SHADE OF THE CORN

Is it Thursday already? Wow! Last day of the work week. I'll take it. Tomorrow is a work holiday. Yeah! I want to ride.

I have 45 miles to my name this week. Had a KILLER ride 3 days ago (Monday) with Bill. We rode a nice 15 mile route that both of us know like the back of our hand.

Had a great clip going for a while. The temps were in the mid 80's, but the humidity was non-existent. Perfect weather for riding.

We started quick and kept going. The legs felt good, despite doing a 26 mile ride the day before. Strong and ready to ride. I love when I feel like that. It was invigorating.

Towards the end of the ride, we turned onto Roscoe Howey Rd. Nice, hilly road. Lots of downhills and not too many uphills.

The sun was starting to hang low in the sky. It was nearing 8:15pm. We rode along the farms that had corn growing on both sides. The corn stalks had to be 8 feet tall, if not taller! Gorgeous green stalks. Best looking corn I've seen since moving down here 3 years ago.

It was a picturesque scene. The shade from the corn stalks covered the road we were on. It was actually getting cool. Not bad for a late June ride.

It reminded me of that Kevin Costner cycling film from the 80's, "American Flyers." I felt like I was cycling through America's Heartland in Iowa. Miles and Miles of nothing but corn. It's a nice stark difference to the cityscape I work in each Monday through Friday. I get to come home and ride through farm-land.

The miles added up quickly. My legs felt good. My attitude felt even better. I cherish rides like this.

Nothing better.

FLATS Suck.

Flats suck. Anyone who has ever ridden a bike has experienced the "suck" of a flat tire. If you're lucky, it happens right at the END of your ride... If you're lucky, you realize you have a flat BEFORE you start your ride.

In my case, I was lucky that I was riding with about 25 other folks. 1 of whom had a spare inner tube, and knew HOW to fix a flat fast!

Bill and I drove about 30 minutes north of where we live to participate in a "group ride" consisting of 15 to 25 riders for an early morning Sunday ride of 26 miles. The camaraderie on these rides is wonderful. All different kinds of people from all different walks of life. We all share the joy of riding, which makes for a nice weekend ride.

So, as we all start heading out, I pop a flat. Hssssssssssssssssssssssssssss! is all I hear. The next word everyone heard is one I choose not to print here...

"Anthony," one of the organizers of the ride stops and asks if I have a tube and air. "No" is my response, as I mentally (and physically) prepared to sit this ride out. "No problem" he says as he takes out a tube and a CO2 cartridge from his seat bag. In under 5 mins, we were both back with the pack. (Anthony phoned the pack leader and asked them to "hold" for 5 mins while we caught up.)

Had a great (really fun) 26 mile ride with Bill and his coworker Scott.

After the ride, I tried to settle up with Anthony so I could replace his tube and CO2 he used to get me back up and running. "Don't worry about it," was his response. Nice guy. I'll definitely do that ride again.

Now I need to get a tube for myself and some CO2.

MORNING RIDES

Night time rides beat the morning rides. Hands down. I'll take what I can get though and roll with it.

Bill wanted to ride last night. I did too. The kids had waited all day to go to the pool and they wanted me to come, so, after dinner we all headed to the pool. Kids had a great time. I enjoyed watching them swim, jump into the pool, and just be plain goofy like only a 9 and 7 year old can be.

This morning I got out for 3 laps in the neighborhood. 9.97 miles. Let's say 10.

Almost at 100 for the month.

NEED 100 MILE MONTH

I was going to go out riding this morning. I really was. Not quite sure what happened. I was thinking more of going out running/walking. That failed to materialize as well.

Had a restless night. Tossed a turned more than I wanted to. Still getting used to the CPAP mask I have for my sleep apnea...

Went to an ENT Dr. yesterday and discoovered I have a pretty badly deviated septum. I always knew I was deviant. (At least my septum is...)

I have to schedule some surgery for this. Joy.

I have 5 days left in the month to grab 24 miles to make it a 100 mile month... ( I have had 150 mile WEEKS, let alone months.)

It should be easy enough to do. I'm hoping to get out tonight for a 15-mile ride. I dont' think we have anything going on.

July I want to crank out 200 miles. 200 baby!

41 and Riding Stronger Than Ever

I take great pride in the fact that I'm 41 and I still cycle. Not only do I still cycle, I now ride smarter, stronger, and faster than I did as a teenager and young adult.

Last night Bill and I got out for a 21 mile ride. We started a tad slow. Got warmed up quickly, and then hit our pace. Had a nice clip going for most of the ride.

It was hot. Not humid, but plenty HOT. I was sweating pretty profusely. Loved it. The post burn was even better. We ended the right with a SPRINT. (At least I did.... I think Bill was behind me cranking it out too....)

We ended with a 17mph average.

A year ago, we were averaging 15.5 - 16.0 mph. We were TRUCKING last night.

I'm in my 40's, but I can still kick some ass on that Cannondale of mine.

I like how cycling makes me feel young.

Any ride is a good ride.

INVINCIBILITY vs. WISDOM

Last night, Bill and I got a chance to head out for a "quick" 15-16 mile ride. I was stoked all day for this ride. A chance to get out and just enjoy the ride. Enjoy my bike. Enjoy the weather.

We started out quick. No warm up period apparently.

Surprisingly, we were both "on" last night. It clicked.

