The Voices

FOUR days in a row now out on the road and not even all that cold here in November. It has been quite a week.

25 miles on Sunday.
40 miles on Monday.
20 miles on Tuesday.
30 miles on Wednesday.

Today I did my Minooka route, which includes some climbing of course. Ouch. On sore legs that are already tired this week from a lack of training, the hills hurt today.

Then on the way in I was really getting worn out by the constant wind off the lake in my face. It made things a little cool, but in my heart of hearts I know we are on the brink of being trapped inside for months, meaning I would kill to be able to ride outside in a little cool wind like today.

Who says you can't see horses on an urban ride?

I do kind of feel bad for some of my fellow riders who would love to be out here with me taking advantage of a nice, mild November day on a bike. But alas, jobs get in the way and darkness comes early now as the clock ticks to Thanksgiving.

So that very thought is part of what fueled me to quit my whining on the way back.

Now, what's with the voices?

Well, that's the funny part of today's ride...my story of the day for you. While waiting to cross Calhoun there must have been some riders coming up on me from behind. Shortly after I crossed and started that long stretch to Springdale on the New Berlin Trail I swore I heard voices behind me.

With visions of it being that Beans & Barley rider I wrote about earlier this week and some riding bud of his, I, for whatever reason, decided to go hard tempo too make them work to pass me.

I dropped the Madone into the big ring while I myself dipped into a tuck in the drops and held a steady 90-93 rpm while turning 22's. I just kept going on that long stretch. At one point I thought about turning my head back to check because I hadn't heard a thing back there. Come to think of it, did I ever REALLY hear anything at all. Maybe I was doing all this for nothing. I should shoot a quick glance back. But wait, if they WERE back there then I'd be giving them 'the LOOK' and I really didn't want to send the message that I'm an ass up here!

Onward. Just keep going at this pace. So what if no one was ever back there...you've just motivated yourself to ride harder today then...that's what I told myself.

I made it to Springdale and eased up, pulled over and took a drink. Wanna guess where I looked first?

Indeed, there were two riders a pretty far way back coming toward me now. I was NOT hearing things back there. But as they got closer my bubble was burst. 

No, I had not dropped Beans & Barley dude. I had dropped a man and a woman, rec riders out enjoying the afternoon. 

What a stud I am huh?

I had to laugh at myself.

No ride Thursday. The last of the pre-winter yard chores are calling before the weather goes back into the dumpster this weekend.

Season Miles: 2,819