PR for Joy & Jerry

Saturday rode the Mamma Jamma training ride out of Martindale w Joy & Jerry from ABCx. Joy & I had adventure plans for after the ride, so we were stoked.
Quick stop at the convience store in Martindale, Joy overheard the old men in the back complaining about he USADA, they must have spotted my livestrong jersey! I was impressed they knew who Lance was.
Took off for the ride, felt really good riding. Once we got to a Farm to Market road we got to deal w the gravel trucks using it to help build hwy 130. They were kinda scary. Once we got off that road, we were on the & Sisters road which is a series of 7 hills, we did 5 of them, I would like to go back and do all 7 in one stretch sometime...
Joy had been talking about how se feels like she isn't going very fast or getting faster, so I let her know when she wasn't shifting down soon enough, I hoped it helped.

At Fentress, we decided to not do all 49 & cut off the last 2 sisters and another big hill. Good decision since I once again didn't sleep the night before.
Once we were finished, we added on one more mile by biking to a geocache.
In the end Joy's average as 13.8, her highest average ever & Jerry averaged 13.5 his higest ever, too!
After the ride, we picked up a 6 pack 7 some sonic, then went to San Marcos to tube & chill! Great day!

*****************************************************
Total miles for this ride: 43.65
Total miles for the month of August: 315.25
Total miles for 2012: 1763.36
Miles to go: 236.64   miles til 2012
One way commutes in August so far: 8
Total one way commutes: 58 (I've reached my goal)
Odometer
Road: 12904

Our Guide

cheese!

130 being built

 

Bike Swim Bike, Work, Bike

Last Thursday, I felt the need to make sure I got in 45 miles before Saturday's ride. I was only at 16.. so somehow I needed 29 miles. I also wanted to rest all day on Friday so, that meant a to & back home from work, problem or the benefit was I was swimming 7 miles away at 7 am. I got up at 5:55, before the chickens, and was on the bike at 6:25. I finally had decided to wear the swimsuit under my bike shorts & keep my sports bra on while swimming. after a miles, I realized I had left my phone at home! So much for my easy ride. So, I sent Lori a text, sped home, got the phone & went on my way. It took me the 35 mins like I predicted. I loved riding in the dark with the sun slowly rising, but my heartrate monitor was set to beep when I wasn't in Zone 2...and I couldn't figure out how to turn it  off!
I was much sweatier than anticipated, so I felt I should shower off. Nice surprise, the shower was heated!
I swam 12 laps, which was close enough to 800 m after a 9 mile ride. Went & showered off.
So I rode to work, wet jog bra & all. Stopped in at Rudy's, definitely deserved a John Prude Special breakfast taco after all the hills!
Once at worked, I changed into 'regular' clothes, thank goodness for a relaxed dress code! I ate the JP taco, the eggs, I broght, my shake and everything else I could find!
Come 2pm my clothese still weren't dry, so I layed them on KT's car for an hour, instant dry but talk about stink! Left work early to get to HH, I knew if I didn't ride to HH, I wouldn't go, plus I needed the extra miles! Very stanky once I made it to Blue Star, so I switched shirts (sorry to those driving on Burnet).
Cold beer & cheesey grilled cheese  a perfect end to a monumental day!

it was dark on the way to Stacy Pool!

*****************************************************
Total miles for this ride: 16.9 then 11.6= 37.5
Total miles for the month of August: 271.6
Total miles for 2012: 1719.71
Miles to go: 220.29   miles til 2012
One way commutes in August so far: 8
Total one way commutes: 58 (I've reached my goal)
Odometer
Road:
Cross: 676.3

Biking to Mora

Staying at my cousins in Missouri, out in the country, I had decided to bike to Mora. I knew my cousins lived in Mora, but I had never seen the 'town', then a friend who passed away was from Mora, too. (such a small world). Well, after a ATV tour of the ranch, it was too late to bike from their house to Mora, so I drove (the long way) to the intersections of roads U & V and set to bike the 4 miles to Mora from there.
While riding I realized how much Missouri looked liked Texas right now because of the drought they are having. Brown grass and green trees with rolling hills. I completely missed the sign that said "Mora" I was too busy looking the other direction at Mora. So I road to Mora & didn't know it...it was definitely one of those "don't blink or you'll miss it metropolitan areas." Once I got to the Mora Conservation area, I decided to turn around. Heading back in I found the "Mora" city limits sign.

Took a right hand turn to visit the city of Mora, took a few pics, U-turned and went back.

 

 

 

 

It was a nice 9 mile ride, now I know where Mora is and Mary was happy I went to visit Cecil.

*****************************************************
Miles for this ride: 9.36
Total miles for the month of July so far: 232.05
Total miles for 2012: 1437.88
Miles to go: 806.17 miles til 2012
Odometer: Creoss: 542.7

Lone Granger

Knowing I was going to a happy hour Friday night, I went on the Mamma Jamma training ride on Sunday, even volunteered to float as a ride leader.
Had my fuel from Mi Victoria (2 tacos, a huge eclaire & a coke) was ready for the 46 mile ride in new territory.
It had rained an inch or so the night before, so the morning was on the cool side, a bit humid but cool. I started in the middle of the pack, but we soon lost the front group, then was passed by a group doing the 65 mile route, so I followed them.
I knew we had to take a different turn, but I missed it, so I met up w/ Elaina & we figured out where we were, & set out to get back on track.
There were so many dead toads on the road, at least 100 of them, many on their backs, they looked to be smaller than normal, I guess they hopped to the road to escape the flooded fields only to meet a tire. Also saw a dead turtle, snake & a bird, but mostly toads, so sad.

