Did You Ride Today?

Mr. Beanz said:

That's for sure! I've had a few guys latch on then continue on and say, "thanks, I needed a short breather!". That's cool!

I was doing a century one Saturday with a friend. We caught up with these two guys and sat in behind them for awhile. We then thanked them but explained that we had places to go and were riding faster than they. I didn't want to insult them and call them a bunch of squirrels, but that was the reason we left them in a hurry.

22 miles this afternoon with the sun sort of shining on and off in 60 degree air. Only 800' of climbing on a relaxing ride through the peaceful...well...it would have been relaxing and peaceful if not for the old fat [censored] in the minivan that absolutely laid on the horn to let me know she was approaching from behind and then buzzed me about 2' off my elbow. With an oncoming car that appeared from around a blind, uphill turn.

Stupid [censored] moron [censored].

If killing stupid [censored] was legal, Ohio roads would be littered with the rotting corpses of asshat nimrods too stupid to pour [censored] out of a boot with the instructions written all over the heel.

an 18.2 mile speed session with no stops at 17.6mph/845 ft climbing. I don't know what the hell it is, but 17.6 is a very common pace for my speed sessions to the decimal. Last weeks one was the same number over +/- the same distance. I do feel like the chases during the weekend have been worth it, feel like I'm getting use to bigger gearing. I was out of the saddle for much of it alternating sprints with decent seated efforts. This was my first evening ride of the year, so happy its daylights savings time.

CAMPYBOB said:

it would have been relaxing and peaceful if not for the old fat [censored] in the minivan that absolutely laid on the horn to let me know she was approaching from behind and then buzzed me about 2' off my elbow. With an oncoming car that appeared from around a blind, uphill turn.

Stupid [censored] moron [censored].

If killing stupid [censored] was legal, Ohio roads would be littered with the rotting corpses of asshat nimrods too stupid to pour [censored] out of a boot with the instructions written all over the heel.

I had a similar annoyance today. A UPS truck behind me and and oncoming car. People act like they've never seen a bike on the road before and feel the constant need to honk like morons. I'm kind of lucky that I have relatively slow traffic roads around my road.I'd hate to cycle in some big city.

She started blowing the horn from so far back I would have had time to pull a safe U-turn and bounce a bottle off her windshield.

Not only was there an oncoming car pinching her from around that blind corner, there was a guy walking his German Shepherd Dog on my side of the road. There was no sidewalk, of course, out in the country and he was walking facing traffic...doing it correctly. He and his dog moved off the road as I approached, but it was still a pinch point on my side of things.

I could have beat that fat old lady senseless, but she already was.

Another MTB ride. 14 miles with 2,000 ft gain. Man, after the 90 over the weekend on the roadie, my legs were screaming on the first loop. Took a while to warm up. But I made it! 😎

13,468 ft gain for the month so far! 🙂

36,368 ft year to date. o_O

Bicycleman said:

Staying 2 wheel lengths away from the closest wheel is just asking to be dropped.

That seems to be one of the problems I have when trying to keep up with the local A group. Since I'm relatively new, i'd rather leave a little extra space until I get more use to pace lining. I was maybe 2 wheels behind and one of the guys told me to come in closer, another told me that riding at a pace is as much about energy conservation as it is about individual strength. I always make sure to let the fast guys know i've only been riding less than a year and still need to adapt.

Yer killin' me, Mr. B.!

I had to add up the STRAVA weekly numbers (I'm not a premium member) on the calculator. I'm only at 22,000-23,000 feet for the year. Damn our Ohio mild Winters!

U, two wheel lengths back is 'following', not drafting. The fellow that advised you to close the gap was giving you good advice. Stay close, stay alert and ready to react to changes in pace or movement. You don't have to be 4" off the wheel, but with practice will come skill and comfort.

You are riding at 17-18 MPH average with moving speeds at 20 MPH or higher. [censored] happens fast at those speeds, but saving Watts becomes more critical as speeds ramp up. In that MPH range aero has become your best friend. You seem to be learning this stuff faster than most! Keep the rubber side down and fly like the wind!

Uawadall said:

That seems to be one of the problems I have when trying to keep up with the local A group. Since I'm relatively new, i'd rather leave a little extra space until I get more use to pace lining. I was maybe 2 wheels behind and one of the guys told me to come in closer, another told me that riding at a pace is as much about energy conservation as it is about individual strength. I always make sure to let the fast guys know i've only been riding less than a year and still need to adapt.

A few points about drafting

1. The lead rider benefits, too. Around 2-3%
2. Best aero position (on a casual ride, not a race) is second to last in a paceline
3. Two riders side by side are slower than each rider going solo.
4. If two riders don't find the sweet spot of the slip stream (depends on apparent wind direction), they both lose energy. The paceline is a system.
5. Don't use the brakes.....just sit up a touch to feather speed and stay close or soft pedal....1-2 feet is close enough to get almost all of the benefit

CAMPYBOB said:

She started blowing the horn from so far back I would have had time to pull a safe U-turn and bounce a bottle off her windshield.

Not only was there an oncoming car pinching her from around that blind corner, there was a guy walking his German Shepherd Dog on my side of the road. There was no sidewalk, of course, out in the country and he was walking facing traffic...doing it correctly. He and his dog moved off the road as I approached, but it was still a pinch point on my side of things.

I could have beat that fat old lady senseless, but she already was.

i find myself becoming more and more angry when Cagers intentionally try to kill me. My stenosis afflicted neck is getting mighty sore from turning the other cheek. Something is wrong when I feel safer in a Crit than on a road training ride. I rode 15,000 miles last year, so, statistically I should have more close calls than someone who rides a more normal 3-5,000 miles in a season but rarely a week goes by without a close call. So many Randonneurs have been hit by cars on training rides despite blinkies, vests, and dorky reflective gear up the wazoo

jhuskey said:

oh I forgot to mention it must be drive in the middle of the road day.

