Bikin' It Out

Ever have one of those days where life has gotten you so knotted up you don't know which way to turn?
That was my friend and I today so we decided to bike it out together.  The catch - she lives way up north in Canada and of course I'm here in Texas.
It was decided since we couldn't bike it out together in person we'd take a few pics of our rides to share with each other.

My ride went something like this...

If ever there was an intersection that needed a traffic light this is the one!  Four way stop, two lanes each, complete with turn lanes at all four stops.  I come upon this lovely bit of road shortly after exiting my subdivision and getting on Burney Rd - it's the least favorite part of my ride.

Further down Burney at Voss we find Sugar Land's surface water treatment plant dressed up to look like resort.

Turning off  Burney onto Stadium Dr, around the traffic circle, and up to the Skeeters' stadium - it's now time to enjoy the two childlike moments of my ride.  The first one - down the hill & over the bridge at top speed! Yeah, I have to ride back up the hill but it's not bad and well worth it for that downhill ride.

The second one takes place once I'm back up the hill - I get to ride like a swerving lunatic down the main parking lot and back out onto Stadium Dr.  Don't worry, I watch for traffic.

I don't normally take a real rest break but today it was too hot not to!  So at the eight mile mark I sat in the shade and watched the wildlife flit around until I had cooled off enough to continue.

Back on the road I swung by and checked on "my" turtles. Poor fellas have lost most of their sunning branches.  Thanks to all the rain we've been having almost all the branches are under water and all kinds of debris has been churned up. (this was the clean area - one lone turtle sunning himself on the middle branch)

In an effort to stay in the shade as long as possible I did something I never do - rode on the sidewalk.  Along the way this inviting scene made me want to climb the fence and take a cool refreshing dip.

During my entire ride the sky was filled with fluffy clouds and not one of them ever blocked the sun! Rude!

After my ride I came to a few conclusions

1. I need to leave the house earlier

2. I need a white helmet

3. I enjoy morning rides way more then evening rides

4. I must remember sunblock

5. Bikin' it out really does help

CycloFemme 2014

CycloFemme - the ride that started it all
This time last year I was relatively new cycling and had never been on a group ride
This year I had several "bike shop" group rides and two major rides under my belt
I arrived and got signed in then stood around and waited.  I've gotten used to going to these things without a partner, bit awkward at first but then you find folks to talk to
I may just wear my OSU shirt to every group ride - it started conversation at the Tour de Houston and today at CycloFemme
Finally it was time to head out, got a good pace going then had to stop and wait for the rest of the group - this happened several times during the ride - I'm no pro and I know we had beginner beginners with us but geez louise!
New year, new route - we went through the Heights and rode some of the new bike path - it was wonderful, well OK wonderful if you exclude the hills and inclines! Ack! 
As we were cruisin the bike path we of course pass others out enjoying the morning - as we passed a couple joggers I hear O-H so of course I replied I-O (my OSU shirt strikes again LOL)
At the midway point we stopped and took a group photo

We rode through Downtown for a stretch - still tickles me that we get to do that!  This ride while shorter in miles was heavier in challenges (hills, inclines, traffic) I really felt for the beginners - had this been my first ever group ride it may have made me reconsider group rides!

The group I was riding with made it back to Happy Fatz in good time  - I parked the bike, got some coffee, drank the coffee, loaded the bike up, headed home...more groups from the ride still coming in! Told ya there were a lot of beginners!

I enjoyed myself and look forward to CycloFemme 2015 - maybe I can get my Mom to join me next year 

Yikes!!

Conversation I had with myself while on my ride tonight
*the sound of a large dog barking behind me*
Oh Crap! Don't look back! Don't look back! Pedal faster! OMG! Wind give me a break I'm about to be in trouble here! Must pedal faster!
*the sounds of the large dog's barking getting closer*
Shit! I'm gonna get bit! This is gonna hurt, a lot! Crap! Crap! Crap! Wind stop blowing so hard so I can get away!
*bracing for the pain as the large dog has just about caught up to me and is sure to bite me at any second*
What do I do? I don't want my leg torn up? Don't cry after, Anthony won't be able to understand you so he can come get you. Brace yourself!
*large German Shepherd barking madly out the car window as he passes by*
ARE YOU SERIOUS?! OMG I am so glad he was in a car! He was huge! I would have lost some leg! FOCUS! Pay attention to the road or you'll lose more than leg! Stupid wind, I hate wind!

This is what I thought was behind me - minus the leash!

Tour de Houston

Woke up at 5a, it was so early even the dogs looked at me like "WHAT are you doing?! Go back to bed!"

There was no going back to bed, it was time to get ready for Tour de Houston!  Today was the first time I was riding the TdH and only my second organized ride.
Got to City Hall around 7:15a - 70 degrees, gray cloudy skies, and the threat of rain

The 60 milers left at 7:30a 

40 milers next, then 20 milers (that's me!) all got underway in waves.  

