Cooler weather, let's ride!

Our spirits were ready to go, but our energy levels were not perfect.  Anyway we tried.

Now I can ride with a higher saddle height, but it brought my left knee pain.  So I put it down a little bit.  Yes, much more comfortable.  Because my left leg is shorter than my right one.  And my left leg is weaker than my right one too.  So far 2.5'' is the best for me.

The last 15 min of today's 1 hour 45 min ride, my left toes got cramped again, but I kept pedaling lightly and slowly, so it went away finally.  Whew!

My butt pain came back.  Definitely  I need to rest tomorrow.

Today's record: Time, Average Speed, Max Speed, and Distance.

Not pushing, but continuing, is the key?

Hot weather really made my body weird. From morning?!  I was tired, but I felt I wanted to ride even a little.
It turned out 10 min. warm up was not enough. Next 10 min. work out was hard and brought pain.  I gave up to keep speed around 8 mph.  Changing gear, and not push any more.  About 50 min. after I started riding, and just after stop and start action, my left toes got cramped.  Hurts!

I was going to ride very lightly and finish within 10 min.   But after that, I felt much better and pain was forgotten.  So I continued until over 1 hour 45 min.
Average speed: 8.5 mph, Max speed: 18.9 mph, and Distance: 15.3 miles!

It's hot again.

Hot weather dragged us down.  In addition traffic noise made us scared too.  We gave up shopping and going out for bike trip either.

But we decided to ride just in our community.  I was going to ride for an hour 45 minutes today, but the temperature got higher and higher.  So I gave up at one hour.   But Mr. WhP did it.  He is crazy... no, no, he is pretty good.

My record.

Surprisingly I rode 11 miles!  I tried to keep as steady a cadence as possible, it made average speed 9.9 mph, pretty good.  I'm happy about that.

Saddle height adjustment

Because I finally got the confidence to stop and start without having too much tension, I could lift my saddle more.  And I lifted it again to nearly the perfect height just before the last half mile, and I was just fine.  I feel so relieved.  We could finish the ride today while the temperature was still two digits.  An hour later the temperature hit three digits.
Anyway we both feel comfortable to ride 10 miles even when we feel sluggish like today.  That's great.
Drinking water when my mouth got a little dry or riding around 4.5 miles helped a lot to avoid getting too tired afterwards.  And also drinking soon after we finished riding.
That made a significant difference for us. 

Distance, Average Speed, Max Speed, and Time.

 

Crossed over the 15 mile hurdle!

Today's workout:
Easy riding around 9 mph for 1 mile, fast pedaling around 10-12mph for another 1mile, then I was out of breath so had to calm down so rode easy for a half mile, next 1 mile up slope as fast as possible, then fast but easy pedaling on 1mile down slope alternatively 4 times, half mile for easy between, and another 2miles pedaling as fast as I could, then 1 mile for cooling off.  We had a 5 minute chat with our neighbor.

Distance:  15.2 miles, Average Speed:  9.9 mph, Max Speed:  29.4 mph?!!, Time:  1h30min.

I stopped at around 4.5 miles to drink some water, that was energy boosting the same as on last Friday.

Rode dividedly

We were going to take another bike trip this afternoon, but we both somehow didn't have enough energy.  Especially I was still tired, so lay down and read the book "Miles from nowhere," and  I was relieved and amazed that they got into Spain.

And we rode on familiar roads with no stress.  
For first 10 min. easy riding at 8 to 10 mph, for next 10 min. kept 10 mph, then for 5 min. easy, because I couldn't keep going, then for another 25 min. tried to ride fast as I can on up slope and down slope repeatedly, for last about 10-15 min. easy riding for cool off.

When we finished, we both felt better.  But it is always the next day's condition that matters.

Distance: 10. 2miles, Max Speed:  19.5 mph, Average Speed:  9.2 mph, Time:  1h05min.

Didn't feel to bike so long, so just tried..

