Ride report - Chicago was beautiful today (PR)
05-07-07, 09:45 PM
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Location: Chicago, IL
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Ride report - Chicago was beautiful today (PR)
Set out dead determined to beat my old PR of 72 miles solo set last year. I'd set out about three or four times this year to do the same thing, and just couldn't get it going. Between it being below 50, raining, and with wind off the lake, I just couldn't get anything over 50 miles.
Today, I found myself with some free time in the afternoon, and it was finally warm (or so I thought) with a forecasted high of 77. Left the under armour in the closet and headed out. Took the lake shore trail at Belmont up to Bryn Mawr, then found my way over to Devon. Took the whateverucallit trail at Devon and Caldwell up to Glencoe. Not a cloud in the sky, but the breeze was almost a little chilly, especially as I found my way back to Sheridan. Still, had a good pace of around 16 - 17 mph (which is decent considering the number of stop lights / signs I hit - probably 15 or so) (oh, and I suck). Took Sheridan back to the lake shore trail. As I got back on the lake shore trail, the sun was beginning to set, but it was SUBSTANTIALLY warmer then it was in the afternoon.
Took the lake shore trail into a headwind all the way down to 73rd, praying that that headwind would be a tail wind on my way back. It was, and I was able to do 20 mph or so (at that point I was over 60 miles and held together by duct tape) back up to Bryn Mawr. Then went back down to Belmont. All told, a hair over 80 miles. Saddle time of 5:05, which isn't too bad considering all the stops and having to dodge tourists near Navy Pier. No idea what the ride time was, as my HRM crapped out on me, but I only stopped for about 20 minutes or so for whole trip. Had ideas to turn it into a century, but the 2 power bars and 4 gels i'd thrown down were about to make me puke, and really, I woulda crapped out anyways.
80 miles! New PR!
Today, I found myself with some free time in the afternoon, and it was finally warm (or so I thought) with a forecasted high of 77. Left the under armour in the closet and headed out. Took the lake shore trail at Belmont up to Bryn Mawr, then found my way over to Devon. Took the whateverucallit trail at Devon and Caldwell up to Glencoe. Not a cloud in the sky, but the breeze was almost a little chilly, especially as I found my way back to Sheridan. Still, had a good pace of around 16 - 17 mph (which is decent considering the number of stop lights / signs I hit - probably 15 or so) (oh, and I suck). Took Sheridan back to the lake shore trail. As I got back on the lake shore trail, the sun was beginning to set, but it was SUBSTANTIALLY warmer then it was in the afternoon.
Took the lake shore trail into a headwind all the way down to 73rd, praying that that headwind would be a tail wind on my way back. It was, and I was able to do 20 mph or so (at that point I was over 60 miles and held together by duct tape) back up to Bryn Mawr. Then went back down to Belmont. All told, a hair over 80 miles. Saddle time of 5:05, which isn't too bad considering all the stops and having to dodge tourists near Navy Pier. No idea what the ride time was, as my HRM crapped out on me, but I only stopped for about 20 minutes or so for whole trip. Had ideas to turn it into a century, but the 2 power bars and 4 gels i'd thrown down were about to make me puke, and really, I woulda crapped out anyways.
80 miles! New PR!