In socialist Ohio, EVERY day is drive in middle of road day!

Weatherby said:

Cagers intentionally try to kill me.

This fat old slob knew EXACTLY what she was doing. She actually spent the energy to turn her head to look at me as she pulled alongside.

I hope she could read lips...

That was way closer than I like for clearance when getting passed. There was no room for error on this one. I am both a cyclist and a motorcyclist. I rarely use the term, "cager". In this case it is an accurate pejorative.

[censored] fat old [censored].

CAMPYBOB said:

This fat old slob knew EXACTLY what she was doing. She actually spent the energy to turn her head to look at me as she pulled alongside.

I hope she could read lips...

That was way closer than I like for clearance when getting passed. There was no room for error on this one. I am both a cyclist and a motorcyclist. I rarely use the term, "cager". In this case it is an accurate pejorative.

[censored] fat old [censored].

The redneck in the big Dodge Ram didn't need to read lips. He had his window down and I am sure he heard me.

Quoted post said:

"CAMPYBOB, post: 3807809, member: 97464"I rarely use the term, "cager". In this case it is an accurate pejorative.

Well I promised not to use the other C word.

jhuskey said:

The redneck in the big Dodge Ram didn't need to read lips. He had his window down and I am sure he heard me.

Probably too drunk, drugged or both to comprehend the words.

I hope we all make it through another year of cycling in one piece.

Weatherby said:

Well I promised not to use the other C word.

I've seen drivers pick worse spots to pass me or a group of us, but there was really no call for her to pull that [censored]. There was a stop sign and intersection just around that blind turn at the top of the little hill I was going up in the 53x21. I was getting ready to drop into the 39 as I was just on a fun afternoon cruise...relaxing and peaceful, right?..., but NOOOOOOO! Between the horn, the dog walker and close pass my blood pressure, heart rate and adrenaline was more than enough to go up a gear and get it to the top.

Needless to say, I didn't down shift and I moved out into the lane and like JH I tossed a couple words out there that probably caused the dog walker to turn red.

And moron broad had to wait for traffic at the sign. Another 50 yards and she would have got an ear full.

I'm calm now...really...I'm good. I'll be fine.

[ATTACH=full]1540[/ATTACH]

CAMPYBOB said:

Yer killin' me, Mr. B.!

I had to add up the STRAVA weekly numbers (I'm not a premium member) on the calculator. I'm only at 22,000-23,000 feet for the year.
!

You don't need to be a premium member to get the totals easily. If you click on your profile page it will automatically show the stats for this week OR month depending on which stat you click (red circle on my image).

Lower to the right section it will show your 2016 stats.......scroll lower it will show your all time stats.

This is Gina's profile and she is not a premium member. 😉

Also if you click on another rider's name/profile, it will do nearly the same with thee 2016 stats and show you side by side with that rider. 😎

I did 24 miles and 2100 feet of climbing. My 1 minute power is not great. My 20 second power is good (for my age). I did 1 minute hill intervals with the intent of doing them at 600-650 watts but at 45 seconds, my legs just wilt like limp noodles. My legs just don't go and the power drops off. I don't really feel pain anymore like when younger, I guess the pain receptors must go weak too. I did 10 of these hill jams. I suppose I should expect this given the type of training (long distance) but I want to do a 50 mile race with the young kids (45+) and my 1 minute and 5 minute power levels will determine whether I get dropped or not. I don't want to get dropped. There just aren't many 55+ races.

CAMPYBOB said:

22 miles this afternoon with the sun sort of shining on and off in 60 degree air. Only 800' of climbing on a relaxing ride through the peaceful...well...it would have been relaxing and peaceful if not for the old fat [censored] in the minivan that absolutely laid on the horn to let me know she was approaching from behind and then buzzed me about 2' off my elbow. With an oncoming car that appeared from around a blind, uphill turn.

Stupid [censored] moron [censored].

If killing stupid [censored] was legal, Ohio roads would be littered with the rotting corpses of asshat nimrods too stupid to pour [censored] out of a boot with the instructions written all over the heel.

That's legal passing distance in NC. Virginia just changed it to 3 feet. I know what you mean. I swear some [censored] went by me laying on the horn like that, and I'd swear she touched the hair on my legs. After that, I started shaving my legs.

CAMPYBOB said:

I've seen drivers pick worse spots to pass me or a group of us, but there was really no call for her to pull that [censored]. There was a stop sign and intersection just around that blind turn at the top of the little hill I was going up in the 53x21. I was getting ready to drop into the 39 as I was just on a fun afternoon cruise...relaxing and peaceful, right?..., but NOOOOOOO! Between the horn, the dog walker and close pass my blood pressure, heart rate and adrenaline was more than enough to go up a gear and get it to the top.

Needless to say, I didn't down shift and I moved out into the lane and like JH I tossed a couple words out there that probably caused the dog walker to turn red.

And moron broad had to wait for traffic at the sign. Another 50 yards and she would have got an ear full.

I'm calm now...really...I'm good. I'll be fine.

I give them the Hawaiian sign for good luck.

I did 72 miles today with a couple of my randonneuring buddies on recumbents. I'm trying to get 5000 kilometers of riding in for the year so I can qualify to buy myself an award. It got hot today, 86 degrees, but at least there was no humidity. Good thing I sprayed some Coppertone on my arms and legs. Now, Saturday for the 200k brevet, it will be down in the 40's in the morning and not warm up above 55 degrees. From shorts back to tights. Crazy weather.