Bill set the pace. I followed. We were cranking out the miles. We were hauling. What a rush. We had a good 2-mile stretch where we never dropped below 25mph. It felt effortless.

I've been riding bikes now for over 35 years. Last night was a memorable ride. We averaged 18mph for close to 16 miles. That's a good clip on any day.

I love the fact that even in my 40's, I can still hold my own on a bike. I realize my days of feeling invincible are long over. I'm not in denial anymore about that. "Wisdom" has now replaced "invincibility."

Last night though, I felt shades of that invincibility return.

I'm always amazed at how EACH ride is inherently different. It may be 6 months before I feel this good after a ride again. That's fine with me. I have last night's ride under my belt. More importantly, I have last night's ride in my long-term memory.

31 miles down this week. It's only Tuesday.

2 DAYS.... TWO RIDES

I'm back! I'm back on my bike! What a rush! Now I remember why I ride. The natural high of getting some miles under your feet. The feeling of the wind hitting your face. The sweating your ass off feeling of getting a good workout. It's all coming back to me now.

I got out yesterday for a flat tire shortened 5.2 mile ride. Kinda bummed! I was just getting warmed up when I decided to stop at a Gas Station for FREE air for my tires. Unfortunately, their machine wasn't working. I found this out the hard way after losing some pressure in my back tire. Too much of a loss to continue riding. I had to call Kelly to come pick me up. I was bummed! SERIOUSLY bummed!

So, this morning, I got out for an AWESOME 10.56 mile ride around the neighborhood. I forgot how quite it is at 4:30am. :) My favorite time of day. Me, my bike, and quiet.

I cranked out the miles I did. My payoff was stepping on the scale when I was done. I'm back under 200 lbs! I was at 217lbs at my heaviest. My goal is to get to 180 by the end of summer. This week, I'm hoping to get down to 197lbs. I'm at 199.5 right now.

If I get back into this morning ride mentality, I can see 197 happening.

Let's see. :)

Hope everyone is doing well.

WORD IS, I OWN A BIKE...

2 actually. It's been a while since I've ridden either of them. Crazy.

I have been busy getting diagnosed by a Sleep Disorder Dr. and it turns out I have sleep apnea. Here I thought I was just tired because I'm tired. Nope.

So, with some "actual" rest under my belt in the coming weeks, I plan on getting the HELL BACK on my Cannondale and cranking out some fricking miles! It's been too long.

Stay tuned.

WHEN THE WIND WINS...

I hate when that happens. It doesn't happen often, but it did yesterday.

A big part of cycling (at least to me) is mental. Sure, the physical side can be a challenge, but more times than not, the mental side of cycling can either assist in a ride and make it worthwhile and memorable, or CRUSH you like you're a bug running through a stampede of buffaloes.

Sunday was a gorgeous day. Sunny, not too hot, but a bit humid. I snuck out for a 15 mile ride. The wind was noticeable that day, much to my chagrin. As it always does, I had the wind to my back for the 1st part of the ride. Glorious time out hauling around 20 to 25 mph. I knew though that the wind (now my friend) would soon turn into my bitter enemy as I made the turnaround right turn in a familiar ride that I can do with my eyes shut.

Sure enough, as soon as I cycled through the light on Rte 84 and turned right onto Rte 75, it hit me like a Louisville Slugger. THE WIND! "So much for my average," I muttered in between the "I HATE WIND" rants.

With 8 miles under my belt, I knew I had 7 more to go with a brute head-wind trying to break me. It didn't . I trudged on. I got all mental on the wind and won. I finished my ride with a 16.5mph average. A decent outing to say the least.

So, Monday morning I head out at 4:30am, hoping to get in 11 miles before work.

As I head down my quiet, dimly lit street, I feel it. MORE wind. STRONGER wind. WIND period! I wasn't in the mood. I was only 2 or 3 sips of coffee into my morning. "What the hell am I doing out on my bike," was a recurring thought going through my head... "Why?"

I muddled half heartedly through the first 3.42 mile loop in my neighborhood, fighting the wind at every turn. It's as if the old adage of "I walked 5 miles UPHILL... BOTH WAYS" was taunting me in the form of wind.

The wind won. I turned the cul-de-sac on my bike, but, as if a magnet were pulling me with tractor beams, I found myself dismounting and hitting the garage door opener and befriending my still warm cup of coffee, in the WIND-FREE environment of my home office.

I hate when the wind WINS...

APRIL = 200 MILES and 5.5 lbs LOST

April's been a good month. I hit my stride by getting back on the bike. It feels good. I rode 200 miles this month. It's been 8 months since I've totaled that kind of mileage. July of 2008. I rode 323 miles that month. 201 of them came in the 1 day "Booty Ride" for charity.

I am hoping for 250 miles in May. Shouldn't be out of reach. It's warming up. I'm getting out more in the morning, and with Kelly's play ending, I'll have a few night time opportunities to ride. Yeah!

I'm hoping Bill can join me for some of these rides. He's transitioning to some new jobs, so his schedule is a bit hectic. I know he'll miss riding, so I hope he can join me a few mornings.

I got out this morning for 11.3 miles. I cranked out on some tunes as I rode. Had one of my best averages (for riding in the neighborhood) I have seen in a while. I really pushed myself. The music helped.

I'm striving to lose 10 pounds in 6 weeks. If I stick to it, I can do this. Riding will help.