Machka
03-04-04, 10:39 PM
I didn't get a January century this year, but I did get my February century!! And it was quite different from the bitterly cold nightmare of a February century I rode last winter. This one was quite pleasant. :)
I started at 7:30 am just as the sun was coming up. It was -1C/30F with 24 km/h/15 mph winds from the southwest. Very nice for the end of February!
On my first lap, I decided to stay in the city. The traffic wasn't too bad, and I wanted some variety. It wasn't long though before I discovered that the roads were still a little slushy and icy in places, and the wind was going to be a significant factor in my time. It seemed like every direction I turned I was into a headwind. By the end of the first lap the traffic had definitely increased and the snow by the side of the roads had melted into huge puddles. I was getting wet. But I had 50 kms done.
On the next lap I decided to head south, out of town where there would be less traffic and the roads would be drier. The weather forecast was the same as it was when I left in the morning, but they were saying that the wind was now coming from the west. I sailed comfortably south, then turned to head back north again, and nearly died! That was no west wind!!
I decided to head west on my "usual" route. The roads were really good! Thursday evening they were terrible but the melting lately really helped. They were mostly bare and dry. Those of you who don't live in a snowy part of the world just don't know how much those of us who do appreciate bare and dry roads!! The temperature had risen to about +2C/36F and I got pretty hot out there. At some point along the way I stopped by the river to have something to eat for a moment, and watched the snowmobilers sailing up and down the river. I watched them fly over patches of open water and thought, "They must be nuts!" But then, if they knew what I was doing, they might have thought the same thing about me!! 108 kms down, and I headed in for a little break.
Third lap - I just rode up and down and around my usual route. I feel quite comfortable there and like finishing up my centuries on that stretch of road. However, I did discover a new section branching off my usual road! I knew they were paving it last year, so I decided to check it out. Nice! New pavement that takes the cyclist into a quiet rural residental development. 163.83 kms = 102 miles!
That was the first century since beginning of December. I think every body part voiced a complaint at least once during the ride, but I just turned up the volume of the voices that told me to do another February century, and kept pushing.
I felt sort of lethargic when I started, but became quite energetic for a while. Then about 80 kms (50 miles) in, I felt about ready to curl up by the side of the road and sleep. I continued to struggle with that for the rest of the ride. I'd have energy for a while, then want to sleep, then a bit more energy . . . and so on. I'm not sure what was going on. But when I reached 6 kms (3.6 miles) to go . . . I had more energy than I had all day - I just roared in!!
I started at 7:30 am just as the sun was coming up. It was -1C/30F with 24 km/h/15 mph winds from the southwest. Very nice for the end of February!
On my first lap, I decided to stay in the city. The traffic wasn't too bad, and I wanted some variety. It wasn't long though before I discovered that the roads were still a little slushy and icy in places, and the wind was going to be a significant factor in my time. It seemed like every direction I turned I was into a headwind. By the end of the first lap the traffic had definitely increased and the snow by the side of the roads had melted into huge puddles. I was getting wet. But I had 50 kms done.
On the next lap I decided to head south, out of town where there would be less traffic and the roads would be drier. The weather forecast was the same as it was when I left in the morning, but they were saying that the wind was now coming from the west. I sailed comfortably south, then turned to head back north again, and nearly died! That was no west wind!!
I decided to head west on my "usual" route. The roads were really good! Thursday evening they were terrible but the melting lately really helped. They were mostly bare and dry. Those of you who don't live in a snowy part of the world just don't know how much those of us who do appreciate bare and dry roads!! The temperature had risen to about +2C/36F and I got pretty hot out there. At some point along the way I stopped by the river to have something to eat for a moment, and watched the snowmobilers sailing up and down the river. I watched them fly over patches of open water and thought, "They must be nuts!" But then, if they knew what I was doing, they might have thought the same thing about me!! 108 kms down, and I headed in for a little break.
Third lap - I just rode up and down and around my usual route. I feel quite comfortable there and like finishing up my centuries on that stretch of road. However, I did discover a new section branching off my usual road! I knew they were paving it last year, so I decided to check it out. Nice! New pavement that takes the cyclist into a quiet rural residental development. 163.83 kms = 102 miles!
That was the first century since beginning of December. I think every body part voiced a complaint at least once during the ride, but I just turned up the volume of the voices that told me to do another February century, and kept pushing.
I felt sort of lethargic when I started, but became quite energetic for a while. Then about 80 kms (50 miles) in, I felt about ready to curl up by the side of the road and sleep. I continued to struggle with that for the rest of the ride. I'd have energy for a while, then want to sleep, then a bit more energy . . . and so on. I'm not sure what was going on. But when I reached 6 kms (3.6 miles) to go . . . I had more energy than I had all day - I just roared in!!