Two Wheel Blogs

Countdown to the Tracks 'n Treads Biathalon: 22 days

Route: Marine Loop
Miles: 32.9
Time: 2:01
Pace: 16.2 mph

Today was a clear, sunny day, and it looked warm out. I know, because I spent the better part of the day looking out the window at work, wishing I could be out riding. So as soon as I could get home from work, I suited up and headed out. I could've done a Belk Park loop in an hour, but I figured I had two hours to ride before it got too cold or dark, so I decided to do the Marine Loop instead.

I did not wear my heaviest gear. "That would be silly," I thought, as that was the gear I wear when it's really cold out. I guessed that the temperatures were in the high 40s, if not the low 50s. "Surely I could get by wearing less," I told myself. "Yes, you can," I said, "and stop calling yourself Shirley."

I felt chilly as I started out. I figured I just needed to ride for a while to get warmed up. And, in truth, by the time I left the Quercus Grove trail for Fruit Road, I felt better -- especially as this got me out of the tree-lined trail and into the sun. Unfortunately, this also put me heading straight into the wind, which held my pace down. Not that I was exactly tearing it up. Once I turned onto Marine Road, the wind was at my side, and that helped me pick up my pace a little. I was comfortable for the first hour.

As I headed south on Lower Marine, the sun was starting to set -- fast -- and temperatures were going down with it. Twenty minutes later, I was starting to feel cold. Twenty minutes after that, I was really cold. All I could think about was all the really warm gear I'd left at home, gear I could have been wearing right now. I thought of my heavy jacket, "The Furnace," much warmer than my light yellow windbreaker. I thought of my heavier gloves, "The Penguin Flippers," that could have be warming my fingers. I thought of my balaclava and the box of handwarmers and toe warmers sitting on the bedroom floor. I could not get home quick enough.

Finally, I left the county roads for the Madison County bike trail that would take me home. At this point, I put my head down and pedaled with all I had. One thing drove me on: the knowledge that a hot shower pizza, New Belgium Two Below Ale, and THE HURT LOCKER were awaiting me at home. When I reached the summit of Locust hill, I was done. I rolled up the drive, carried the bike inside, and headed for the shower.

Not that this was a particularly hard ride, but I was pleased to have average 16.2 mph. If I could have ridden faster, I would have been able to get home in under two hours, so I would have been warmer sooner. But last year at this time, I was still waiting for my first outside ride. This was my third this week. I like the way this year is starting.