sandi_1609 - SAE03: Mesquite Bike Rally

BIKE: Roadie DATE: 7 June 2014

ROUTE: 20 mile route

TEMP: 83*F

WIND: strong wind from the South

TRIP: 25.57 miles

AVERAGE CADENCE: 63

START TIME: 08:10hrs

END TIME: 10:30hrs

TRIP TIME: 1:25:23

GOAL: to finish the ride

OF NOTE: the wind was constant from the S/SW.

this ride: Mesquite Bike Rally. this is the first ride of summer for me. my goal was to finish the race under 2 hrs. I MADE THAT GOAL!!!

there were a lot of riders at the start. they estimated about 3K.

the start went off quietly and quickly. the police and road crews had the start well marked off with the traffic still able to move. the intersections were well managed. the only rest stop on my route was well stocked and friendly volunteers were ready to help. the rougher areas of the route had been repaired and nice to ride over.

after the ride, the refreshments and food were cold and delicious. Panera really did a nice job. hope to see them again.

my ride personally was lonely. by that i mean i rode alone. hubby had started about 10 minutes ahead of me. i chatted with others as i waited to take off. finally, we were waved on and off i went.

after getting onto my first challenge on Rodeo Center Rd, i climbed with medium incline fairly easy. i surprised myself by not goin' into the lowest gear. after turning onto New Market Rd, i pretty much coasted down the road to Beltline. a quick ride on Beltline to get onto Newsome, a road i had not riden b4 on my bike. another quick jaunt to EastGlen and i was really feeling good. a quick ride on Berry to Scyene and we were on Scyene. i was able to keep with the riders as we got to the split at Larkin/Scyene. those rider the longer route turned left as i continued on down Scyene. pretty much was able to keep my momentum until the right turn onto Lawson, where i quickly lost all the momentum and ended up in the lowest gear to climb the hill.

Lawson is a road that gradual climbs with a few good hills that r quite challenging. after climbing each of the hills, i was able to get up some decent momentum/speed to help get up the next climb. tho i always ended up in the lowest gear.

just after the final hill on this steady incline, u see the steepest part of the climb as u reach I-20. with what i call a small hump to deal with, i was in the lowest gear as i climbed the road. all in all, i did quite well. i did not give up nor did i slow my rhythm down. tho i was winded when i got to the intersection, i smiled and pulled off and rested and refueled. after about 10 minute break, i started off again. with the 'hardest part' conquered, i continued on the route with a new confidence. 8)

as i rode on, i wondered on how i would handle the climb on McKenzie Rd. i didn't do so well the first time i rode it. but i was on my Cannondale. and since riding a good road bike, my confidence was climbing in what i could do. after turning right onto Beltline, i wondered if they had made a mistake but i rode on and followed the signs. when i reached the turn for McKenzie, i goobered. i did a u-turn. DOH!{hit forehead with palm of hand} i realized my mistake and made a u-turn on Beltline and 'retraced my steps'. i was a little embarrased when i saw the officer, again, i nodded saying, ''ello again. dummy me.' i actually was feeling pretty good and wondered about the road. when i came around the bend in the road, i saw the challenge and readied myself. as i rode down the hill gaining momentum from the downhill start, i wasn't all that confident i would be able to make it up. but i pedalled on. as i made my way up the steep hill, i noticed that i wasn't struggling all that much. this bike i am riding is really nice. i am really happy that i have it. this ride is so much easier with a lighter bike and really good tires. i made it to the intersection for the turn onto Pioneer where i put myself in a cruising mode to conserve as much energy as i could for the climb on Bruton Rd.

Bruton Rd gradual climbs to Hwy635. the bridge itself was not much of a problem as the riders were allowed to ride the right lane without having to stop. the road itself is a bit rough, which is not all that great for keeping a fast pace without pedalling continuously. but it kept the legs moving and the bike rolling. after turning onto Sam Houston, i knew i was gonna make it and finish rather strong. i wasn't tired out or anything like that. i thought about riding home on the bike. i felt that good.

the road on Sam Houston was quite rough with a lot of cracks in the road, some of which were marked with spray paint. with this road being a 2-lane, it was challenging to miss the rough stops when cars were coming at me. but i managed and got onto Scyene Rd and headed to the finish. it was a short ride to the turn in to the finish line.

the end of the ride was anticlimatic. not much happening after the ride was finished. i did however chat with a few people as i waited for my hubby to complete his ride. he rode in about 1 hour after me. the ride was great for me as i was able to meet each challenge and complete it.

until the next ride...8)

sandi_1609 - SAE02

BIKE: Roadie

DATE: 4 June 2014

ROUTE: lawson rd/airport hill

TEMP: 83*F

WIND: strong wind from the South

TRIP: 24.57 miles

AVERAGE CADENCE: 62

START TIME: 19:20hrs

END TIME: 21:15hrs

TRIP TIME: 1:43:23

GOAL: 20 miles in 2 hrs

OF NOTE: the wind was constant from the S/SE.

this ride was two-fold: 1) help hubby get a work-out without 'bonking'. 2) ride part of the rally route.

