I missed one of my target goals for April -- a solo standard century. I've already ridden a few metric centuries since last August. Too much life stuff getting in the way, impossible to devote the full day I'd need for it. I'll try again in May.

But I'm still on pace for my goal of 300 miles a month. I resumed cycling in 2015 after a 30 year hiatus and managed 100 miles a month that year, 200 miles a month in 2016.

April has been tricky due to the heavy winds all month. I can ride only three or four days a week, depending on family stuff. And I wanted to get past a plateau in conditioning, so rather than taking longer rides on flatter terrain sheltered from the wind, I've been tackling the hillier and very windy route over open prairie and pasture. Much tougher physically and I usually ride fewer miles, around 10-30 per ride, rather than 20-60 on the easier terrain.

My average speed is up as well, to 14 mph now. It was 8-10 mph in 2015, 12 mph in 2016. I'll probably peak at 14 mph with my current bike, a hybridized 1990s mountain bike with fairly upright position.

Up to 14 mph it's mostly my conditioning. Above that the wind resistance demands effort disproportionate to speed gains. So I'll consider a bike with drop bars soon, although my C2 neck injury may limit my flexibility. We'll see.

At 59 with various ailments I'm just glad to be riding again. After a car wreck in 2001 I wasn't sure I'd be able to walk more than 100 yards at a time. In 2014, walking a few miles without a cane was a milestone. In 2015 riding 3 miles without stopping to wheeze through an asthma attack felt like an accomplishment. Every outing since then is gravy.