Didn't ride today (1/17) but did put in a spiffy 45+ mi yesterday at 17.4 mph. Kinda slow, but the wind and the layoff took their toll. The weather was great, about 70. The wind was out of the SE at about 16 or so, making some of the ride "uphill" and some "downhill." I started out pretty strong, but near the end I was fading a bit, and not in the usual way. Sorry I don"t have great pix like Blues Dawg.
I had not ridden since 1/2 until I got out for a 35 mile solo on Thursday. Perhaps unwisely, I did 7 heart rate intervals, and Friday the legs were a little sore. Since I started riding in March I have never had any leg burn here in flat So Fla. But then I've been riding 100 - 120 mi a week. That 2 week layoff really made a difference. My legs were a little sore even on Sat AM. By mile 38 it was uncomfortable, but I finished. And the good news is that today my legs feel great.
Here is the rub. My 70 y/o buddy wanted me to ride with him Sat. I wanted to get out for a high speed hammer-fest, but I was unsure about that with my legs being sore. So then I decided I was going to ride with my wife on the tandem. His speed and distance is perfect for us on the tandem as my wife doesn't ride much. I left him a message Friday afternoon that we would ride with him, and we needed to decide where and when. Later that night she decided not to ride, so I opted to go for the club hammer-fest. I left him a message with an apology.
Saturday morning I got a call as the club ride began. He wanted to know where and when to meet. I apologized again and said I had left him 2 msgs. He said "No problem, I just go solo." He left from his house, rather than driving to the club ride meeting spot where he would have met me and my wife. I passed him going the other way as he was heading home from his ride. When I got home, I got a call from his wife. He had just gotten sideswiped by a car 1/2 mile from the house and he as in the local trauma center. He sustained a broken collar bone and mild concussion.
At 70, broken bones are not good, but thank God it was not a hip. And being his left collar bone he'll still be able to write and do most things. It could have been a lot worse!