You know what they say about best laid plans

05. November 2011 · 2 comments · Categories: cycling, fall, fitness, gear, weather

Yeah, they often go awry.

I’d planned to get up this morning for the group ride with the peloton. I’ve got to say that when I woke at 6:00 and it was pitch fucking black outside and 39 F to boot, I could only roll over, turn off the alarm set for 6:30, and go back to sleep. It was a pretty simple decision I have to say. Sure, I’d have liked to make the group ride but I’ve been riding solo for months, so whats another day?

In truth, I do kind of wish I’d have gotten up for that ride because it would have been good to sync up with some faces that I’ve not seen in a long time. However, I had a great ride on my own this morning.

I left around 8:45 and while it was only 42 F, at least the sun was up. This was the fourth day in a row of riding and I could feel it in my legs as I started out. Today’s ride wasn’t going to break any land speed records, and it didn’t. I averaged 14 and change and my max speed was in the range of 19 mph. Still, it was a great ride.

There is something magical about riding in the fall. The low angle of the light, the leaves rattling under your tires, the colors on the trees and the crisp air make for a very enjoyable ride.  I rode for about 13 miles before heading home.  Thee little man and I were headed to Kinder Farm Park to meet up with my long time friend and her girls.  I felt like I could have easily gone for another 13 miles today despite the fact that my toes were starting to go numb, and if I’d made that group ride, I probably would have.

I’m still trying to work out how to keep my feet toasty warm.  Today, I wore a thin wool base layer sock, some thick wool socks, my shoes and neoprene covers lined with micro fleece.  If anyone has any recommendations on a change in gear, I’d appreciate hearing them.

Irene

28. August 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: daily life, good things, gratitude, health, hope, thoughts, weather

She was like most others, a little sexy, a little crazy and a whole lot of unpredictable. Irene could have been a real big mess for us. We were lucky, no trees fell on our house, no massive floods (though we live on high ground) and only the inconvenience of a power outage. And let me tell you it is an inconvenience at worst.

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I can ride in the rain

23. April 2011 · 1 comment · Categories: cycling, weather

Sure I can.

But I chose not to today. Actually, that’s not quite true. I got up around 6:20 and looked outside. It was wet and overcast but didn’t appear to be raining. I decided to give my local peloton ride a shot.

With all the crazy scheduling of the past three weeks I haven’t been out on my bike in a while. Gear was scattered all around the house. Shoes in the closet, leg warmers in the laundry room, bibs in the drawer, gloves – where are the damned gloves – one shoe cover missing. Does not bode well.

I snarfed down an english muffin with peanut butter and a banana, made some sports drink and headed outside. It wasn’t quite raining, but it certainly was precipitating. As I was about to hop on the bike without lights, I though better of that, and took some time to put them on. I also had to repack my saddle bag since I’d cleaned my bike thoroughly the last time I was out.

Air. You need to check your tires, i thought as I mounted the bike for the second time. Low pressure, pump, running late.

Is that rain? Fuckit, I’m riding anyway — I’ve come this far.

I peddled out of the neighborhood and headed for the appointed start of the ride. The rain started to get steadier. I had fingerless gloves and no shoe covers. My ass was already soaked.

The question of why I was riding came to mind. Was I riding to train? (Sort of) Was I riding because I haven’t been out in a while? (Yes) Was I riding to have a little bit of fun by myself this morning? (Definitely) Was this ride going to be fun? (No)

I bailed. Not because I couldn’t have hung in on the ride. Not because I didn’t want to see my local peloton. Not for any other reason than this…I wanted to have a good time on the ride today and that wasn’t gonna happen.

Now it’s time to make some coffee and revisit the day’s agenda.

Come on Springtime

26. December 2010 · 1 comment · Categories: cycling, daily life, exercise, irritants, mr. grey, mrs. tkd, snow, spring, struggles, weather, winter, winter blues

The hacking started sometime around the 22nd of November.  Coughs and phlegm punctuate our conversations. One of the three of us has been sick for the entire month of December.  The days are short, the weather is cold, and I’ve not been on my bike since November 7th.  This is becoming a drag.

That ride on November 7th was a great solo ride.  I’d received word of my new job offer on that ride.  It was a glorious day with temps climbing into the mid 60s by the end of the ride.  I expected that I’d be riding the rest of the month and then throughout December.  I’d not counted on sickness and cold weather getting in the way.

The truth is, I probably could have ridden more despite the cold, if it weren’t for the sickness.  For three weeks, breathing was labored just sitting around.  The idea of actually getting the lungs pumping was well, out of the question.  But the real stumbler has been the new job.

I’ve admitted it before: I am a consummate perfectionist. When I started my last job, I stressed so hard over doing a good job that I developed migraines among other aliments that lasted for months. I hoped not to repeat that performance when I started this job, and I’ve been relatively successful, but I’ve put forth a full court press for sure.  There has not been a lot of down time.

So, I find myself here, the day after Christmas, looking out the window of my office at snow starting to softly fall in the cold winter air, and I’m looking forward to April. I’m hoping that I will be back out on the bike, and that I’ll be able to find some coverage of the Tour de Flanders.  That will indicate the kickoff of another great season of cycling.

Rain, Flats and Fishtails

22. August 2010 · 1 comment · Categories: cycling, daily life, exercise, fear, maryland, rain, sidetracks, weather

Since I completed my MS ride back in July, I have not been on the bike as much as I’d like.  There are a number of reasons for this, which all fall under the category of LIFE.  And I’m here to tell you that not riding has taken a toll on my — ahem — mood.  Yes folks, regular exercise is really good for the mood.

So, I was determined to get out this weekend.  Yesterday, I missed the 7:30 group ride with the peloton because, well, I was sleeping.  Then I had to cut something close to 11 inches of grass in my yard before the neighbors revolted…at any rate, I did not get out on a ride yesterday.  I vowed to make the 8:00 group ride today.RainBird

I got up and out of the house and rolled up to the appointed spot.  I was alone.  It got to be 8:00 and I was still alone, and it was starting to spit.  Bugger, I thought.  For grins, I decided to roll away from the Ranger Station via the road instead of the trail.  There they were, in the other parking lot that I didn’t know about.  So I joined up and we started rolling down the trail. More »

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