Last week on the bike

Despite the heat I was able to get a decent amount of miles in last week.

Tuesday I tried to go pretty hard after work and was just blown by the heat. I made it up the hill on Ridgeway Pkwy and was just gasping for breath-not good.

I was rained out on Thu when I attempted to go on the Googly Moogly TCBC ride, but finally completed a TCBC ride Sunday when I went on the NE Whirl. Considering it left from a parking lot less than a half mile from my house how could I miss it? It turned out to be a similar route to one I have ridden many times going up Victory Memorial to Theo Wirth and then the greenway. I met a couple very congenial riders and had a very good time. Since I have done the route many before and I may not ride it again but I was glad I went.

In other bike news my single speed arrived on Thu and I am in the process of getting it set up. I need to pick up a freewheel for the flip-flop hub and do some other fine tuning but it should hopefully be ready to go this week though I am not sure if I will get many miles this week as I travel to NYC on THU and I may have a minor groin pull that coupled with the heat may keep me off the bike this week. Boo!!

Last week - 73
Season Total - 935

If something can go wrong...

So I have been thinking of trying out some group rides for a while as I kind of feel plateaued in my biking as well as wanting to learn some new rides.

With some prodding from a friend (thanks sara) I decided this weekend was it and I wasn't going to put it off any longer. So I went on the Sonny Side Up ride through TCBC today. I figured it was only 25 miles and a "B" ride which is the level I have been riding alone, so perfect.

Well the group splintered immediately with some faster riders just taking off and I missed that bus but I was definitely faster than the B pace so i settled in with some people that seemed to be going my pace and everything was fine. I kind of lost people when we climbed Franklin St hill on the river road, but I am so used to that hill by now it doesn't even faze me. Eventually another rider caught up and we were having a good conversation when I heard a hiss coming from my back tire.

yep wouldn't you know it, my first group ride and I punctured halfway through. Luckily the guy I was with stayed to help out as I didn't realize how inept I was at changing a flat (patch didn't want to stick, co2 cartridge didn't fire, etc.).

so I had to bail out as the trip home was closer than the finish.

oy

hopefully my next attempt goes a little better