As usual we both are still sluggish, but we rode in the afternoon.  We decided to ride around 5 miles and tried to keep 10 mph as much as possible.  And we forgot that we should start to warm up slowly and then increase to that speed.  
Anyway we felt better afterwards, that's good at least.

Distance: 6.2miles, Average Speed: 9.9mph, Time: 37min

 I think that I did a very undisciplined ride today.   Thinking about discipline, I never thought about the division of speed pace lately.
Next time I should decide how to ride through more than 10 miles.

Chain drop and squeeky sound

While I was writing last post, Mr. WhP was working in our garage to check my bicycle to fix if it's possible.  When he came back, I asked him to write what he has done.  Here it is.
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In preparation for the coming up-grade, Mrs Whp attempted to shift to the smallest front chain ring.  Again the chain dropped off onto the frame.  Mr Whp used a hex wrench to hook the chain and put it back on.  This seemed to be happening too many times, so after returning he checked the derailleur adjustment.  The limit setting seemed about right, so adjusted the cable to move everything to the right.  That still allows the shift to the smallest chain ring (maybe without so much dropping) and improved the shift to a bigger ring.  Her bike has a twist-grip type shifter which is a bit on the stiff side (maybe the cable needs lubrication...), and requires a fairly snappy movement to shift from a smaller to a larger chain ring.

Mrs Whp heard a little scraping-squeaking sound coming from the rear wheel and asked to have it investigated.  Thinking it was a slightly dragging brake pad, Mr Whp carefully adjusted the brake, but the sound persisted even with the brake cable released.  Worried that the sound was coming from the wheel bearing, he removed the wheel and opened the dust seal--luckily the noise was just the dust seal rubbing.  A bit of wax took care of that.

So now we should be ready for a 20 miler!  Right? 
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Sounds very impressive, Honey!  But I can't understand the most of it.  I'm so lucky that my husband can fix my bicycle trouble!
But a 20 miles?!  Oh, my God, he is ready.  OK, I'm working on it, but I'm not sure.  I can't promise, ok? -Mrs. WhP
  

Ragle Ranch Regional Park to Graton via Regional Trails

We reached the park in Sebastopol  around 10:30am.  We found a parking space close to the plastic rest room.  That was convenient.  There were many people and children in the park already.

 After warming up in the park we got out to Covert Ln, taking the bike friendly Pleasant Hill Av.
This is Willard Libby Park on Pleasant Hill Ave.

Then we couldn't find the path to Washington Av, so we took Valentine Av to Murphy Av towards to Healdsburg Av, there was a crosswalk luckily so we could walk across the busy street, found Dufranc Av to connect with the West county Trail, instead of riding from the beginning of the Trail and passing the busy intersection.  I was glad we did it that way, I still need an easier route to take.

We loved the West County Regional Trail, it's so quiet and pretty.

Some part of the trail is running next to Gravenstein HwyN.  So wide and paved nicely.

 
At the end of the trail, as the sign recommends, we walked to cross Occidental Rd, and rode on the street for a while to the next entrance of the trail.  Here is the sign.

 
Vegetation around the trail was so nice.

We came to Graton Rd; if you turn left, you will get into another regional trail to the North which we'd like to try another time.

We turned right,  stopped to check the map, yes!  the challenging up slope was ahead!

We did well and turned right on Gravenstein Hwy N which also is not a Bike friendly road like last one, but drivers were nice so we could go through to the next right turn Peachland Av.  We knew it's going to be another challenging up slope, and we breathed well and got done.  The view was so beautiful, but the humble road was very bumpy.  Unfortunately neither of us took a picture.


After crossing Occidental Rd, Barlow Ln was standing to the sky, we enjoyed the steep slope; just kidding.  Seriously breathing rhythmically and continuously we made it. whew..

Then, we saw a beautiful grape field and apple orchard on the other side.  The air was fresh and the smell were nice.