By 8:15a my wave was on the road.  I was so excited I almost cried (I get wound up about simple stuff).  This was a distance I knew I could accomplish - the weather was going to be the challenge.  As we took off I wondered just how different this ride was going to be from Tour de Cure since this time I was on a bike designed for these kind of rides.  

We rode up Smith to Lamar then onto Allen Parkway - it was all ours, blocked off to traffic. 

Get this, I. Was. Passing. People!  

What?! 

Me?! 

Passing people instead of being passed?! 

YES!

Before I knew it we were at Kirby and Westpark - I had traveled 6 miles in less than 30 minutes! New bike made it so easy!  As I traveled down Westpark it suddenly hit me - there was a HUGE hill between me and the next turn in the route.  Must admit I got a little stressy, didn't want to have to get off my bike and walk some of the hill.  The hill was now in sight *gulp*  Shifted gears and hit it with all I had, made it 3/4 of the way up then...really...slowed...dooooown, but never stopped.  I gutted out that last 1/4 of the hill, so proud of myself when I reached the top - my reward, the downhill side of course!  FLEW down the hill (even better than bein silly at the Skeeter's parking lot!). Right on Sage, right on W Alabama, left on Post Oak - rest stop in sight!

10.5 miles completed in under an hour! 

Found a spot with folding chairs and relaxed for a bit.  Why was I sitting when I just spent all that time sitting on my bike...it's a different kind of sitting, trust me!  

Relaxed, ate a snack, text my progress to family and a few friends, posted progress on FB, and about wet myself when there was suddenly a very large flash of lightning. Crap!  10 miles between me and the end of this ride and the rain was rollin in. Time to leave the rest stop!
The fact that I was staying with the pack AND passing people continued to tickle me (told ya I got wound up about simple stuff)  Down Post Oak to Loop 610.  I got to ride on the feeder road of 610 for about a mile!  Now you may not think that's cool but I sure did! (again, it's the little things)  Off 610 to Woodway for a few miles.  All was well til Westcott (about mile 15).  It started raining. It wasn't a hard rain so I didn't bother stopping to put on my rain poncho - this would turn out to be a bad choice.  I didn't bother with the poncho cuz it wouldn't keep my glasses clear or my feet and butt dry and those were the parts of me I wanted dry.  Temperature was dropping, I was on Studemont with two miles to go - no worries.  Then the real rain came, there was no avoiding the puddles, I could feel the water sloshing around in my shoes!  I was soaked to the bone, regretting not putting my rain poncho on.

1 hour and 45 minutes after starting, I was finished - 20.53 miles with all my splits between 4:30 and 5:30 min/per mile.  GO ME!

I didn't bother hanging around and checking out the different merchants tents in the rain, I was soggy, uncomfortable, and tired - time to get in the truck and go home.

Now, where the hell did I park?!  I knew it was Lot C problem was I had no idea how to get back to Lot C! Rode this way...no, not familiar.  Rode back that way...no, not right either.  I wanted to cry, I just wanted to get out of the rain!  Rode down to a police car - they will know...they didn't know! Really?!  "I think you go this way but after that I'm not sure" Thanks officer, heaps of help.  Rode down the way he said and stopped at the next police car, he was able to give me directions, I was two turns away WHEW!  I don't think I have ever been so happy to see a parking lot!  Got everything loaded and situated then just sat in the truck and had a Yea Me! moment. 

Cranked up the heat and thanks to my awesome Tour de Cure travel mug enjoyed a warm cup of coffee on my way home while wondering if there was a ride in April I could sign up for.

Wind

Wind at your back helps you ride faster
Wind in your face slows you down
Wind that comes in gusts is tolerable
Wind that blows constantly is not
Wind adds natural resistance to your workout
Wind can slow you to a crawl
Wind can aid in keeping you cool
Wind can make you cold cold cold
Wind blowing at low speeds is acceptable
Wind at any speed above 5mph is evil

High Five

First ride of the new year. It was in the upper 50's and kinda gloomy with a bit of wind but off I went on my new bike.  Have I mentioned before how awesome this bike is?  

I have? 

Fine, I won’t mention it again...in this post

I'd gone a bit over 2 miles and it started drizzling, I pushed on and by Jess Pirtle (3 mile mark) it had just about stopped. I went to the right into the Oyster Creek Estates and stopped in the cul de sac to take the above picture (been meaning to take it for months now) Just as I took off riding again the rain came back, this time with a bit more then a drizzle. Crap. I headed for home irritated with the weather for cutting my ride short.

As I'm riding home and little needles of rain were pelting my face I spotted two kids out riding and one was comin down the bike path I was goin up,  I eased out into the main traffic lane so we could pass one another with ease.  He had spotted me too, stuck his arm out and yelled "HIGH FIVE! HIGH FIVE!" shaking his hand in the air. I figured what the hell, wouldn't hurt to be silly, so I stuck my arm out and opened my hand and made sure I was close enough *SMACK* we high five'd and all I heard behind me was "Oh yeah! High Five!" followed by laughter.  

