There. That’s better.
Rest days work.
After Friday’s rest day, I was up early and out the door at sunrise for the long loop to work. I took Yellow Bike and we had a really nice ride, watching the sun rise on a day that had been forecast as cloudy was a nice little bonus. Along the way, birds and critters were out everywhere.
We made remarkably good time all the way to the turn at St. John Fisher College. In fact, the time to that point was right on par with late season riding. It’s amazing for early season. But, turning into the wind and with that little grade back into the city, my lost endurance showed. By the time we hit Clover St I really had to work to make my par speed for that section, and even then had trouble holding it for 100 yards, if that.
Still I was buoyed, rather than dismayed. I felt so much better knowing all I really had to work on was endurance. That’s easy. Just ride lots. I had been concerned I might have lost speed and power over the winter, but that seems not to be the case.
In the afternoon, I stopped home and swapped bikes, taking the Portland over to the Roundhouse in Genesee Valley Park to meet someone from the forum. He’s also car-free, so I felt it more appropriate to take my workhorse bike. We returned using the meandering route through the cemetery, then along the north side of the hills to Culver Rd.
Today it’s cold and there’s an icy wind right off the lake. I had pretty much decided to bag it, but then the sun came out. I couldn’t resist. I put down my book and took out Blue Steel for a spin. We did the long loop in reverse, heading out East Ave first.
Again, I was really pleased with my times, and that we even got in a little big ring action. But turning into the wind at the park, the cold got to me. The wind had teeth like icicles. It was better once we got to the city and turned across it, but by then I was chilled through.
Yet, when I logged the ride, we were one MPH faster than with Yellow Bike yesterday. How ‘bout that?
Even so, it’s taken a good hour to get warmed through. I even opened the valve on the radiator here in the kitchen. All that heat and the sun streaming in the windows feels nice—nice and dozy.
Hey! The sun is shining right across the couch. That looks inviting…
