2232.0; 49.4
If I'd known I was this close to 50, I'd have gone around the block! Usually I remember the starting mileage and have it running in my head all day, but today I wasn't sure.
Another Petaluma lunch run. I rather like these, because I feel I can eat and drink whatever I damn well please after riding 27 miles over hill & dale to get there--BUT keeping in mind that I have to ride similar mileage over hill & dale to get back, so must exercise a little moderation. So, ice water and thai peanut noodles with chicken. Couldn't finish the gigantic portion. Saw the ex-boss and a couple of ex-coworkers; that was a tough one, that job, but I'm proud of having turned things around as I did in the last year, and I always like to keep the network open, so was happy to make this little connection. And it's an excuse to ride to Petaluma and back.
New speed record: 43.1 on Spring Hill Road heading into Petaluma. I had to ride the brakes when it got a little rough--still could go faster on that hill!
I passed 2222.2 on the odometer right at the Washoe House on the return trip, which in turn is apparently almost exactly ten miles from home on this route.
Wind, wind, wind, nonstop. It was bad enough to slow me down on many of the good downhills, and to actually blow the bike around a little at speed.
Some of the hills and roads on this route are really daunting: Canfield Road hills; Bodega Highway with headwind and traffic; Spring Hill Rd. going up from the west; getting out of Petaluma; the Chapman and Eastman hills in the old 'hood; Stony Point with full-on headwind; Roblar with no shoulder and 50mph cars; the Hessel hill; then 116 with traffic and headwind. A weird thing happens, though--you just keep pedaling and eventually, you're there! I geared way down a lot of times in the face of the wind, and just took it easy getting on my way, so no time records today. I have to remind myself to stop and rest, for the sake of my numb hands and wish-it-was-numb butt. But it does seem this one was a tiny bit easier than the last one (which, granted, was about 2 miles longer).
And that's a 133-mile week!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Vine Hill Non-Stop
2182.6; 34.3
Almost the same loop as Monday, but on a whim more or less, I took Vine Hill Rd. instead of Laguna Rd. I managed to do that full section of Vine Hill without stopping, so I guess I've progressed! It added only a mile to the loop, but added a pretty major elevation gain too. I think I'm good for Petaluma Friday.
West County Trail near O'Reilly: woman reins in her kid as I approach and then for some reason lets go of him and of course he toddles right out into the path and I literally had to lock it up to not hit him. I like kids, but the parents really piss me off sometimes. I try to be polite on the byways, though, and generally do very well. At worst, I'll just say nothing and move on.
Trenton-Healdsburg Rd: Pickup truck couldn't wait to pass me safely, so barreled by right next to me. No shoulder there, not much to be done for it. Shortly after, teens in a sedan yelled something as they passed me; startled me, but no harm done.
Talked with a guy who may or may not have had a mental disability of some kind, on the Greenway near Santa Rosa. He'd just bought a mountain bike and the high gear wasn't working well. I offered my multi-tool, which he didn't accept, so just sat and chatted while I ate my Clif bar.
Then, on the Rodota trail near Sebastopol, homeless guy oddly veered his shopping cart right in front of me and again I had to slam on the brakes. WTF? The guy is always out there, usually oblivious, though he once said hi to me. Who but the republicans and neocons do we have to thank for this kind of person being left to wander the landscape unassisted?
Almost the same loop as Monday, but on a whim more or less, I took Vine Hill Rd. instead of Laguna Rd. I managed to do that full section of Vine Hill without stopping, so I guess I've progressed! It added only a mile to the loop, but added a pretty major elevation gain too. I think I'm good for Petaluma Friday.
West County Trail near O'Reilly: woman reins in her kid as I approach and then for some reason lets go of him and of course he toddles right out into the path and I literally had to lock it up to not hit him. I like kids, but the parents really piss me off sometimes. I try to be polite on the byways, though, and generally do very well. At worst, I'll just say nothing and move on.
Trenton-Healdsburg Rd: Pickup truck couldn't wait to pass me safely, so barreled by right next to me. No shoulder there, not much to be done for it. Shortly after, teens in a sedan yelled something as they passed me; startled me, but no harm done.
Talked with a guy who may or may not have had a mental disability of some kind, on the Greenway near Santa Rosa. He'd just bought a mountain bike and the high gear wasn't working well. I offered my multi-tool, which he didn't accept, so just sat and chatted while I ate my Clif bar.
Then, on the Rodota trail near Sebastopol, homeless guy oddly veered his shopping cart right in front of me and again I had to slam on the brakes. WTF? The guy is always out there, usually oblivious, though he once said hi to me. Who but the republicans and neocons do we have to thank for this kind of person being left to wander the landscape unassisted?
Monday, June 15, 2009
Back in the Saddle Again
2148.3; 32.9
And so almost 50 miles on a week where I hope to clock a hundred (I did the short Forestville round-trip yesterday). Nothing much to report, except a little more fearlessness on the big downhills, and another 2 lbs lost at naked weigh-in this morning, for an even 200 lbs. and officially halfway to my stated goal.
Nice day for riding; not too hot or bright out; not a lot of people on the roads and trails; headwind not too daunting.
I plan to ride significant miles Wednesday and do the Petaluma lunch ride (though probably not the 50-mile big-loop version) Friday. And get more work done when not riding.
And so almost 50 miles on a week where I hope to clock a hundred (I did the short Forestville round-trip yesterday). Nothing much to report, except a little more fearlessness on the big downhills, and another 2 lbs lost at naked weigh-in this morning, for an even 200 lbs. and officially halfway to my stated goal.
Nice day for riding; not too hot or bright out; not a lot of people on the roads and trails; headwind not too daunting.
I plan to ride significant miles Wednesday and do the Petaluma lunch ride (though probably not the 50-mile big-loop version) Friday. And get more work done when not riding.
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