Bike Sizing/ Longest Ride Yet

Monday:

Today I got my bike sized.  I had not had this done and my knees have been bothering me some.  The guy spent about 45 minutes with me and it was free so I won't complain

EXCEPT

The first thing he did was have me sit on what he jokingly called an assometer.  It measured where I sit and then he compared it to my bike saddle. The verdict.........my ass was too big for my seat so I needed a new one.  Hmmm.  Did I just get insulted?  He cleaned up my old one and gave me some money for it toward the new one.

Here is the new bigger seat.

Then he asked me how far I usually rode.  10 or 12 miles?  No I just rode 40 the other day.  My son is always telling me that my demographic works for me as no one ever suspects me of shoplifting when I carry a back pack in a store and situations similar to this.  But it also works against me - twice in this bike shop! Truly the guy was nice but he was making assumptions based on my looks and age that were not at all true.
I also bought stuff to clean my bike. It was pretty dirty and I do want it - the gears etc. to be in the best condition they can be.

I also want to get  a rack - sure that will happen soon and those clipless pedals and shoes etc.  Man cycling is so much more expensive than running!

This morning I got up early and got a ride in before the next storm (there had already been one which was why my bike was so dirty.) Then I went to the gym for a speed workout just as it started pouring. Perfect timing!  Yesterday my 8 mile run was awful! No energy! No pizzazz.  Today the speed workout rocked!

 Tuesday:

Today I set a new PR distance on my bike!  I set out to do 42 as the route I had chosen was 42 miles.  I wanted to do about the same as last week. Before today my all time farthest distance was 43 miles.

Well, I was following a route in my book which had a choice of 4 possibilities for this route. I chose the longest one. But sometimes the directions are a little confusing and right off I did a few extra miles.  No problem - I was fresh and it was pretty.

This isn't  a place I get to much.  It was very nice.

I ended up going close to Lake Champlain but never seeing it.  Last week I was on the west side of Otter Creek which is a tributary of the lake.  You are on one side or the other.  I have never been on the east side much so this was a treat.

Otter Creek on both sides of the road

  It was relatively flat.  I got lost again but it just made me end up on route 7 sooner. I think this may have added a little mileage.  Route 7 is a very busy road but there is a wide shoulder. I wasn't on it for long before I was back on the West side of the road heading toward Charlotte.   I ended up on the road that goes to the Charlotte Ferry but I was headed in the opposite direction.

I do know my limits.  This mountain (small) was an additional

section you could add to the ride.  I chose not to do it.

Smart!

 I crossed Route 7 and stopped at a snack bar to get water.  At the top of the hill I parked myself under a tree and had my "lunch."  It felt good just to sit and take my helmet off. It was hot!

The next several sections were much hillier.  The first section on this side of Route 7 ended up doing part of the duathlon I did in June.  I got to one part where I needed to commit to the longer ride I was doing. I could have veered right and gotten back to my car much sooner.

Had to decide if I could really do the longer route.

But I had made a goal for the day and I don't tend to veer from my goals so on I went. I came to a section I know well as I drive it often.  It was the hilliest of the day.  I stopped at a store again desperately needing water. I hated leaving my bike (no lock) but knew it would be nuts not to get water. All went well and I also got some Combos that Emily had recommended as a pick me up on her long rides. I don't know if it was the placebo effect or they really did it but I was absolutely perkier the last 9 miles.  This was also hilly but more of a fun hilly - BOTH up and down. 

The Adirondacks are way in the distance.  I know

I stop well before that.

 I took a couple of last pics and was at my car - 47 miles later! A new distance for me!  Yeah!