started the ride with my warm-up thru the neighborhood. and then down long creek to clay to east glen, which is part of the route for the Mesquite Bike Rally. goin' down east glen, i was riding behind hubby but keeping up. we turned onto berry for a quick jaunt to scyene. my mindset was set and i was in my groove. the fact that i don't get a lot of speed built up does cause me to struggle a bit more climbing but i have learned/trained to keep an even cadence as i pedal up the hill or incline. as i coasted down to the right turn for lawson, i hoped we wouldn't have to make a complete stop, which we didn't. but then i saw the first challenge and put my bike in gear and made the climb. we were goin' on a gradual uphill incline with steep hills. since this was the challenge i wanted to conquer, i got to the task and met the challenge head on. the first few steep rolling hills, went well, even tho i ended up in the lowest gear. i kept pedalling and reached the top only to see my next challenge a short distance ahead. but because i ride for endurance and not speed/power, i am able to keep conquering the challenges. i am may be in the lowest gear and at the end of the pack, but when i reach the top, i am not worn out only winded a bit.

hubby had no trouble climbing the steep hills as he pedalled up the road. i did my best to keep up but i really couldn't even keep up with his cadence. however, since his cadence sensor was broke, he was keeping with me so he wouldn't over do it and 'bonk'. tho it was a struggle, he actually did a slower ride with me and ended up feeling like he could go for a bit longer when we got home.

when we got to airport hill, i did my best to keep up momentum and speed to help me get up the hill. however, my shifting still needs work and i lost momentum. i ended up in lowest gear as usual and after reaching the top, i was winded but not worn out. the rest of the road was a steady climb but much more manageable. the steeper parts found me in lowest gear as usual but i was determined to meet the challenge i set for myself. and i did! we made it to Hwy 20 service road and took a break. we had gone 13 miles. the place we stopped to rest will prolly be a rest stop for the rally. continuing on the service road, which was a gradual incline reminded me of our driveway. i restarted the ride with a renewed strength and i was actually feeling good. travelled the service to beltline where we turned right heading for home. beltline is a gradual incline and easy ride. hubby took lead and we enjoyed the ride.

reaching 5 corners, hubby decided we would stay on beltline. we followed the circle around and continued on our way down beltline.

at this point in the ride, i was feeling renewed and began putting some real power in my pedalling. i got goin' fairly fast and was able to get up a steep incline in highest road gear. i felt absolutely ecstatic and stoked. it really felt good to keep speed and not struggle. when i reached bruton/beltline intersection, i had just stopped my bike when the light turned green. just a bit frustrated, i started up again and was quickly back in my rhythm. the ride was fairly easy with just a slight struggle on a steep incline before leveling off and cruising for a mile. turning right at the high school, we took detour cuz i wanted to avoid the road under a railroad bridge. after returning to beltline, we headed for Hwy 80 service road. turning right onto the service road, we headed home.

the whole ride was very enjoyable, even the more difficult parts for me. i am gonna continue challenging myself and meeting those challenges.

on saturday, i know there will be a challenge at the beginning of the ride on rodeo center rd. it's a good climb to new market rd. i will prolly be in the lowest gear by the time i get to the top of the climb. but new market is a gradual downhill so i will get a bit of rest b4 lawson rd and airport hill and the continual climb to I-20. the final challenge on the route is the continual gradual climb on Bruton to sam houston. i will hopefully be rejuvenated after conquering the mckenzie hill, which is just as challenging as airport hill. but the challenges r there to conquer and overcome. i am up for that challenge and am looking forward to it.

until next ride... :)

sandi_1609 - SAE01

BIKE: Roadie

DATE: 2 June 2014

ROUTE: 20 mile route

TEMP: 81*F

WIND: gentle breeze from the South

TRIP: 18.20 miles

AVERAGE CADENCE: 60

START TIME: 20:05hrs

END TIME: 21:45hrs

TRIP TIME: 1:20:34

GOAL: 20 miles in 2 hrs

OF NOTE: the wind was constant from the S/SE.

this ride is made on Roadie, my new Specialized Allez Elite.

the route is designed to do more 'climbing'. i am now riding my neighborhood for warmup and then off to Kearney and up that gradual incline to I-635 bridge. over the bridge and right to theater. around theater to 80 service road and slowly up and over the highway again. the service road is a gradual incline with a steeper section to Galloway. right onto Galloway with a break from so much climbing. after a short break at the Mesquite Police Department, outdoors of course. returning to Galloway, i make a left to Kearney. climb a short distance and then roll down the road to the light and hope i don't have to stop. turning right onto Collins/352, i have 2 challenges. the first is a short but steep hill with a very short downgrade to the main challenge for my ride. the railroad bridge is the challenge i placed at the end of my ride to challenge myself. and a challenge it is. with absolutely no momentum to help me climb this steep bridge, i dug in and got as much speed/momemtum i could and then started downshifting one at a time. by the time, i got to the top, i was in first gear and breathing fairly hard, but i had made it and continued on down the other side. turning right onto Main i geared up and started the incline. with this being at the end of my ride, i was definitely tiring but i had an energy that let me go a bit further and i made a ride that was close to 20 miles.

i am proud that i have finally gotten one item on my challenge list marked off. my next challenge is to tackle the many climbs on the McKinney Bike Rally on June 14th. but first i'll complete the Mesquite Bike Rally. 8)

there is one thing i wish i had tho: a friend that can ride with me. maybe one day, i'll find a friend that i can ride with. one day. 8)

until next time...