No Ride

Felt terrible all day. Got home from work at 2:30 and climbed in bed. I woke up at 5pm, ate a little dinner and have moved about 10 feet since then. This is very rare for me, but it has happened before. I think it happens because I've been eating badly, riding too much, and sleeping poorly. I'll eat better, sleep more, and keep my miles closer to 300 a week for awhile. 0/0

Riding On A Sunday

Met up with the Coffee Ride and cavorted with them for awhile, although all rules were followed. Got a flat, so once it was repaired I took off on my own. No reason to have everyone wait around and watch me fix it. Stopped at a bike shop or two (tires are $70 now). A little on the hum drum side, but....I was on my bike and with friends. 70/16.6

Windy Solo Century

I rode into uncharted territory today, at least for me. About 25 miles of this route I've never been on before. With the wind out of the west I headed straight into it. The sun was relegated to more of a strobe light by the clouds, and I did see some llamas again. There were 4 of them. They were each on a leash in a farmers front yard. I got a pretty close look at them since they were maybe 10 feet off the road. They're big! Nevertheless, I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to what I saw today.
There were no flying monkeys, but I did fight with the wicked wind out of the west.
Sled dogs are trained by tying them to a pole with a very short leash. I got a feel of what that might be like today. Out of my first 50 miles maybe 10 weren't head on into a 15-25 mph wind. More than once the thought crossed my mind, what the fuck are you doing this for? I was uncomfortable, not because I was working so hard, but I just wasn't going fast, and my leg speed was achingly slow.
Finally, finally I got to the western most point of the ride. I turned south and despite a tough cross wind, started feeling some freedom. I was off the short leash. At 50 miles my average speed was 17.7 mph. I stopped and got a Gatorade, and then started feeling the freedom. I don't think my computer knew what to do with speeds now registering over 20 mph. Another turn, and this time to the east...no leash...not even a collar. My bike even twitched with excitement. This is what we'd both been waiting for. 24, 25, 27, 30...Yes, this is what we were made for...speed and power.
The little towns came up so fast, first it was Lester Prairie, then New Germany already? It seemed like just a few minutes passed and I was in Mayer.
It's hard to know how much effort to put into the wind. It's easy to burn up all the energy you have, leaving nothing left for the wind aided finale.
The hard work was worth it, as the last half of the ride felt effortless considering the speeds being displayed in the middle of my handle bars.
At about 80 miles I started feeling my earlier effort, and 90 miles got me worried about even coming in with a 19 mph average. On Excelsior Blvd I got a little extra kick from somewhere, and was able to carry that onto the greenway and home.
The question, what the fuck are you doing this for? is now answered. I beat the wicked wind of the west. 105/19.6
Got to admit 20 would've been nice, but solo? with this kind of wind? I'm very pleased.

Who Knows

Ran errands on my fixie. 15?/??

Just Pedaling

My day was made up of going to the grocery store on my bike, running a few errands on my bike, and a short 30 mile ride this evening. I did kill a wasp, and destroyed two wasp nests. The wasps and nests make the blog, because they were in a storage bin on my balcony, where I keep my old wheels and tires. No chemicals were used just a 2x2.
Not a whole lot of passion pushing the pedals today. Just wanted to get some miles in. It was a good week with a total of 383 miles. Today 42/15.4

Second Hill Ride In Two Weeks

Played hard with the big kids tonight at the Birchwood hill ride. 44/17.1

Nostalgic And Slow

I rode along the river and down into Fort Snelling. Came back up along the trail to 54th Street.
Then I turned west moving between 54th and 60th street all the way to Xerxes. I was born on 58th Street. I went by my old elementary school, the house I was born in, and my junior high school all of which are on 58th Street. I saw homes of childhood friends, remembered names, relived first kisses, losing fights, playing baseball and riding my old Schwinn. I've done this many times over the years, it always brings a warm, fond, happy feeling.
After terrorizing my old neighborhood one more time on my bike, I stopped by my daughter's home and spent time with her and my grandson. He's 5 and showed me his hermit crabs, and told me that he likes silvered back gorillas, at the same time showing me how they stand. He pointed out that animals with round shaped eyes hunt during the day, and those with slivered shaped eyes hunt at night. I asked him when he hunted. He thought for only a second or two and said, "in the day". He showed me how to cheat at darts, and had a T shirt on with a picture of the Incredible Hulk. I asked him if he saw the movie and he excitedly shook his head yes. His mom wasn't as excited about it, because it was rated PG-13. Dads!
He walked me out the door, because he wanted to watch me ride my bike.
There is nothing...nothing...nothing like having kids. The joy of them as adults, with kids of their own, is just icing on the cake. 33/16.4 plus 12 miles for work