.

I liked them so much I bought 2 more pair. They fit better than any of my other shorts. Thicker more supportive material plus hood reflective stripes for night time visibility.
My chamois is a little better on my black bibs shorts $55 and Aerotech touring shorts $100. But overall, $20 ain't going to break the bank and they are comfortable for $20.

 

[cobbwheels]

I don't get you. You said the same thing and same claims with your last saddle. Then you complained about it and ditched it.

Ftr, I have $20 shorts that I've claimed to be comfortable. So it's not all about high price hype recommending cycling shorts. Of course there are high price snobs but cycling shorts aren't all about soaking people for money.

I've done 114 mile rides with 12,000 ft and never stood up as I was more than comfortable.

My last saddle was a very good saddle for me. The best I had at the time. But you never know what you're missing until you experience something far better!

It's great you don't need cycling shorts but you shouldn't down talk them as they really are a bonus in comfort on the bike.

You won't be needing them either on the new saddle shape I've tested or at least, you can let go of the cream. Cycling shorts still remain useful for aerodynamics and aesthetics. I myself prefer padded shorts if I'm going to wear cycling shorts because the pads hides the bulges even if I don't wear underwear!

I didn't mean to down talk the shorts. I just heard enough **** from popular channels and from many individuals that going for pricier clothing is one of the many ways to guarantee satisfying cycling experience. The more expensive, the better. I don't believe that.

 

[Mr. Beanz]

You are correct about that. I ordered 2 pair Pearl Izumi from their website. Each one cost 3 times the price of the Chinese model. They suck!

But many might not give the Chinese model a try because they want to fit in with the crowd.

 

[cobbwheels]

Speaking of comfort in the saddle I prefer a bib short with padding no cream.
At a touch over 60 Kg and a bit skinny ATM with lotsa thigh gap if it can be a guy thing.

So no cream need here but padded shorts ok so far and cheaper been more comfortable.
Something to say for the chinese made stuff. I did buy an american made bib short recently , sizing was an issue. The chamois on the american brand actually shorter in length and less comfortable IMO than the cheap bib shorts from china .

I guess the peter pan look is for me (lycra ) , if I try to go baggy I will catch the saddle nose on the baggy crotch area in certain conditions.

Wow. I never knew you'd be just over 60 Kg! Should make you a strong climber.

 

[cobbwheels]

You are correct about that. I ordered 2 pair Pearl Izumi from their website. Each one cost 3 times the price of the Chinese model. They suck!

I have no idea. Unbelievable!

 

[Fourlegsgood2wheelsbad]

Today on my " special day" knew we were looking at 105 plus temps. So I planned out a route last night , first time on this route by bike . Gets around the lake on side roads ( mostly )

I left my sag support vehicle at 04:20 headed on a 25 miler ( solo of course ) with about 2300 ft of climbing. Used my Costco headlight quite adequate again this AM .

I bought on impulse a "brake light" that has a decelerometer. According to the team car ( wife in minivan trailing me) the thing really gets your attention . Even in the flats I tap my brake when I can see a car coming up on me from behind. It ( brake light) goes about 300% brighter for a moment or two. One the downhills clocked a 45MPH could still see pretty well i just stopped pedaling a moment and lowered my head. Whoooshhhh.

What a fun fast ride , under 2 hours and should have rode more.
Some day some to circumnavigate the puddle. Temps low 70's to start to finish and bone dry.