Thats What They Mean By...

Yesterday was one of those days. You know how some days the thought of putting your bike shoes on and heading off just seems like a lot of work. When you would rather get a movie, eat some taco bell, make a drink, and lay under a blanket for the rest of the day instead of go riding. On the flip side there are days all you think about is how soon you can get off work. How nice it is going to feel being in the middle of nowhere with nothing but daydreams and the silent hummmmm of tires rolling. You get excited at work thinking about that one obscure road that you don't know where it goes and today you studied a map and are going to take it with no regard to where it actually goes or how long it will take.

Well yesterday I had the later. At work all could think about was going for a ride. I knew it was warm out, I could wear shorts and jersey, the wind was soft, and I had nothing but time. I wanted to ride long and at a moderate pace, so my mind started to wonder as to where I could go. I wanted a new route so I studied a map and picked a route out to Wrightstown. I knew where a gas station was and that gave me the confidence that I could replenish fluid or calories if needed. I had about 4.5 hours of sunlight so however far it was I should be OK.

I think the saying goes, "motivation is great but you still gotta have the legs". It was just under 35 miles to Wrightstown. At 30 miles I knew it was going to be a long hard day. I couldn't turn around since the only place to fill my bottles was still 5 miles ahead. I brought 2 gels and that wasn't going to be enough. I got into Wrightstown had a snack, filled bottles, and headed back. Wouldn't you know the wind picked up, guess which way I was riding against. It wasn't a hard wind but I was hurting and it was enough to make me curse it. It was flat, I was struggling to hold 16mph.

About half way back I picked up a couple riders. A little group of three rolling along. Chatting and making friends took my mind of my legs. We talked about riding, how many miles we had in for the year, different group rides, then we stopped talking. To all the guys who read this and ride I am sure you know what happened next, pace line. We got going. I just told myself the faster I went the sooner I would be back. With the rest in between turns at the front and drafting I was able to go and in what seemed like no time we were at the turn off and my new acquaintances were gone. I wish they had gone farther because once they were gone and I was alone, I was blown. I was 7 miles from home and I couldn't pedal downhill. At 2 miles left I took my last gel pack, 2 miles left, and I had to take a gel. I have never done that. With about .5 mile left it was downhill to home and I was done. 65 miles in 4 hrs, not a blistering pace but it was all I had.

It was just an awesome ride and I am still smiling today.