The conditions were perfect for a ride to Belle Plaine, with SW winds picking up as the day wore on.
Here are some dull and boring stats from the ride.
Four of us started out together, with two planning on peeling off at various points in the ride.
It was really a pretty uneventful ride, with the exception of the outcome. At Jordan (40 miles) we were averaging 19.6 mph. After heading due south, from Jordan, into the wind, and climbing out of the Minnesota River valley we were averaging 19.7. The descent into Belle Plaine added .2 mph to our speed. Belle Plaine was the 51 mile mark and where the wind started to push us home, but the most difficult climbs were ahead of us. It was just Amy and me now. After climbing out of the river valley, this time from Belle Plaine, we enjoyed some relatively flat asphalt and regularly saw 25, 26 and 27 mph on the computer, but the old hairy legs had 65 miles on them and that delightful dull ache in my quads wasn't going away. It began in the quad and then slowly and insidiously wrapped around back into the hams. So very pleasant.
The East Union climb was short, but it hurt. I've come to believe that muscles breathe, and when they don't get the oxygen they want, they rebel. Just like a plastic bag with all the air sucked out of it, my muscles were contracting. I'd take extra large gasps of air expanding my lungs to their max, hoping that some of it would some how re-inflate my quads.
Now it was Carver. It's one hill hits you three times. Each one suffocating the life out of your legs. All this air around you and you can't get enough.
About a five mile reprieve and then some rollers into Victoria. God they hurt! This is about the time I went numb, which, I think, was a good thing. The climbs were pretty much behind us now, except for Christmas Lake and Purgatory Creek, but the worst of it? Over.
All this time, whose right behind me? 120 pound Amy. I'd get some distance on her on the climbs, but she'd latch back on never quiting. Tougher than tough, and like I've said before, pound for pound she kicks my ass.
Amy rode 112 miles. I got a century in. We averaged 20.6 mph. A personal best for Amy, and my best effort without any upfront help.
Like I said before, this means a lot to me, coming off a rough 2009. This is my fourth Hammer Hundred of this season. Amy hopes it's "out of my system now". Don't count on it.
I was thinking about you today MrDave.
The Effort As Measured By Salt Production
The Old Hairy Legs Turned Salty Today
2 comments:
That is so awesome. Well wrote, I could feel it. Some would not understand but when we report a good/great ride it isn't bragging, the buzz is just over whelming. You are kicking some butt on those rides. I don't know if Amy competes but she could do some domination.
Also let me say sincerely I so appreciate your kind words and thoughts. Your a good man, but aren't all bikers. :-)
All I can say is wow! To have such passion for those miles on the road is amazing. And then to add those killer hills on hammer rides....geez.
How come you don't treat yourself to a vacation in France riding the Alps? Go ride the Tour route...what the heck, you deserve it Tom.
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