Spring is Fickle

Yesterday and the day before we were basking in temperatures in the 60s, so it felt like cruel and unusual punishment to be back in the 40s with overcast skies and blustery winds. This made motivation especially hard, but it was well worth it. I took a new figure 8 route on familiar roads to get my distance up to the mid 30s. This was my first time on Ringwood coming from Ellis Hollow Creek Rd. and my first time on Snyder Hill Rd.

Who cares about the weather? Bring it on!

Bonus Training, Glorious Weather

After 3 1/2 months of cycling in sorts of less-than-ideal conditions, it's easy to forget what perfect weather riding is like. Well, today was one of those stellar days that foreshadows what will surely be a long and superb summer of riding. Temperatures in the low 70s to upper 60s, low humidity, barely a cloud in the sky, long shadows and a picture-perfect sunset...what more can you ask for? Not only that, but this was an unexpected bonus ride, the kind of lucky break that you just HAVE to embrace.

I've been thinking a lot about Ernie's comment about avoiding the number roads, and tonight I took the comment to heart, taking the low-traffic Van Ostrand to Munson, instead of taking Rt. 34 all the way to Gulf Rd. In spite of the fact that 34 has a smoother road surface, Van Ostrand is much more fun, and less traffic means that you can enjoy the scenery even more. The chip seal pavement is really in pretty good shape as well.

I'm really happy with my time tonight (20.3 mph average over 25.6 miles), as well as with the 11-tooth cog in my new cassette, which gave me a couple extra mph on the final East Shore descent.

Tomorrow is the cycling component of the Empire State Senior Game, which is happening at the Hollenbeck's course in Virgil, and I'm marshaling, and then Sunday is the Lakefest race in Whitney Point, so it's a very velo weekend!

Weather Gods are Smiling

How lucky can a guy get? Wicked rains all day have everyone grumbling, but trusty doppler tells me that my highly anticipated after work ride is ON! Just check out this map—In about 1 hour this mess will have mostly cleared. Cool temps will make for a perfect training ride, as I prepare for the Lakefest race on Sunday at Whitney Point. Onwards!

Motivation on a Grumpy Day

The combination of a miserable work day and the unseasonable weather (once again a grim, gray, rainy mid 40s day) had me wanting to crawl under a rock after work. A year ago I probably would have laid low, but the more I ride, the more I need to ride and push myself in spite of all obstacles, perceived and real. Part of the reason probably is that every time I push myself out the door, the end results are so positive that I just know it will be worth it.

Today's ride was yet another case in point, a slog up to Lansing and toward Dryden, followed by an upbeat, blistering pace through Freeville and back on Rt. 13 past the airport, then back down Oakcrest, Cayuga Heights Rd., Sunset and Remington. Halfway through the ride, the heavy gray clouds started to slowly separate, finally revealing some hopeful patches of blue. This was such a restorative training ride, and a mighty fine loop worth revisiting.

Stats:

Distance: 32.55 miles

Avg. speed: 19 mph

Vertical ascent: 1679 ft.

Calories burned: 2279 kcal

Max. speed: 33.9 mph

Time: 1:42:55

Do I Have To?

I've reached the point of feeling obliged to ride every day, rain or shine, howling winds and blinding snow...IN MAY! This weather is getting ridiculous, and it's really hard to get amped up for rides in these conditions. A short weekend ride started off with sunny conditions, but rapidly deteriorated. Halfway through the ride it started raining, then sleeting, and limbs were falling all around me as I had to avoid all manner of small branches and organic matter on the roads. The downhill that normally gets me up to around 40 mph had me braking and swerving all the way down.

Please, jet stream, find a different deviation. This cold weather gear is getting annoying.

50 degree difference

How strange it was to be cycling with temps in the upper 80s today, an April Fool's Day joke deferred. Early this week I was riding with chilly knees with temps in the upper 30s. Kind of hard to comprehend, but I'm not complaining. It is a bit of a shock to the system, and if that weren't enough, I was fighting straight line winds in the 20+ mph range. My friend the wind practically pushed me up to Terpening Corners in Lansing, and I got there 4 minutes faster than usual. It was a two-water-bottle day, and I was parched by the time that I returned home. Lots of other cyclists on the road, but interestingly very few of them were in Lansing. For some reason, Ellis Hollow is much more popular than Lansing, Dryden and Freeville, which is just fine by me.

I was feeling pretty low energy for most of the ride, and it was a gargantuan struggle to keep the pace, especially on the Ringwood climb. This ride was my final push to ride 400 miles in my first month of the cycling season, and I'm short of that goal by just under 4 miles. I'm more than pleased with this pace, and now I can relax about being off the bike for 5 days, a well-deserved break.

Today was also the true test of my new helmet and shoes. The ventilation on the Giro Atmos is truly stunning, and there were moments on some of the climbs that I forgot I was wearing a helmet at all. The design is well worth the extra dough, though if you're looking for one of these helmets, check ebay carefully and be patient. Why pay $170 when you can get it for around $130? My Louis Garneau shoes also proved their worth. Today I finally had the opportunity to ride with the vented insoles, and I can assure all skeptics that it works as promised. The feets stayed cool throughout the ride, and meant that the old dogs didn't swell up at all.

One month down now, and eight months to go!

Between 3/6 and 4/3, I have:

• cycled 396.74 miles
• burned approx 21,000 calories
• climbed 21,968 ft.

Time to chill.

One Person's Dreary...

Excuse me, Accuweather. "Dreary" is a very subjective adjective. If the high temp on March 12th is actually 48, I'll call it "Dreamy." I'm targeting this date as my first hill climb of the year. Remington, here I come.