One day early

Season Miles: 1,785

53 miles
14.8 ave. speed
80 ave. cadence
Dousman
Sunny, 80, wind 5-10

There is an unwritten rule that many cyclists follow that you should ride your age on your birthday. I did it a day early. I did it today instead of on my 53rd birthday tomorrow because my schedule allowed for me to take the extra time for a longer ride today. And what a day! Not a cloud in the sky from the time I left at 11:00 until I got back home at 3:00.

As I left today I literally had no idea where I was going to ride. All I knew was that I felt a little tired and had a PB&J stuffed into my jersey pocket.

At the last second I decided to go west instead of south,  heading toward Wales where I thought I might eat my lunch if I could make it there. Like I said, I wasn't feeling the best as I started out.

But the ride came to me and it became clear that I would ride out to Wales for lunch and then back. After grabbing lunch there the thought of making this my birthday ride took over in my head and my goal quickly became to go 53 miles today.

Next I rode from Wales to Dousman where I stopped in at Bicycle Docs for a bottle of water and a couple of packages of Bloks. Boy was I glad I had remembered to stuff a $5.00 into my saddle bag. Black cherry and cran-raz to keep me fueled up on the way back.

(Dear Maker of Bloks,
I love your product but for the love of God would you please make the package easier to open?! I struggled for four minutes trying to rip the package open with my teeth!)

I rode back to Wales and stopped again there for more Bloks and water. It was a short stop because I knew I would hammer it from Wales to Waukesha on that slight downhill portion of the path.

Boom. I was on it and feeling good.


I have ridden my new Specialized Roubaix now for a week and it really feels like MY bike now. Today's ride was a great example of what I think this bike is all about.


On the way UP the false flat into some wind toward Wales I rode easy and in comfort, as I did at the end of my ride too. But in the middle in that section from Wales to Waukesha I put the Roubaix into racy mode and she responded. So did I.


At one point after holding a steady 22-23 mph I was starting to feel really gassed. Seeing a clean chunk of path ahead of me yet before the next stop sign I told myself no, you are not stopping yet. I dropped  into the drops and said to myself, "You're kicking 53 year's-old right in the ass... right here, right now."

I dug deep to push the last little bit out of myself, and then I was done.

Waukesha to New Berlin Trail sitting up, and one more push on the Roubaix toward the end of the path.
Then it was just a matter to taking it easy coming home.


53 miles was just enough too. The last mile I had the long muscle that runs down the inside of my left thigh about to lock up. If that happens you're done. In some cases you have to get off the bike. I babied it home and hit 53.5 miles a day before my 53rd birthday. Mission accomplished, which I have done for the past few years.


Under that brilliant blue sky I quietly thanked the Lord that I am healthy enough to have done it again this year.