Official Road Cycling Thread

[erickonphoenix]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Perception is everything, I guess. Low 90's is good conditions? Maybe if it was very dry. Or maybe I've become a wimp. LOL

I don't envy folks who have to ride in extreme heat. I keep looking at temps in Vegas and SoCal. Oy.

Low 90s is better than the 100s.. That's why we started riding at 6:30 am so we only get the 100˚F heat the last five or six miles.

Since we can't do altitude training here at sea level, hot weather is the closest we get since atmospheric oxygen concentration is lower at high temperatures.

or that's what we tell ourselves.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by erickonphoenix

Low 90s is better than the 100s.. That's why we started riding at 6:30 am so we only get the 100˚F heat the last five or six miles.

Since we can't do altitude training here at sea level, hot weather is the closest we get since atmospheric oxygen concentration is lower at high temperatures.

or that's what we tell ourselves.

I spent the summer of '96 as an intern at JSC. That humidity was on par with the worst I saw in Korea.

Got out today before the heat set in here. Quick 20 miler.

[erickonphoenix]

Originally Posted by M_Six

I spent the summer of '96 as an intern at JSC. That humidity was on par with the worst I saw in Korea.

Got out today before the heat set in here. Quick 20 miler.

That's awesome, both my parents worked for NASA. Pops was a payload specialist and mom was in astronaut training. (mission operations not making them do jumping jacks or anything)

[chassis]

30 miles, great ride. Started in the upper 80s, humid, headwind and full sun. Ended in the mid-80s, humid with high overcast and lighter winds.

Getting noticeably darker earlier!

[M_Six]

I went out intending to do 30 today, but the heat and humidity got to me, so I cut it short at 20. It wasn't awful, but I was beginning to fade and I was hungry (late morning ride). Still, that's 105 miles for the week and I still have the weekend to add more.

The heat and humidity are supposed to ease starting tomorrow, so next week looks like a great week for riding. I still need to make up 285 miles to get back on my yearly goal pace.

[M_Six]

30 today for 151 on the week. Nice day today for riding, so I took advantage. All next week looks perfect weather-wise, so I'm hoping for another high mileage week.

[chassis]

30 miles, great ride.

Started in the upper 60s, ended in the mid 60s. Perfect weather. I wore a sweatshirt the whole ride and was comfortable. Sun going down earlier so will need to shift the ride to the weekend when I can ride during sun-up hours.

Thinking about planning a 40 miler before end of the season.

[M_Six]

32 miles today to round out the week at 180. Perfect weather today. Upper 60's, clear and dry, very minor cross breeze.

[M_Six]

20 miles today. 140 on the week so far. Had to dodge some hay today, though.

[chassis]

40 miles, personal best distance. 3hrs 45min.

I cleaned and lubed the entire drivetrain and shift cables. Feels like a new bike.

80s and full sun at the start, 79 and full sun at the end. Really good ride. I feel good, and pretty wobbly. Dinner and shower coming up!

I took a close look at the 3-speed chain wheel. Middle and big ring are in sorry shape. New one needed for next season.

[M_Six]

20 today. 161 for the week.

[Roadcrew]

30 miles with 150 for the week. Mostly windy and warm. Just over 2 hours.

[erickonphoenix]

We got 12.4 miles in Saturday when my riding partner had his rear tire ripped open by an errant piece of broken glass. It appears a group of late night drinkers were throwing their beer bottles on to the bike trail.

A tube replacement wouldn't have lasted on that tire so we uber'd back to his place and he swapped over to his gravel bike and we put in another 23.5 miles for a total of almost 36 on the day.

[Roadcrew]

32 miles today. A little breezy but a nice ride once out of town.
Most of my rides are in the country outside city limits. Weekdays the trail is mostly the regulars. Typical view of the trail.

[chassis]

Hoping to get 30 miles in tomorrow after work.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by Roadcrew

32 miles today. A little breezy but a nice ride once out of town.
Most of my rides are in the country outside city limits. Weekdays the trail is mostly the regulars. Typical view of the trail.

That looks like an enjoyable trail.

[erickonphoenix]

Originally Posted by Roadcrew

32 miles today. A little breezy but a nice ride once out of town.
Most of my rides are in the country outside city limits. Weekdays the trail is mostly the regulars. Typical view of the trail.

Great trail, how's the wildlife? Any issues with random animals darting across the trails. We have an issue with squirrels darting out then darting back when they us coming. I haven't hit one yet but had a few close calls.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by erickonphoenix

Great trail, how's the wildlife? Any issues with random animals darting across the trails. We have an issue with squirrels darting out then darting back when they us coming. I haven't hit one yet but had a few close calls.

One scared the crap out of me a couple days ago. Ran right under my wheel. Just missed it. Then I watched my HR jump up a few ticks.

[Roadcrew]

The trail starts 7 miles from my house on mostly dedicated trail. Once on this trail I can ride to the Kansas border. The trail becomes the Homestead trail and there are some really nice stretches. Upkeep is really good and well maintained except when we have weather related damage. Things get sorted out though.

The wildlife varies from flocks of wild turkeys, raccoons, deer, snakes, and a nice variety of birds depending on the season. Usually I'd see turkeys and deer on a ride. The coolest thing I've seen this year, as I'm riding along, alone an owl flys along side the trail next me, about shoulder high 10 feet away. The owl swoops down and picks up a snake about a foot long. Then flew off for lunch. Similar encounter with a great blue heron minus the snake.

I try to limit myself to five 30 mile rides a week when weather's good.

[erickonphoenix]

We get snakes on our trail as well but they're usually just sunning. The only animal collision I've had was a dog walker that didn't have her dog on a lead and it ran right into me. I crashed in the grass but there was no damage, and she was pretty and very apologetic, so I soldiered on.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by erickonphoenix

We get snakes on our trail as well but they're usually just sunning. The only animal collision I've had was a dog walker that didn't have her dog on a lead and it ran right into me. I crashed in the grass but there was no damage, and she was pretty and very apologetic, so I soldiered on.

I've had two contact events with dogs. First one was on a dirt road out in the middle of nowhere. This dog ran up to me and then darted across in front of me. I hit the brakes, but hit him anyway. Luckily it was a light hit and he acted like it was nothing. He chased me for a bit more and then finally got bored.

The second was a nasty pit bull that had managed to get off his chain. He came after me and I tried to sprint away, but he ran right into my rear wheel and broke a spoke. Somehow I managed to not crash, but my leg got torn up by the pedal. The owner's father showed up and was all apologetic and gave me a ride home. He gave me his cell number and said he'd pay for any repairs, but then he ghosted me and wouldn't take calls or answer texts. From the looks of his house, I figured he didn't have two dimes to rub together, so I ate the repair bill.

[erickonphoenix]

Originally Posted by M_Six

I've had two contact events with dogs. First one was on a dirt road out in the middle of nowhere. This dog ran up to me and then darted across in front of me. I hit the brakes, but hit him anyway. Luckily it was a light hit and he acted like it was nothing. He chased me for a bit more and then finally got bored.

The second was a nasty pit bull that had managed to get off his chain. He came after me and I tried to sprint away, but he ran right into my rear wheel and broke a spoke. Somehow I managed to not crash, but my leg got torn up by the pedal. The owner's father showed up and was all apologetic and gave me a ride home. He gave me his cell number and said he'd pay for any repairs, but then he ghosted me and wouldn't take calls or answer texts. From the looks of his house, I figured he didn't have two dimes to rub together, so I ate the repair bill.

One of the riders in our group carries an air horn to deter dogs, claims it is effective at aggressive dogs