Two Wheel Blogs

I hooked up with a diverse group today for a nice medium length ride between the rain storms. The common thread among this group was the will to enjoy a ride. There may have been other similarities among the riders, but none were as evident as the drive to ride (decent weather opportunities are hard to find this year).

It was a fun time, and everyone seemed to get what they wanted from the ride. I was feeling decent for a change, so I rode among three of the more spirited riders and we shared the effort and lodged playful attacks for a portion of the ride.

I took a few long pulls and rode myself inside out. Then tried to recover while not loosing the wheel of the other riders. It sounds silly perhaps, but it seems to get me in shape quickly.

Photo: 

And now for something completely different...

Last night was a beautiful night. The temperature was perfect, and try as I may, I could not possibly describe the perfection of the evening (so imagine if you will the greatest central Missouri has to offer).

My wife, kids, and I had just finished a great meal and went for a short walk that was interrupted by my 3 kids stopping at the creek at the end of the street and doing what boys do for about 45 minutes (playing in the creek, stomping in the knee-deep mud, and crawling through coverts from one side of the street to the other).

It's early Wednesday morning. I've probably missed my only opportunity to ride today. The 4am-6am window is now closed. Festivities ran just a little too long last night, preventing me from answering that call.

Meetings start in about half an hour. The day won't be over until after dinner, at which time I'll be spent. I'm the MC for this twice annual get-together. I know from experience at the end of the day the bottom will fall out. Ah well, that's business.

So no riding for me today. I'm not too concerned about it though. My training has been going well lately. How well, you ask? Pretty darned well, actually.

It must be Monday. We had one of those days here when any cyclist in his or her right mind would get out and ride. Me, I'm stuck in the office doing email and phone calls.

Not that it really matters. I've been sort of stuck riding one-handed for a while. Sort of. Remember that night ride a little over a week ago where I said I biffed and gotten thoroughly shaken up?

Well the good news is the collarbone is fine. I can still feel it if I move just so. I just try not to move that way and everything's fine. Everything else is pretty much fine. That is, everything except my right hand.

I went out for a trail ride today, and pretty much got what I expected. The ride was awful. I had no lungs, no legs, no strength, no skills, did I say "no strength"? The trails were muddy in spots (impassible), and the amount of downed trees following the ice storms from a few weeks back was amazing. I sucked so bad!

I did manage to get a couple images from the endeavor. The first is a rock ledge that I usually can negotiate...not today, the picture should explain. The second is a discovery from post-ride. I was constantly running over and through branches and many times they kicked up into my wheels, face, etc. Apparently, this one got in my wheel good, but the wheel won the battle.

The old thermometer ticked up a few degrees today. It almost felt like spring. I'm not sure why, but the difference between 30°F and 37°F feels like a lot more than 7°. There is a little unseen threshold in there somewhere. Once you cross over it, everything changes.

I don't think I'm the only one who feels this way either. I hadn't seen anyone cycling on the road all week. Not until today. At least someone got out for a ride.