LIVE, from the porch!

Yes, I am writing this while back in my old summer position, on the wicker rocking chair out on the screen porch, post-ride!

I've got a space heater going and at 50-ish outside it is perfect in here for my first return to the place I so love after a ride...my little screen porch in the city.


Today being the only good weather day predicted for the week I took the REAL bike out. Yes, carbon fiber hit the wind for the first time in 2011 as I brought out the Madone. I figure all the rain Sunday washed away the road salt of winter. 30 miles-clouds-50-ish


The start was sketchy today. Here I am trying to remember all the things on the regular bike, things like how the computer works and the shifting and just getting the 'feel' of the bike back when I notice I am getting onto Root River Parkway out of habit. I don't want to be there! Duh. Let me explain...


You see there is STILL snow (or some ugly black form of it) blocking the entrance to the Oak Leaf Trail where I get on, so I had to detour around that. Seems I forgot that I had wanted to head west on the New Berlin Trail today. I knew my usual south route would end up being flooded and muddy around Wimmer Wetlands.


So I did a U-turn in the parkway and headed back to Greenfield Park where I jumped onto the NB path, which is clear and dry.


My plan was to head out on the nice flat route, avoid any climbing and just get up to almost Waukesha, where I figured the path would be flooded. I thought that would make a good turnaround point.


50 degrees and a nagging west wind in the face on the way out made it a little tough. Sunshine would have helped. NOW it comes out as I type this. The ride was all clouds.


I knew it would be fun to ride fast for the first time this season on this stretch coming home because there would be a little tailwind.


I also nailed it on my flooding prediction.


Here is a photo of exactly where I figured I would be turning around.

Now if you take a close look you will see a runner on the other side of the pond taking off his socks and shoes. As I paused for a drink he waded through the water in his bare feet.


We chatted once he got over to my side about how this same spot always seems to be  flooded after any kind of heavy rain.


I have ridden through this before, but I did not want to get the bike into it this time around. I had it in my head that this would be my halfway turning point today and after our chat that is exactly what I did.


I like going fast.
Why does going fast have to take so much effort though?! My plan was to kick the Madone into the big ring where it belongs for the stretch and try to ride hard tempo for that entire flat stretch between Springdale and Calhoun. 


Now when I say fast, that for me anyway means 20 mph, so I tried to maintain 20 mph for the run. I made it most of the time all the way,  although it should never feel as tough as it did today. Such is being out of shape in March.


But as I often post here, "I'll take it."


The forecast for the rest of the week looks horrible with highs in the 30's and lots of rain...maybe some snow mixed in. One of these days winter will actually be done and the real riding will begin.


Season Miles: 168