Turned left to Mill Station Rd which was an up slope a little and down, finally rode onto the last road, Ragle Rd, and returned safely.  We enjoyed riding in the park for a while and back to the car.

The wind in Ragle Ranch Park was cool and very comfortable so that I wanted to stay more, but we had to drive back before we totally conked out. 
Distance: 10.2 miles, Av Speed: 7.2mph, Mx speed:  20.2mph, 
Time: 1h 23 min.

He really liked the route I planned and enjoyed very much, in addition he appreciated my hard work of planning, so I was really happy today!!

I hope my calf muscle pain will go away soon.  My fingers' nerve pains are getting better quite a bit now.
 

Even myself sometimes cannot guess about my body.

Yesterday morning I was in pain everywhere on the bed when I woke up.  Luckily Mr. WhP was the same condition,  it's strange to say but if only me who was whining would have been really depressing.  He rode the folding bike to challenge and unexpectedly he had a hard time to pedal through.

Anyway yesterday I was hot and tired, so I did gardening a little bit, we moved our table and chair a little bit, and rested.  I changed the route to bike too.

I was quite shocked to see our bodies can't take 10 miles every day continuously so far.   After each 10 mile ride we always need some rest the next day.  That's not fun.  But I should be patient to wait, I guess.

We took a bike trip and when I saw the speedometer showing over 10 miles, I stopped riding.  And I thought that I should ride more, I could do just a little more, but I didn't just in case.  Sure enough pain came onto us a couple of 10 minutes later.

We got back home, fed ourselves.  Now he is sleeping silently on the couch, I'm typing this with heavy eye lids.  This time we both got really painful finger pain for a while.  Because of the bumpy road vibration and gripping the handle so tightly.

In old age you have to deal with whatever you see.

Pre-Bike trip day

We didn't want to miss painting at the art club, so we postponed our bike trip to tomorrow.  Since we didn't bike yesterday at all, we felt dull in our bodies so we rode in our neighborhood.  Very slowly and practiced stop and start too.

Distance:  10.1miles, Max speed:  15.9 mph, 
Average speed:  7.4mph,  Time:  1h21min

Tomorrow we will ride 11.4 miles where we've never ridden before.  That's exciting and thrilling.  We should make sure to sleep well.

A little gardening, laundry, planning, planning...

It was a hot day today.  Glad that we had a great biking yesterday.  By now I found our bicycling life direction.  No way I can train my old body to be strong the same as younger ones, strength-wise, time-wise, but we just want to enjoy riding, and maintaining our bodies.  Eating healthier to ride comfortably, sleeping well to prepare for another new bicycle route.

I've never imagined that bicycling trips would get addictive.

Planning is very time consuming for us, because we just can't ride without thinking about distance, road condition, rest-able place etc.

Yes, our bicycling is not training style for stretching out our ability, more like working a little by little to get more fun.  Maybe this way we might be able to continue to ride. 

In a way I'm getting interested in running again, of course I can't run like when I was young at all, but I feel like trying step by step.

I haven't checked our garden for a while, I found quite a bit of seedpods got brown on the vine of Scarlet runner.  It is always exciting to see the gem stone like beans from rough looking pods.

 
I hope our small steps of work will be our jewel in the future.

Stafford Lake Park

This afternoon we left for Stafford Lake Park in Novato.  The park charges $10/car on weekend and $5/car on weekdays, so we paid at gate and got into the park.  The lake was at the front.

Turned left to the parking lot.  Here we parked.

Picnic benches near the lake were filled with family and friends to have a party.  Sounds like they were having a fun weekend.

We biked through parking lot and along the lake shore.  Beautiful blue sky and comfortable breeze made us happy.

Went through the gate posts and decided to take the bike/walk trail parallel to Novato Blvd.

