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