Today’s ride
Sunny today, about 60°F with 10mph winds. I rode the same route I did back on the 17th now that I have an odometer, just to record it, and, well, it’s a nice ride. I enjoyed it both days.
The odometer says it’s a 21.25 mile ride. I didn’t specifically check the time, but it seemed about the same as last time—2 hours and 20 minutes including breaks.
Somehow today, though, it seemed tougher. Maybe it was that the wind shifted as I rode presenting me with a headwind through the enitre damned ride. And I know it wasn’t just an impression. There are several flags and windsocks along the way and every time I passed one, it was in my face. Grrr. Still, I suppose it’s good training, if slightly less enjoyable.
It was nice with all the flowering trees and shrubs. One section was littered with petals that flew up as I pedaled by. Turns out, there’s a whole row of lilacs separating one Interstate on-ramp from the trail. They should burst open this week. Maybe I’ll ride back mid-week to have a look. It’s only about 6½ miles there.
Now that I think about it, isn’t this Lilac Festival week? Nope. Next week.
Anyway, I noted the differences in the trails today compared to last week’s Suday ride with Mark. As I said last week, on the west side everything is paved which makes for a nicer ride, with no gritty stone dust to clean out of the chain and gears.
This week I noticed though, that these trails are set back from the river and the canal, sometimes by a much as 100 yards. They follow the terrain more too. Undualtions more than hills, but they always seem to be unulating up. On the east side they’re billiard table flat for the most part and right along the bank of the canal. If you don’t pay attention, you can ride right into the drink.
Highlights of the ride: A kid on a brand new 20” bike that’s just a bit too big for him, looked about to keel over at the top of the hill where the lower river greenway trail joins the upper one. Forty-five minutes later I ran into him and his family again at the bridge over the river. Went up and over like a trooper.
Just before that, coming down from the canal trail, there was an old lady, big gray “Dame Edna” hair, wearing the brightest, pinkest pantsuit I’d ever seen (and a ruffled white blouse.) She was wobbling up, and wobbled into the weeds as I approached, but damn, she was doing it.
Low point: I ran out of water. Had two half-liter bottles with me and finished them both. I’ll have to take three next time. On the other hand, I pounded two glasses of Ovaltine (and another half-liter of water) when I got home and my legs feel pretty good. Must be something to that whey protein thing.