The bike/walk trail was paved with cracks and bumps, but it was a fun and thrilling ride up to the water treatment facility road.  Then we would have to go on Novato Blvd, sharing with cars, so I gave up and U-turned.  Later at home we found the road does have a bike lane ahead, but the coming back side road has very skimpy bike lane so after all that was the right decision.  We hope it will have a nice wide bike lane in the future.

On the way coming back we took the same trail.  If it's legal or illegal we didn't know.  Luckily we saw nobody on the way back.

After we returned to the park, we rode through a pier-like bridge in the park.  In fact I had a hard time to get over there because my stupid fear and tension, anyway I finally made it.

The view over here was beautiful.  We really enjoyed it.

Then we tried to see the other side of the park to pass by the park front gate.  There was a group camping area, and some family group were gathered at a picnic table with a roof and sat on the grass by their small tents.  We rode through on paved path between them and then tried riding on dirt trail.  This was my first and longest dirt trail riding.  The trail was bumpy like anything but not many rocks so luckily I could handle it.

When the dirt trail got more gravel, I gave up and U-turned.  But it was fun and I was surprised my hybrid bicycle gave me such a nice ride.  Back to the lake.

 

 

Deep fatigue but rode anyway

Our fatigue and pain here and there couldn't go away over night.  We both were groaning this morning.

We knew that we can't get rid of this kind of pain so soon even with resting, so we decided to bike just light one.  We started very slowly and easily today.  We just couldn't ride fast as usual at beginning, but later we felt better.  My brain got this music so I sang with la-la-la to ride.

We finished over 7 miles, that was a surprise.  
Time: 59 min., Average Speed 7.5 mph, Distance:  7.45 miles, Max speed didn't get right. n/a

Distance is the same as yesterday, but that slope bonanza 7.44 miles felt like more than twice as much distance ride for us.

We did recorded Classical Stretch, our pain got much eased and better now.  We need another good sleep.

It was an up slope bonanza.

I made a bike plan to park at one of my favorite regional parks, bike on paved trail and off the park to ride main roads of City of Petaluma and come back to the park by riding on long up slope.

While Mr. WhP was driving on the roads in Petaluma, I was carefully checking if it's possible to ride for me.  I was getting tense more and more, especially toward the entrance of the regional park the long slope of Chileno Valley Road looked very hard.

Unloaded two bicycles and put the front wheels on, he was smiling to be ready.  Meanwhile my face was grimaced behind the camera.

Helen Putnam Regional Park is very familiar to us, because we hiked here a lot before.  But I couldn't remember what the paved trail was like, because I only hiked on it once a long time ago, I didn't like to walk on paved road usually.  So I was a planner, but I didn't realize the paved trail was quite steep up and down.

But the first part I did my best to come up, then another one coming....  on the way my chest started to hurt, so I stopped to catch my breath to calm down my heart beat too.

How long more to climb the trail?!!  How many times of the distance from here to the top of this slope?

Because I've already done that much. I was whining away to him.

So he went up all by himself to check the distance to the peak, I was resting and finally my breathing got normal.  So I started riding up by myself, this time my body got stronger.  Luckily the peak was not too far.
We saw many lower grade schoolgirls and people with their dogs.

After the peak, bumpy and steep down slope was not bad, but I used my break more than he, screeching quite a bit.

When we got on the residential road, it was down slope again.  Then a long up slope started.  But it was nice looking wide paved road, so I didn't mind at all.
When I got up here, I took a picture.

After we rode up more on this nice bike lane, then down slope was leading us to D street.

I was worried to turn left on major D street, but luckily police car was parking on the bike lane at the intersection.  So I just moved to the left to the center, and got into D Street.

I can't remember what the road looked like, but it was comfortable, I turned right on Sunnyslope Ave., then right on Sunnyslope Rd., the bike lane was nice this way up, but other way down was very narrow.  I was pleased to take this course.  When we reached to I Street, turned left to follow the loop back.
But on I Street, we suddenly lost where we were, so I was checking my printed map.