The rest of the ride while cold, damp, and shorter than I wanted wasn't that bad - pedaled on home with a smile thinking "Oh yeah! High Five!"

Sunday Spin

Absolutely gorgeous day for a ride - sun was shining, air was crisp, and I had a new bike to ride!

Yesterday by the end of the ride I was pretty proficient gettin my feet in and out of the pedal cages, today was no different - well cept for the fact that I didn't have to look down to get my foot back in place - Go me!

I started out on my usual route but instead of going all the way down to 90 I turned left at Jess Pirtle Blvd and headed toward Sugar Mill Park - saw my park, made the loop at the cul de sac rode back out of the subdivision and headed over to Stadium Dr.  I'd ridden up that road before but never all the way to the stadium, home of the Sugar Land Skeeters. 

Let me say if you ever want to feel like a little kid on your bike go to Skeeter Stadium's parking lot when it's empty and ride your heart out!  The parking lot has an incline that's just steep enough that you won't have to struggle gettin to the top and can have a blast flyin to the bottom!  I did it twice! First time I did big swerves comin down then raced back to the top and just flew straight down the lot out onto the street and headed toward home - what a rush! And yes, yes I was hootin, hollerin, and being childish the entire time - it was fantastic!!

The rest of the ride I behaved as a good cyclist should and arrived home safe n sound.

My average speed and pace as well as my total time were almost identical to yesterday - my new bike really is faster! *wink*

Maiden Voyage

What an amazing ride!!!
I could feel the 15 pound difference. I knew there would be a difference, I mean with 15 pounds less weight there would have to be. I guess I just didn't expect it to be so blatantly obvious!
I didn’t pedal with any more effort on my new Trek then I did on my Specialized - the ride was easier and the difference in speed was very noticeable.
I did 10.3 miles in 51.5 minutes! The times on my splits were faster then I have ever gone, a lot of them were under five minutes and those that were over were only over by a few seconds – I was haulin butt!
Speaking of butts mine didn't hurt any more or less than it did on my other seat - most noticeable and welcomed difference on my body was no tingling in my toes or hands around mile 8.  Will still have to adjust to the lean forward posture but I don't think that will be too difficult

By way of comparison
The same route, almost the same time of day

	Specialized	Trek
Average speed	9.07 mph	12 mph
Average pace	6.37 min/mi	5 min/mi

I was so busy marveling at the awesomeness of my new bike I neglected to make any "bike ride observations" - maybe tomorrow

My New Baby

Today was the day!  I picked up my new bike!
I ended up getting the same brand, Trek, but a different model then the one Santa's Elves had looked at.  Not a lot of differences – right shifter only goes to 7 instead of 8, the pedals are plastic instead of metal – neither of those things make a difference in my riding right now.  The model I got only came in black, a non issue for me even though the tidal green color of the other model would have been fun to have. They weigh the same, have the same basic frame design – the model I got allows me to sit up a bit more, not upright like my Specialized but not so far forward that my wrist/arms will hurt.
This bike is 15 pounds lighter then my Specialized! 15!

I knew the seat needed to be replaced before I left the store, my butt was getting sore just sittin on it while the Bike Barn guy adjusted this n that to my levels

I picked out a nice cushy seat

Seat changed out, more adjustments made – my new baby was ready to ride
Well cept I wanted to get pedal cages…I’m not at the “clip to your pedal” level of riding yet.  Pedal cages are like the training wheels of the pedal clip world, therefore appropriate for me!

Oh and I needed a water bottle cage…lots of cages in the bike world huh? LOL

Everything changed out, attached, adjusted, bill paid – time to put my new ride in the truck and head home.
Only bummer - I have to wait til tomorrow to ride due to previous obligations *sigh*

Thank you Burt - you were a great help and very patient

7.2FX-WSD

Holy Guacamole Batman!
Santa brought me a new bike!
Totally caught me off guard, wasn’t even entertaining the possibility
But there it was, the last gift I opened – the tag had some mysterious code on it – inside there was a poem, a picture, and a gift card – I was silent, not sure what to say – I think I smiled, pretty sure I was smiling.  I was smiling inside I know that!  Inside I was all freakin smiles!
The last mention of a new bike was November 10th  after my Tour de Cure 30 mile ride. That day while we ate celebratory burgers and I basked in my 30 mile victory the discussion topic had gone to how inappropriate my Specialized baby was for such rides.  As challenging as it was I was hooked, I knew I wanted to do more rides…but my Specialized was NOT the bike for long rides like the one I had just completed.
Lunch ended, life went on, I continued to ride my Specialized.
Flash forward a month and change and there I sat on Christmas Eve Day, the soon to be proud owner of a bike that was very appropriate for long challenging rides
Oh! Emm! Gee!
I couldn’t find the words, still haven't found the words to accurately and appropriately express my excitement and gratitude.