Reston Century/Strava Alpen-Traum 252km Challenge

Wow! What a friggin' day on the bike!!! Started riding at 0609 and finished almost 158 miles and over 16 hours later just before 2230. I "only" did the metric century at Reston but since I rode there and back I was guaranteed a true English century. Not satisfied with that, I decided that I should go for a double metric (124 miles) but then thought "hey, why not try to knock out the Strava Alpen-Traum 252 km in one day ride?". Am I nuts? Absolutely!!! But it was a blast, I was slower but still spinning strong when I finished, and I knocked off yet another challenge and a really monster one at that! Thanks to Rod for inspiration, riding support, and for turning me into an absolute bike nut-job!!! Woohoo!!!!!!

Reston Century/Strava Alpen-Traum 252km Challenge by kwarkentien at Garmin Connect - Details

Slow, Rambling, All-Day Recovery Ride Single-Metric Century

So how do you follow an epic, all-day, double-metric century ride? Why with a slow, rambling, all-day recovery ride single-metric century of course!!! Started the day with a beginner ride to get coffee, interspersed a nice ramble down to Ft Hunt for a couple of laps and relaxing, then did a slow roll across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to National Harbor, and finished up with a ride home with some extra laps to get the mileage up to a single-metric century. Nice slow spinning, never working too hard, and feeling good. Pretty good weekend if I do say so myself.

Slow, Rambling, All-Day Recovery Ride Single-Metric Century by kwarkentien at Garmin Connect - Details

Whole Shebang +/Double Metric

OMG, what a ride, literally and figuratively. Attempted a double metric and but for the Garmin dying at mile 117+, I made it. Still felt good at the end of the ride and no bonking this time. Great day for a ride and really fun doing something as insane as 200 km. Bring it! Booyah!!!!!

Whole Shebang /Double Metric Part I by kwarkentien at Garmin Connect - Details

Whole Shebang /Double Metric by kwarkentien at Garmin Connect - Details

Rod and Karen's "Where the F*$% Are We?" Gran Fondo

Had an excellent day riding with Rod on our fun-filled July Gran Fondo adventure. We wound up on single track, in mud, off-course (a lot), and just about everywhere. Had a few malfunctions and had to piece together two separate "rides" to create the one TCX file that represents the true Gran Fondo route and mileage. But I wouldn't have it any other way. It was friggin' epic!!! Thanks Rod for a great afternoon of cycling.

http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/550247686 

NOVA-CBG Heather's Birthday Cluster Ride AKA The Big Bonkowski

What a ride we had today. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Still had fun even though I bonked--hard--when we got back to Carolina Brothers which was only supposed to be a regroup spot. The crew refused to ride back without me (even though I insisted) and they were able to arrange for Carl and Suzanne to come back out from Reston (where he had led a ride earlier in the day) and act as my SAG wagon. Martin played EMT throughout (with this EMT also trying to treat myself). Crazy ride but still a good ride. Unfortunately, it shot my July Gran Fondo all to hell. Gotta get that next Saturday.

NOVA-CBG Heather's Birthday Cluster Ride AKA The Big Bonkowski by kwarkentien at Garmin Connect - Details

NOVA-CBG Dino's Birthday Ride to Occoquan AKA Paulo's First Ride

Had a wonderful time on Dino's Birthday Ride to Occoquan AKA Paolo's First Ride. Nice and sunny but hot and humid too. Paolo had a stellar first outing, handling the hills well and fast on the flats and descents. There were a few flats while out there, one of which was mine, and some issues with being directionally challenged but we finished the ride and still felt great. The seat is a little low and we might need to tweak the stem angle/length but that'll all get caught in our bike fit next Friday with the world-famous Clovis. I couldn't have been more pleased with today's ride. I think I was smiling from ear to ear all friggin' day. Loved it. And it was nice to get to celebrate Dino's birthday with him (even if he did drop my butt like a sack of potatoes). Great fun, great day, great bike. Yeehaaaa!!!!

NOVA-CBG Dino's Birthday Ride to Occoquan AKA Paulo's First Ride by kwarkentien at Garmin Connect - Details

Recovery Ride to the Harbor Inn, the Oldest Bar in Ocean City

Randi, Bill, Chris, and I decided to do our "recovery ride" by doing a short ride to the Harbor Inn and drinking pony beers and playing pool. It was an enjoyable way to log a ride before leaving Ocean City.

Recovery Ride to the Harbor Inn, the Oldest Bar in Ocean City by kwarkentien at Garmin Connect - Details

NOVA-CBG Garypalooza/Belated Birthday Ride My Age (Plus Extra)/Gran Fondo

Got an early start to log some extra miles prior to doing the "Garypalooza" birthday ride. Day was overcast but never really rained on us and the temperatures were only in the 70s. This was also my first opportunity to do a belated "ride your age" birthday ride. I extended it out on the back end as well to get my June Gran Fondo. Not too much pain and I had some moments of greatness but couldn't keep up with the big dogs. Ah, I guess that's what happens when you hit your 50s. Sigh...

NOVA-CBG Garypalooza/Belated Birthday Ride My Age (Plus Extra)/Gran Fondo by kwarkentien at Garmin Connect - Details

First Ride Back on Shiksa and Amira Test Ride with Stephanie

Met Stephanie on the W&OD and rode up to FreshBikes to test ride some Amiras. Rode Shiksa up and back and didn't have too much pain or discomfort riding her. We took the Amiras on the first half of the FreshBikes Tuesday Night Ride course and went down to the "scene of the crime" to get that out of the way. The Amiras were very nice, rode very much the way Ruby did. It's definitely on the list of possibilities to take Ruby's spot as the primary road bike. I still have to figure out all the accoutrements I want to have on the new bike to determine which one will meet all of those needs. Not a bad position to be in.

