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10-11-05, 06:48 PM
I don't know about others on the forum but I really hated to see DnvrFx snowed in. However just knowing that they had already gotten snow seemed to make me conciously not take being able to get out and ride for granted and thus enjoy being out on the bike even more this afternoon.
It wasn't anything special. In fact, it's the same route our group has used after work this past summer for Tuesday and Thursday night rides. It's a 30 mile loop with a few hills. It's a really nice training loop as there are spots where you can really push your heart rate up if you want to. There also good stretches where a paceline can fly. There's even a County Line sign that we can "race to" if a couple of us ever feel the urge to sprint-or attempt to do so!
With the completion of 7 centuries in a row in mid September, my riding is tapering off as usual for this time of the year. My weight is beginning to creep up ever so slightly as well. While I still enjoy and look forward to riding-it's the time of they year I start to focus on more things.
I had ridden in a 100k organized ride this past Sunday and rode really hard so didn't know what to expect this afternoon. Since October my weeknight riding group has disbanded because it gets dark so quickly. It was excellent riding conditions but nothing to brag about-cloudy with temps in the high 60's and a slight occassional mist. I went out solo and started riding around 5:15 so traffic was heavier than normal and cars had already begun to use their headlights.
It was just a terrific ride. For some reason the bike seemed lighter and my legs stronger tonight. I was able to do the hills/climbs in harder gears and flew up and down the road with more ease than normal-even easier than when I was in my groups. The bike performed very well with the gears shifting nicely. There were no issues with cars riding by too close, turning in front of me or throwing anything at me. I managed to dodge all the serious potholes and the dogs that we normally see were just too slow tonight to catch up with me. Maybe the training with 5000 miles under me already this year was still helping.
As I was rolling back into the driveway I felt the urge to thrust my hands up in the air and yell "YES!!". While nothing special-no crowds at the end, no clocks ticking off your time, noone out with a camera taking your picture, no festivities or fellow cyclists to discuss the major climbs of the day-it was still a terrific ride in the very simplest form. Very refreshing- and just caught me completely off guard.
I guess it's just an example of why some of us get a lot of pleasure from just riding. If you ever hear me complaining, please remind me what a privilege it is to just be able to get out and ride!!
It wasn't anything special. In fact, it's the same route our group has used after work this past summer for Tuesday and Thursday night rides. It's a 30 mile loop with a few hills. It's a really nice training loop as there are spots where you can really push your heart rate up if you want to. There also good stretches where a paceline can fly. There's even a County Line sign that we can "race to" if a couple of us ever feel the urge to sprint-or attempt to do so!
With the completion of 7 centuries in a row in mid September, my riding is tapering off as usual for this time of the year. My weight is beginning to creep up ever so slightly as well. While I still enjoy and look forward to riding-it's the time of they year I start to focus on more things.
I had ridden in a 100k organized ride this past Sunday and rode really hard so didn't know what to expect this afternoon. Since October my weeknight riding group has disbanded because it gets dark so quickly. It was excellent riding conditions but nothing to brag about-cloudy with temps in the high 60's and a slight occassional mist. I went out solo and started riding around 5:15 so traffic was heavier than normal and cars had already begun to use their headlights.
It was just a terrific ride. For some reason the bike seemed lighter and my legs stronger tonight. I was able to do the hills/climbs in harder gears and flew up and down the road with more ease than normal-even easier than when I was in my groups. The bike performed very well with the gears shifting nicely. There were no issues with cars riding by too close, turning in front of me or throwing anything at me. I managed to dodge all the serious potholes and the dogs that we normally see were just too slow tonight to catch up with me. Maybe the training with 5000 miles under me already this year was still helping.
As I was rolling back into the driveway I felt the urge to thrust my hands up in the air and yell "YES!!". While nothing special-no crowds at the end, no clocks ticking off your time, noone out with a camera taking your picture, no festivities or fellow cyclists to discuss the major climbs of the day-it was still a terrific ride in the very simplest form. Very refreshing- and just caught me completely off guard.
I guess it's just an example of why some of us get a lot of pleasure from just riding. If you ever hear me complaining, please remind me what a privilege it is to just be able to get out and ride!!