The Fit Nation

https://ift.tt/1XxrV3t We had some more rain last week along with a few gray days but then the sunshine came back. The rain wasn’t too heavy so it did not affect my riding much. We did get about 1 1/2 inches (37 cm) at my house in the last couple of weeks, which has kept our hills green for a little longer. Last Thursday I had a nice sunny local cruise. This is a pleasant unpaved walking path around a local industrial park. A view of El Toro from across Butterfield Blvd. The older looking home visible between the Lombardy Poplars is Villa Miramonte, where Hiram Morgan Hill lived for a while in the late 1800s, Our town is his namesake . The house is now a museum with interesting local artifacts . Crossing to the East Side of Town. The green is starting to turn in the hills, but it has lasted longer than we’d thought because of recent rain Last Tuesday we also had a nice day for my group ride. We did a tour to the end of Casa Loma Road, where there is the entrance to Rancho Ca...

https://ift.tt/3tX6aBE I had gone a little hard last Tuesday’s group ride, so Wednesday I did a shorter recovery ride which felt great. Thursday I did a hard ride on my upright with standing intervals which also went well, and afterwards did some upper body strength work. Friday and Saturday were enjoyable cruises on my recumbent. Sunday was a fun longer ride on my upright. The local Willow Heights Mansion, which does weddings and other celebrations, opened itself to our club to visit on Sunday. This was also the day of our club picnic to thank the volunteers for our Tierra Bella event. The picnic was at Mohi winery. From my house a cruise to Willow Heights, the around Chesbro and Uvas reservoirs to get to Mohi for the picnic, followed by the ride home, made for a nice route. The picnic was nice because I usually only go on rides at the South end of our County, so this was a chance to meet folks from further North. I felt great after the ride but had sore legs later in the day, so I ...

https://ift.tt/P9C0hZR As I mentioned in my last post, Last Thursday I went with some friends in my bike club to mark the route of the club’s Tierra Bella ride which took place on Sunday. Unfortunately it rained pretty heavily before Sunday and it washed away a lot of the markers. We posted a warning to the riders to bring a printout of the cue sheet or load the GPS of the route onto their displays, so I don’t think too many got lost. 900 signed up for the ride, and 600 actually rode on Sunday, which had showers in the morning but was otherwise nice. I was going to do the ride but got bad news on Friday. A good friend of many years had a massive stroke and was diagnosed with inoperable bleeding in his brain and was in ICU. We have been on call ever since in case his wife, another dear friend, needed us. He died on Tuesday. The doctors think the cause was head trauma from a recent fall while hiking. Rest in peace, my dear friend Bob. This sure puts life in perspective. We’ve got to lo...

https://ift.tt/mf7vBRc A few days ago I took my upright on a ride that included lots of unpaved sections which are enjoyable with fat tires. You can see that some of the hills on the East side have already gone brown. We’re expecting more rain over this weekend but it may be too late and the hills that are still green may soon follow. Still, this was a fun ride, you have these unpaved parts largely to yourself except the occasional horse and rider. Another unpaved route on the way home in this preserved space next to the neighborhood on the right Then last Tuesday I went on a ride on my recumbent with my group that started to the Southeast of Morgan Hill and then headed up the paved part of the Coyote Creek Trail. Gathering at the start Heading East on Middle Ave Entering the Trail Near Anderson Visitors center Some Shade was welcome after the exposed section Yesterday I just did a local half-hour ride because I spent a lot of time marking the route of the upcom...

https://ift.tt/6npTqro I’ll be doing my club’s Tierra Bella tour on April 12th. I’m only doing the 30 mile route but I’ll ride to the start in Gilroy which is 12.6 miles away so a little over 55 miles total (88 km). That’s a bit of my stretch as my long rides have been about 30 miles max (48 km). So recently I’ve been bumping up my long rides to prepare. I’m looking forward to the tour, I haven’t ridden the tour in many years, usually I can’t because I volunteer for it. But this year I volunteered for route marking which is the day before, so I’ll be free for the tour. With my leaky heart valve I’m somewhat limited at higher intensities like sprints or big climbs, but I tolerate long easy rides well. The pictures are from a recent shorter cruise to the Southeast of Morgan Hill: North on Hill towards Dunne Main Ave towards downtown near Live Oak High School Heading home through my neighborhood

https://ift.tt/awkGSeg The first few pictures are from last Thursday, when I headed to the Northeast up to South San Jose: Last Friday I went out on the Coyote Creek trail and back over Malech Road: Yesterday was the rainy day. I went out up Dougherty road to the North and forgot it might rain so I got caught out without rain great. I did have my flashing lights for visibility though. The camera adjusted for the light, and I’m surprised the raindrops aren’t showing on the lens. I’m glad for the rain, I just wish it had lasted longer, I don’t think this was enough to keep our hills green. I cut my ride short and headed home for better clothing and went back out. I stayed closer to home after that.