First Ride Back on Shiksa and Amira Test Ride with Stephanie by kwarkentien at Garmin Connect - Details

Baby Steps: First Post-Wreck Ride

I couldn't stand not getting out on my bike so I decided that today was the day to get back out there and see how I felt. Stephanie was kind enough to accompany me (and carry my bike out of and back into the house down and up all of those friggin' steps) on my baby step ride. I knew I wanted to ride to Shirlington and back at a minimum. I felt good enough that we stretched that out and rode up to FreshBikes and around Ballston/Virginia Square. My legs were spinning remarkably easy and my pain level was no more than it is just sitting around the house and, in fact, was sometimes less as I was able to stretch the shoulder out while riding. I certainly didn't set the world on fire but I got back in the saddle, had no abject fear or terror of riding in the street, and felt pretty good. I'm damn happy with that.

Baby Steps: First Post-Wreck Ride by kwarkentien at Garmin Connect - Details

FreshBikes Tuesday Night Ride AKA Rubys Last Ride :(

Was having a good FreshBikes TNR until I got hit by a car and Ruby was split in half. Lots of road rash and bruising for me plus three broken knuckles on my right hand, but no concussion or other worse results. I was pretty damn lucky, all things considered, plus the driver was charged. Now for some rest, if that's possible.

FreshBikes Tuesday Night Ride AKA Rubys Last Ride :( by kwarkentien at Garmin Connect - Details

Steph's Hilly Ride & Gran Fondo Redux

Couldn't have asked for a better day to ride, even to ride hills! Stephanie provided us with a challenging hill ride, mixing the Hilly Triangle with the Alexandria hills around Hollin Hills. We even had to do a few of them twice since the Garmin skipped part of the hill circuit.  And I conquered the dreaded "Rebecca Drive" that I heard so much about and literally feared. It ain't nothin' but a thang, really anticlimatic, so I'm glad I've conquered it plus those other hills I've been avoiding for a long time. And we were able to secure Gran Fondos for Bill and Steph while Steph and I got to stop off and catch some of the Phoenix Bike Derby in Crystal City. That was a hoot! We've got to get a team together to do the relay next year. Best of all, the legs still felt fresh at the end of the ride. I think I"m actually starting to improve. Oh, and I was able to complete the Strava Skratch Labs Stage Race Challenge to boot. Booyah!

Stephs Hilly Ride & Gran Fondo Redux by kwarkentien at Garmin Connect - Details

FreshBikes Tuesday Night Ride

So I finally made it to a FreshBikes Tuesday Night Ride. It was hilly, as advertised, but somehow I made it and didn't cry. The storm was rolling in behind us so I beat feet to get back to the shop. Not as bad as I was imagining. I actually liked it!

FreshBikes Tuesday Night Ride by kwarkentien at Garmin Connect - Details

VeloDCity Heights of Borderlands/Gran Fondo/Century

What a day on the bike! Started out by meeting Brent at Best Buns and riding over to Gregg's hilly tour of Wards 7 and 8 plus a smidge of PG County. The hills were, in fact, quite challenging with one kick-ass one, but somehow, I didn't cry or even whimper and made it up all of them. Right near the end, Gregg's chain broke and we attempted to repair it sans a quick-link or magic pin. After being unsuccessful, luck would have it that another rider who finished earlier was driving by and was able to take Gregg to the bike shop to get it fixed. Since Brent and I were already halfway to a Gran Fondo, I convinced him to come with me and knock out the May edition (so I can get the pink jersey!) after grabbing a quick bite. Got in a couple of Hains Point loops, rode down to Fort Hunt and got some loops there, and then headed back towards home. Once I realized that the Gran Fondo was well in the bag, I suggested that we stretch it into a century just because. We set out on a reverse Arlington Triangle but after slugging it up from Rosslyn and up the corkscrew, I knew I didn't have the westbound Two Sisters in me. I exited at Quincy Street with Brent and rode him home (and got him to 95, which was enough for him). Set off on a longer loop home to try to get my miles and at least half of the Strava climbing challenge. After a few neighborhood loops, I had my century and a little more than 50% of the climbing challenge. Not a bad day's work on the bike. Now I need some food, a shower, and some shut eye. Oy!!!

VeloDCity Heights of Borderlands/Gran Fondo/Century by kwarkentien at Garmin Connect - Details

TD Five Boro Bike Tour

Had a windy but mostly pleasant day for the NY Five Boro BIke Tour. Being in the last start wave allowed us a more leisurely breakfast but it also was much slower and more crowded than being in the first wave as the slow pokes from the first two groups were bottlenecking the course for our group. Still a fun ride with some great vistas and some occasional fast sprints and climbs.

TD Five Boro Bike Tour by kwarkentien at Garmin Connect - Details

NOVA-CBG Tulip Tour and Recovery Ride

Beautiful day for a recovery ride after yesterday's Paul's Ride/Gran Fondo/Century. Carl mapped out a great route taking in three wonderful tulip gardens. I led the second group at a very leisurely pace and really enjoyed the ride. After the requisite "after-ride" meal and drinks, I set off for additional miles, trying to get at least 50, which I got right on the nose. Perfect biking weekend!

NOVA-CBG Tulip Tour and Recovery Ride by kwarkentien at Garmin Connect - Details