She had speed skater thighs

Season Miles: 1,906

30 miles/Minooka
15.4 ave. speed
84 ave. cadence
Sun, COOL 62-68, Windy out of east off lake 12-15

First, a public service announcement about the New Berlin Trail. Due to WE Energies utility work there is a sign posted as of today that says the trail will be closed between Calhoun and 164 from Sept. 12 though 23. So I guess I'll be riding to the south and back for much of this month.


-A new sleeveless base layer from Rainbow Jersey
-A short-sleeved jersey
-Arm warmers
-Sleeveless wind vest
...and I was still chilly at times today, with a starting temp of only 62 and no shortage of east wind off the lake. My how quickly the weather changed.


I made a PB&J and headed out for what I thought would be lunch in Wales.
But as I made my way easily down the NB Trail I realized that all the wind would be in my face coming back. There was no way I wanted to battle wind all the way home from Wales today.


Game plan changed. I would ride the hills to Minooka Dog Park and beyond instead.
All I wanted to do today was get my legs back under me after the long holiday weekend of doing nothing.


I ate the sandwich at the dog park, then headed out for part two of the ride. That's when, as usual, some thing or some one made for a story for me to write about here.


On that long stretch heading east from Springdale to Calhoun a woman passed me. I think I have seen this woman before because she stands out for a couple of reasons. Today she stood out because the first thing I saw after she passed me was her pink SLEEVELESS top. Are you kidding me? I've got three layers on and she's rockin' skin? And not just any skin either. No, this woman had a bronze tan to die for.


She also stands out because she is tall and doesn't wear a helmet. And then there are those legs. Speed skater thighs I thought to myself. Muscles like you wouldn't believe.


I decided to chase her down and hang behind her, which took  me doing 19's into all the east wind. No easy task, but on she went. Then as I rode behind her it occurred to me that this woman had sort of a throwback 80's look to her, as if she would look perfectly normal with one of those old spider web helmets on her lid.

She wore cycling shorts that appeared to be a little too short and old. It looked as though she wasn't wearing socks either. Those long, tan muscular legs just went all the way down into her shoes.

But it was her speed skater thighs bulging with muscles that were most impressive. Her legs made mine look like pale little bratwursts. 


At one point she had to wait for traffic and I had been riding behind her. As I caught up I was going to ask her how in the world she wasn't cold riding into that wind with bare arms. But every time I got near she was ready to take off, always seeming to be in a hurry to pedal hard again.


I felt like I should have passed her then and pulled for time, but quite honestly I was worried that once I got up there I would be going too slowly for her and she'd pass back. Not cool. Besides, when wondering if I should pass her I had to ask myself, "Why would you really wanna do that anyway?"


I bet I see her again. I swear I've seen her before on that path. She sure is a strong rider...her and her sleeveless, helmet-less 1980 look.