After a couple of days using the trainer and elliptic I managed to find time this afternoon; a bright sunny but coolish day. It was my familiar ride down the Ox Road Sidepath but something was different. I found myself climbing 2% grade maintaining 11mph and a steady HR. A week ago I'd gradually gear down until I was slogging at around 7-8mph with the heart rate approaching 140. I know for many of you it is to laugh, but somehow today I found an extra 6 bpm from somewhere. Cruising at 17mph on flats seemed effortless. We've got beaucoup hills in northern VA; It's difficult to find a mile of flat cyclable roadway. No magic or PED I'm convinced it's the cold mornings which is killing off the ragweed. No more coughing in the morning and that pain in the bronchial area as I reach the top of a climb. My times show it; 122 minutes riding 12.5 mph today over 11.2 the last few weeks.

Life is good!