It was a really interesting time of year to ride, some fields were freshly tilled, others just harvested and others waiting to be harvested. Then we came to a field that was full of cactus and another area that was forested. But they all had one thing in common, mud & lots of it & sadly a few less toads.

A field of something, still 'growing'

Cotton ready to be picked.

The love Shack amongst a field that was recently harvested or tilled.

A Texas Barn.

A canopy of trees.

I also realized at the rest stop that I hit 1000 miles on my road bike for the year! woo hoo!



*****************************************************
Total miles for this ride: 52 (longest of the year so far)
Total miles for the month of August: 226.26
Total miles for 2012: 1674.37
Miles to go: 337.63   miles til 2012
One way commutes in August so far: 6
Total one way commutes: 56 (I've reached my goal)
Odometer
Road: 12860
Cross: 630.9

Dripping to Johnson

I was so excited for the Mamma Jamma training ride on Saturday, it started in Dripping Springs and went to Johnson City. Last time I rode in Dripping it was a bunch of fun rolling hills and beautiful Texas Hill Country. I knew this ride would be similar and it didn't disappoint.

Wheels down at 7:30, the 50 mile rout was announced and Larry said, "If you have not riden 40 miles or more in the last month or so I strongly encourage you to NOT do the 50 mile option." I just laughed as I went moved to the front to be one of the ride leaders, because so far my longest ride this summer has been 35 and that was last weekend, prior to that I've only gone over 40 once this year back in March. :-)

It was kinda chilly for a summer morning, but it quickly heated up. The first 8 miles were along a creek, lots of trees, ranch land & houses, even a few barns. Then we had to ride on US 290, only the 3rd time I've been on 290 west on a bike & it isn't much fun, but the cars were respectful and 3/4 of a mile later we were off & hitting the hills on the way to Pedernales State Park.

Love bike shadows.

One of the thing I noticed was once you reached the top of a hill, you actually had a view and you could see for a few miles.

Made it to the intersection where one turns to go to Pedernales Falls, took a quick break to refill the water bottles thanks to SAG support provided by one of the beneficiaries of the Mamma Jamma Ride.

From there only 6 more miles into Johnson City. Once I crossed over Miller Creek which 290 & 281 cross over before Johnson City, I knew I had to be close, plus I could see a water tower. Amazingly Kristen & Victor were still in Johnson City, they were talking to a ldy who coordinates the tri they are doing in September, so Leslie & I took off to get a head start. It took them until the Pedernales Falls intersection to catch us.

On the way back we saw that we were gaining on riders in front of us & it reminded me of the blog Chaising Mailboxes where the lady thought she was gaining on a rider and it turned out to be a mailbox! Love it!

It's hard to see the mailboxes (riders) up ahead, but they are there.

Leslie making it up the big hill!

By now it was hot and we were back to 290, we only got honked at once, I can never tell if the long honk is friendly or angry.

Finishing up along the creek.

*****************************************************

Total miles for this ride: 50.65 (longest of the year so far)
Total miles for the month of August:
Total miles for 2012: 1583.52
Miles to go: 428.48   miles til 2012
One way commutes in August so far: 2
Total one way commutes: 52 (I've reached my goal)
Odometer
Road: 12808
Cross: 592

July Totals

For taking a week off of riding, these are pretty decent totals.
I think I will reach 2012 miles by the end of the year with no problem, especially since I'll easily do 450 miles in October!
Riding excitement!


*****************************************************

Total miles for the month of July: 242.28
Total miles for 2012: 1448.11
Miles to go: 563.89   miles til 2012
One way commutes in July: 6
Total one way commutes: 50 (I've reached my goal)
Odometer
Road: 12721
Cross: 542.7

Biking St. Louis

On my first trip to Missouri in 2012, I went with my mother to go see my cousin & her daughter play the National Anthem on their violins for a Cardinals/Cubs game. Violin playing was great and we had fun at the game.
But what really stood out was the bike ride I took before the game.
We stayed about 1.5 miles from the arch, so I rode from the hotel to he arch, turns out I was  on a bike route.

As I rode down Chouteau street in St. Louis, I rode by the St. Louis Housing Authority. Then I turned to go down Market street (I had already driven Chouteau several times). Near market street there was this cool building (turns out it is the St.Louis city hall..thanks google maps) and a van that had a warning on the back "Keep back 50 ft, prisoners on board."

Once I made it to the arch I decided to ride laps around it. Coincidently it was the last stage of Le Tour where the riders ride laps around Parius and under the Arc de Triomphe, so it was only appropriate. It looks like they ecourage cycling around the arch.

 Then I meandered my way to the cobblestones we found the night before. Those were not fun to ride on & I was on the cross bike, can't imagine being on a road bike.

On my way back to the hotel I stopped to take a picture
and was passed by 7 cyclists. Of course I had to see if I could catch up to them. As I was getting closer, two riders dropped off the pack. A man sitting at a bus stop bench stood up to 'Cheer' them on. As I passed he, cheered for me, too. Think he said something like, " You can catch them! I've got your back!" It made my day.  And at the next light I did catch them. Had a nice conversation with one of the guys, but was never able to break into it tell him his helmet fit wrong.

Love the Bike St. Louis Signs, need to show those to someone in ACA or the city.

*****************************************************
Miles for this ride: 8.7
Total miles for the month of July so far: 197.51
Total miles for 2012: 1403.34
Miles to go:608.66 miles til 2012
Odometer: Creoss: 533.70