Rollin'

Took Rocinante out today for a ride of 8.46 miles, on a west Madison bike trail. Starting out was a breeze, the first 3 miles more or less flew by; my only minor crisis was trying to plow across a patch of half-melted ice. I didn't crash, but considered it for a moment. Then I turned back in the direction I had come, and realized I had fallen for one of the most basic tricks cycling can lay for one: I had been riding with a tail wind, and presuming the results were all due to my suddenly-sound cycling legs. Once I went into the wind, I remembered it all, the times it was so damned hard. Which also inspired me to try harder; better to bonk here, in sight of home, than 40 miles out.

But it wasn't that bad, no real risk of bonking, just tiredness, and I did my 8+ miles in 49 minutes, which means a 12-hour century if there are no hills. Still I walked into the house on only slightly rubbery legs. So there's a lot of hope -- with four months+ to go. If I ride everyday . . . . Or mostly every day. It is encouraging that my butt doesn't hurt at all. I attribute that to the good saddle on my bike and the padded shorts -- though that meant I had to endure the laughter of my 13-year old daughter Anna as I prepared to depart; of course, she usually tries to find things to taunt me about, so the spandex shorts, cleated shoes, and helmet were simple gimmes.



The Wii fitness machine was very impressed with me yesterday, and my loss of 4 pounds in the past couple days. Of course, this is all the easy stuff now.