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03-17-11, 06:04 PM
I missed my spin class start time tonight, so I had to "settle" for a real ride. The wife was hosting her fabric arts group so I got to go out on my own and see 1) what damage the winter has done to me, and 2) what it's like riding at least 20 or 25 pounds lighter than when my season ended last year.
I'll say at the outset that 2) didn't make much difference, but without being wired to a NASA computer for hard data, it's all pretty much subjective anyway. Even so, it was a demonstrably better season-starting ride than I've had in years.
First, I couldn't get the old road bike down from the garage ceiling since the car was in the way and there was no way to move it, so I had to go out on the mountain bike with its "street" tires. I rode to the local MUP and took it north to its current terminus, and back home - round trip of 14.8 flat miles, tailwind out, headwind back, with an average speed of a hair more than 13.5, and finished feeling like I could have easily done another 10 miles or more (until I got in the house and tried to go downstairs without my legs folding under me like cheap card table).
Considering it was the first time out, and it was on a mountain bike with fairly good-sized tires, I was pleased. I know it's not a Sayre-crushing performance, but it's good enough for me (for now).
I'll say at the outset that 2) didn't make much difference, but without being wired to a NASA computer for hard data, it's all pretty much subjective anyway. Even so, it was a demonstrably better season-starting ride than I've had in years.
First, I couldn't get the old road bike down from the garage ceiling since the car was in the way and there was no way to move it, so I had to go out on the mountain bike with its "street" tires. I rode to the local MUP and took it north to its current terminus, and back home - round trip of 14.8 flat miles, tailwind out, headwind back, with an average speed of a hair more than 13.5, and finished feeling like I could have easily done another 10 miles or more (until I got in the house and tried to go downstairs without my legs folding under me like cheap card table).
Considering it was the first time out, and it was on a mountain bike with fairly good-sized tires, I was pleased. I know it's not a Sayre-crushing performance, but it's good enough for me (for now).