"Did we pass the Sunnyslope Ave. or not?" "I don't know. My smart phone map took long time to turn on" he replied.  Then very kind man on the street offered to help us.  What a great day, thank God!

We happily got back to Sunnyslope Ave. and we were going to take El Rose Dr to B Street, but!!  The El Rose Dr looked like a slide in the amusement park, I have no way to climb up the street, I thought.  So I turned right on D Street and enjoyed a busy main road ride until reaching 6th Street to turn left.

When we came to Western Ave., I suddenly remembered good old Petaluma Market which has a lot of delicious foods, so we dropped by.  In fact, I needed to get energy boosting food!

I picked a turkey, Jack cheese, pesto sandwich for him, and this delicious sandwich for me-Ham&Swiss with Honey Mustard.  He got potato salad, I got macaroni salad, they were good too.  I was so hungry to take the picture before finishing.

And I found my favorite big white peaches, so I got them for us.  That was an excellent idea.  We were boosted up happily by the lunch.

Western Av. was wide but many many cars were parked, so I was riding carefully to pass the cars.  Because it was Noon, busy cars were on the street too.

Going towards Helen P. Regional Park on Western changed to up slope, but I got used to it by then.  I was fine to ride up, then turned left on the final challenging road, Chileno Valley Road.
I had to stop to off the road when big sounding truck was coming behind me, because I was out of breath.  So I took my breath deeply and waited for a while.  OK, let's go, I said.  After I started and changed the left gear, I've heard the noise.  Chain fell off.  We stopped again.  Thank you, Mr. WhP.  He immediately fixed it for me.
When we lifted our heads, we saw a beautiful pond beyond the tree at the side of the road.

The last ride on the up slope became my good memory now.  Luckily Mr. WhP took my riding photo.
Thank you, Honey!

When we came back to the parking lot, I was almost going to cry, but I forced myself to stop.
This is the happy day!  "I want to have ice cream at home!"

Today's route:

Distance:  7.4miles, Max Speed 20.2 mph, Average Speed 6.7 miles, Time 1h 04 min.

Light riding day

No way to take a trip yet, because of our energy level.  
It's hot again today.  We pushed ourselves a little to go out for biking late afternoon.  It was close to 90 F, but as soon as we started riding we felt comfortable enough.  Then gusty wind started blowing against us.  We had a quite nice workout today.

When we got back home, we felt much better.  But our bodies, especially our legs, thighs, and feet were stiff and in pain strong enough to notice.  It has been always like that on our bodies afterwards.  How come we didn't feel too tired or any severe pain while we were riding, I wonder???

Anyway today's record is:
Distance: 8.6 miles, Time:  1hour 07, Max 14.5 mph, Average:  7.6 mph 

I used the folding bike.  Somehow, maybe the weight point is lower than a regular bike, I felt it easy to handle.  Even though I had a little hard time to start pedaling after stop when I started tired, I got a much better feeling to ride the folding bike.  I just need to get used to it more, especially for starting on up slopes.

 

Light exercise, painting...

Because of yesterday's big physical activity, our bodies were stiff and in pain all day.  We just gave up any biking today.  

Jackson hole, WY.  Looking at the photo made me want to go and bike over there.  Yes, we need traveling.  Just painting is not enough any more.

Anyway I'd better finish this painting.
 

Afternoon Hiking

My friend told me that we might bike over there.  So we decided to hike the trail this afternoon.
North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park was newly open this year.  On the way to the parking lot the asphalt road surely looked new.

We hiked the trail to Jack London State Park which my friend told me was very nice for hiking!  The air was fresh and the bay leaves smelled so nice.

Unfortunately we had to give up and go back down just before the Bennett Valley over look because my hip joint started to hurt, but we enjoyed this view very much.

While we were hiking today, three mountain bikers passed us.  I wish I could have good balance and no fear of cliffs, it would have been an exciting discovery day today.  But for hiking I'd like to come back in the future.