Bicycle Diaries
30 years riding, 15 years writing
Winter Hiatus
We had a relatively mild Winter, it’s time to ride again.
MTB: distance 9.66 miles, average speed 11.6 mph.
Awesome ride!
Knew it from the first pedal strokes.
Today was one of those days that takes months to get to. Conditioning is a black art, after 17 years of bike riding for sport, I’ve yet to fully understand my body.
A few minutes into today’s ride, I knew my body could be pushed, so I mashed the pedals. If it wasn’t for having to slow down for small dogs with pedestrians, I would of broken over the 15 mph average speed mark.
MTB: distance 16.84 miles, average speed 14.8 mph.
Cramping up
My foot was cramping up on today’s ride.
By the end of the second lap, I could hardly pedal. I wanted to do a third lap but it was not to be, I had to ride back in and get off the bike. Even after I dismounted, it took me about 10 minutes to get my foot back to normal. Took a really warm shower and I’m feeling ok now, time to watch some football.
MTB: distance 14.90 miles, average speed 14.1 mph.
Warm Front
Oh, it’s warm again.
Thankfully the Bahamas decided to share some of it’s warm air mass with us in the Carolinas. It’s an absolutely beautiful day today and when it’s warm, it’s time to get suited up for a ride.
Though I’ve been off the bike for 3 weeks, I felt really good today. Whatever conditioning I have amassed this year, it’s still with me, maybe I’ll be able to keep it throughout Winter, at least that’s what I’m hoping for.
MTB: distance 19.20 miles, average speed 13.5 mph.
Clip left, lean left
Fall on face.
No matter how many years you ride, you’ll always have that brain fart. Like when you forget which side you’re clipped into or you can’t clip out soon enough when you really need to.
MTB: distance 14.05 miles, average speed 13.5 mph.
Lawn Day
Got up early to mow the lawn.
The leaves on the lawn told me it was time to mow and blow. It wasn’t that bad but it needed to be done, leaving them pile up was not an option. After I finished, I went for a ride, I bonked a few miles out, the light breakfast wasn’t enough fuel.
MTB: distance 13.11 miles, average speed 13.5 mph.
The Hawk
Bird watchers get out your binoculars.
The Hawks were out in record numbers today, so were the bird watchers. Our feathered friends were soaring high up and startling me on the inner trails by swooping too close for comfort as I rode by.
MTB: distance 17.49 miles, average speed 14.8 mph.
High Noon
By noon, it was time to ride.
Kept an eye on the closest Weather Station to my house, watched the temperature rise a couple of degrees every half hour. When it was almost 50F, it was time to suit up and get on out there. Stayed on the main trail at first, to warm up the body, then ventured into the woods.
MTB: distance 13.56 miles, average speed 13.5 mph.
Vitamin D
Oh, the warmth!
In the summer, I couldn’t wait to get under the shade of the trees to cool off. Now, I can’t wait to get out to open main trail and bask in the warmth of the Sun.
MTB: distance 19.21 miles, average speed 13.5 mph.
DST
Daylight Savings Time, I just hate it when we have to turn our clocks back an hour in the Fall. By 6 o’clock, it’s dark and the day comes to an abrupt end, sad.
MTB: distance 12.08 miles, average speed 13.9 mph.
Charlotte, NC
Spent 10 years in Charlotte, a block away from an entrance to the McAlpine Creek Greenway.
Switched to a mountain bike from the road bikes I was accustomed to riding for 15 years.
The time spent on these trails was most appreciated.
Trek Fuel 70
