Gorgeous day today!
We woke up and wiggled our legs to see how they felt after yesterday’s ride, which was pretty good. So, in pre-coffee insanity, we decided to bike to bagels this morning. My legs aren’t really all that sore, and my back feels pretty good. We headed on out to Panera Bread. 8 miles there. Funny how 8 miles seems like nothing after 45 miles LOL! Might also have been the cereal, M&Ms, and toast I had last night, too 😳
Deliciousness ensued.
I was little more tired for the 2nd 8 miles home, but doing pretty well. Yesterday, Jan posed a question to me in the comments:
I love riding my bike but wondered how you started to build up to such long rides? I seem to tire out quickly. The longest I have gone is 15 KM. Do you have any suggestions on how to start to build my endurance?
My best advice is strength training (okay, raise your hand if you are surprised at this answer). Squats, lunges, dead lifts, etc., all work your lower body. That will give you the power and strength to ride. I would also suggest riding hills and doing intervals on the bike as well. The more you do that, the stronger you will get. Takes time, though, so be patient. It’s just a matter of being consistent with training (at least every other day). When I started biking, it took a long time to build up distance. It was only last year that we started going more than 30 miles in a day. Hope that helps?
It was back to work today. Sigh…. It’s not all that busy today. I am liking the ‘do. No curling iron needed, and hardly any brush! Mostly finger styled. Short hair is just so easy, just some shellac to keep it in place:
Lunch break included a bowl of yogurt with pumpkin and protein powder, topped with all-bran. Hello fiber!
And a pear that looks like it went about 10 rounds with Mike Tyson after being in the bike bag yesterday.
It’s funny, even though I am working – I always feel guilty when John does work around the house on Sundays, like I should be helping LOL! Not sure what is up with that. Guess I should just enjoy watching him work 😉
He made lattes today:
and I also had some of that yummy cheese from yesterday:
Work today just went excruciatingly slow. Ever have those days that just drag on? Maybe it’s because it is the first day of the work week or that it is so nice out.
Made a quick dinner tonight of a scrambled egg wrap with laughing cow and hot sauce. We forgot to get hot sauce yesterday when shopping and I am almost out 😯
I am going to go out now and do a little work in the garden this evening to enjoy the beautiful weather, and the Tour of California bike race is on TV! Go Lance (or Levi)!
Since I haven’t mentioned Pixie in a while, I will leave you with a video of her actually sucking on her toes. Cuteness abounds!
This week there will be a product review and giveaway, plus a nut butter tutorial, and the date ball recipe. Maybe I need to take a day off of work to get all that done 
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Love the new haircut. It’s very cute – and from the sounds of it, easy to manage. Double win.
.-= roxie´s last blog ..Blame It On The Rain =-.
Funny how pixie sucks on her thumb(toe)! I agree about what you said about building endurance. I however am lazy when it comes to strength training and just push myself to go further each ride. Probably takes longer this way but oh well 🙂
I’ve always wondered how you worked up to riding for so long too, so it’s nice to know that strength training would help me too. I have a really hard time on big hills and have to get off of my bike and walk up the really big ones. Sounds like a fun week ahead!
.-= Alissa´s last blog ..Weekend =-.
Thank you so much for answering my question. I do weight training with my son twice a week but haven’t really been concentrating on my legs too much. I will definitely give it a go. I am also seriously looking at getting myself a new bike which will get me out more often.
OK, I have officially died…the video of Pixie sucking her thumb is TOO CUTE!!!!!
.-= Shelley B´s last blog ..Two Years!!! =-.
Congrats on such a great ride!
Oooh, sounds like a fun week on Finding Radiance!
.-= Marisa (Loser for Life)´s last blog ..Pass On The Grass =-.
I definitely think you need a day off to write those posts.
.-= Kimberley´s last blog ..My Week Update # 9 and Week #20 Goals =-.
The viodeo is funny!!! the longest ride that I did is 10 miles!! I dont won a bike now, but sure will buy one on Suturday!! I like biking on summer days!!! And I love bagels too! 🙂 Have a nice week!
.-= Katalina @ GreenLivingNewYork´s last blog ..Vegan Slow Cook Veggie Deliciousness =-.
Your lattes always look so goood!!! And cheese, love love love. Great job on 16 miles today, assuming you biked back to your house! 🙂
.-= Beth @ Beth’s Journey to Thin´s last blog ..Chillin’ and Grillin’ =-.
Your hair looks great! I love the new do.
I have to agree with you on the strength training for biking endurance, but I would add that core strength is also incredibly important to stabilize your back and upper body during rides.
Yes – you are absolutely right! Cannot forget the core (or upper body).
LOVE the hair.
love the strength training shoutout.
and think we all should take a day off work this week to livenotblog 🙂
im so in.
.-= Miz´s last blog ..No excuses! The personal stuff. =-.
Mike and I went biking yesterday and I thought of you 🙂
Hi Pixie! You are a cutie!
.-= April´s last blog ..Play by play afternoon =-.
Thx for the Pixie video! Was that for me?? 🙂 SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO cute!
The first pic.. beautiful! You sure live in a pretty area! So glad you are getting so much better from that injury! You are on your way to normal! Well, at least body wise! 😉
.-= Jody – Fit at 52´s last blog ..Fear of Fear =-.
LOL – that was for you Jody 😀
Your bagels are giving me cravings.
We had a perfect day in utica as well… FINALLY!
I’m having a GIVEAWAY as well this week. Can’t wait to see what yours is all about. I just LOVE giveaways!
.-= Joanne´s last blog ..Tasty Recipes and Giveaway =-.
I think I’m gonna have to cave and have a bagel someday soon. There’s a New York Bagel place on my way to work.
Your bike rides are making me jealous. Soon as my car is fixed, I am getting my bike fixed. It has a flat tire.
.-= debby´s last blog ..Lots to Talk About =-.
Love the haircut and your advice for biking endurance was muchly appreciated. I cannot seem to bike for longer than 20 minutes. I do not do any strength training other than a little weights here and there but nothing of significance. Lunges, squats seems easy enough and something I can do on my breaks.
Thanks Lori. Again, your hair cut is very cute.
.-= paula´s last blog ..Super busy Sunday… just the way I like it. =-.
super cute hair lori! my legs are shot even today…….gonna have to have a bagel sometime this week-you have me craving them!
.-= kalli@fitandfortysomething´s last blog ..Clif Family Fun =-.
Didn’t Lance and Levi ride in the Giro D’Italia? I don’t follow that much but the funny thing is that the Giro started in Holland this year (if you ask me it’s stupid as it is an Italian Giro but who am I).
Your food looks delicious as always!
I like the new hair! 🙂 Looks like you had a really fun weekend! That cheese looks so yummy. I’m a cheese-a-holic.
.-= Ang´s last blog ..Fiesta chicken! =-.
You will find the recipe here Lori.
http://dinnerwithjulie.com/2009/05/19/sweet-potato-aloo-gobi/
.-= Kimberley´s last blog ..My Week Update # 9 and Week #20 Goals =-.
And I die. That Pixie video is too darn cute. Biking is so much in the legs. I think that’s why I get so frustrated with it, because I’m still weak compared to many people (although I have improved a lot by my own comparison). I’ll often get passed by women with calves carved out of stone and curse them as they whiz past me 😛
.-= Susan´s last blog ..Blogger Interview Series – Tina =-.
Weak is really a relative term. Someone who finished NROLW and is a now personal trainer could hardly be considered weak!
All those years I did not appreciate my bigger thigh muscles – now I thank them!