Carrot legs & the family reunion

One of the most satisfying things about cycling to me is the fact that you never know what each ride will bring you. Today my ride brought me joy and plenty of stories to share with you. THIS is what summer is all about. A ride. A post-ride lunch of chicken salad, red grapes and watermelon chunks after a shower and then the ritual of writing up a ride post out on the screen porch with a large lemonade at my side.


Before I left today I told my wife about a running gag I have regarding Saturday rides in Whitnall Park. I decided that is where I would go today to check out all the people at picnics there. I explained to Sandy that there is a bubbler in a picnic area right in the middle of what is my crit course there.


Over the years while riding here on a Saturday I have stopped there for water as a large family gathering was enjoying a party in that same area. Not once has anyone offered me something cold to drink. Not once. Seems odd to me. 
I told Sandy that maybe today would be the day that someone would actually offer a hot cyclist something to eat or drink from their party.


But before I get to what happened there, I must first share the first of the carrot stories with you.


Not far into the ride I picked up a couple of roadies wearing matching gold-ish in color jerseys that said 312 on them. After they passed me I decided to stay within shouting distance. This meant picking up the pace to about 19 mph to hang with them once I caught them. I like to take situations like this and use them to push myself to ride a harder tempo than normal.


I have found this summer that I am slower than ever, getting much too comfortable in the middle ring most of the time going 15's. Not today. Today it was like old times. Big ring. Hard tempo. The two riders stayed on the path while I went straight at one point on the Oak Leaf Trail.


While waiting at the light at Highway 100 I figured I would see them cross on the path a couple of blocks down. After a couple of minutes...boom...there they were. The chase was on again for me.


I kept repeating in my head to myself, "Bridge...bridge....breathe...bridge....bridge...close the gap nice and steady."


I was able to catch them a second time when they slowed at an intersection. Then this time for some reason I ended up taking the point. So there I was turning 19's in front working hard and they were having a nice little conversation back there. Then it went quiet. They must have turned off. I appreciated having them to use as my carrot to chase.


Into Whitnall Park I saw about a 10-point buck just meandering down the side of the road next to me. Then another few miles down the road I saw three more deer eating.


When I started doing laps there they were...a family gathering right where I had predicted there would be one today. I did two laps hard to make sure they saw me before I pulled off to get water.


There must have been 50 people there and it appeared as if they were all in the process of gathering for a large group photo. I got a few looks as I pulled out a Powerbar and stretched my legs at a nearby table.


A cute young girl in a sun dress gave me a shy glance a couple of times. I thought to myself, "This could be it. This could be the moment when someone, after all these years of doing this, was going to offer me a cold drink!"


"Would you mind taking a few pictures for us?"


Are you kidding me? That's why you were looking my way?


Sure. Who can say no to a cute girl in a sun dress on a summer afternoon? She piled two smart phones into my sweaty, gloved hands and showed me where to snap.


I proceeded to take numerous pictures for them with both phones. Then another lady from what I believe was the Hansen clan came out from her pose and asked me to take more pictures with HER camera.


I did.


Then I pointed the camera at myself and took a picture, giving them all a laugh. As I filled my water bottle a guy walked toward my bike and was looking at it. Maybe this would be the one to ask if I wanted a soda!


"Just checking out your wheels," he said. Then he proceeded to tell about his bikes. Then I filled my water bottle up and mounted up. Someone yelled out thanks. That was it. Not a single offer of food or drink. My streak stays in-tact. I don't get it. But that seems to be the norm.


Getting closer to exiting the park I saw a sign that said Landworks at what appeared to be a company party. I pulled in because my wife has an old friend of hers that owns that company and I wanted to see if indeed it was her company. As I pulled in I saw her at a table and we chatted, having not seen each other in years. It was a nice chat, but again, no offer of a cold drink. Good thing I wasn't thirsty or low on fluids on this ride.


Then the second carrot was dangled in front of me on the way back in Root River Parkway. Approaching Loomis I looked up only to see what appeared to be an amazing pair of legs riding at me in the opposite direction. (Not a guy's legs either!) I never in that glimpse even saw what those legs were connected to. All I remember is thinking to myself, "Why aren't legs like that ever ahead of me? Why are they always just passing me from the other direction?"


I rode on to Loomis and then decided that my body felt pretty good in the heat. It was time to push again. I would hit the hammer (as much a hammer as I have these days) and ride hard in an attempt to see if those legs were somewhere ahead yet. She had a big head start on me, so this seemed a little foolish. But what the heck? A carrot to chase is a carrot to chase, right?


For a long time I held a steady 20 mph as was working to do that. Nothing in sight up ahead. I forged on hoping it would pay off, making this a game of sorts now.


Then I saw someone...yes...a rider up ahead. Maybe it was legs. 
I pushed on closing the gap rather quickly only to find it was a dude.


I passed him and pushed onward. After a couple of miles I saw something ahead again. Yes. Maybe this was legs. Keep pushing.


I caught her. It wasn't legs. It was an elderly lady.


I was pretty gassed and nearing Greenfield Park by this time so I gave up any chase, knowing that the carrot in the shape of nice legs served me well today. For the first time in a while I rode with purpose today. Rusty, but it felt good.


Partly sunny and warm
84
Wind 5-10
Whitnall Crit 2 laps + Loomis Loop, 31 miles (15.5 mph ave)


Two years ago seeing that average speed would have been a disaster. Now days, I'm quite pleased with my effort today.


So lets review shall we?


--No one at a family picnic has ever offered me a cold beverage yet
--Nice legs make a good training carrot to chase
--I'm slow
--I still love the simple joy the adventure of a ride can bring.

Season Miles: 1,468