Here's hoping that the forecast for warmer weather by mid week is correct, because it was cold out there today. Still, sunshine and 35-37 degrees with dry roads and light winds equals a ride in March.
I took the old Trek 7500FX out into Elm Grove to turn some laps today and scored eight laps out there for a total of 23 miles. I hope to get several rides in outside this week.
These temps are such that I at times find it hard to believe how much snot the human body can produce!
50+ predicted for Wednesday. I hope that's right because perhaps I could get the Madone out for the first time this season.
When I do laps like this I have a little saying I say to myself to keep track of the number of laps I have in.
-Working 1, just begun
-Working 2, more to do
-Working 3, good for me
-Working 4, gotta do more
-Working 5, feeling alive
-Working 6, getting my kicks
-Working 7, feels like heaven
-Working 8, feeling great
-Working 9, doing fine
-Working 10, do it again
-Working 11, feels like heaven
-Working 12, more on the shelf (I know, it's a stretch)
Then if you go into the teens you just need a lot of words that ride with teen.
Season Miles: 138
Monday, March 14, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Madone Fever
Looking at the forecast for the coming week it looks like Wednesday could be a dandy with sunshine and 50+ on the docket. I am itching to get the 'real' bike out for the first time this season.
I am not sure it is clean enough out there on the road to have the Madone brought back into action though. I will have to play that one by ear when the time comes.
Daylight Saving Time caught me off guard this year. I had the old VCR set to record the final stage of Paris-Nice but it is set for the OLD time, meaning now I am off and I can not switch it because I am out of town. Luckily it appears that Versus is going to repeat the two hours of coverage on Monday afternoon.
I was able to watch the Saturday stage live on-line on my laptop. EPIC ending to a great stage. Brutal weather and a successful attack at the end marked by that wild 'almost crash' was some high drama. I liked the entire Paris-Nice race this year. It's great to see cycling on TV again.
I am not sure it is clean enough out there on the road to have the Madone brought back into action though. I will have to play that one by ear when the time comes.
Daylight Saving Time caught me off guard this year. I had the old VCR set to record the final stage of Paris-Nice but it is set for the OLD time, meaning now I am off and I can not switch it because I am out of town. Luckily it appears that Versus is going to repeat the two hours of coverage on Monday afternoon.
I was able to watch the Saturday stage live on-line on my laptop. EPIC ending to a great stage. Brutal weather and a successful attack at the end marked by that wild 'almost crash' was some high drama. I liked the entire Paris-Nice race this year. It's great to see cycling on TV again.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
False Start
March can be a very frustrating time of year.
Just when you think winter has released its cold grip and you get outside on a bike the next day it looks and feels like December again. Frustrating.
I wanted to try to get out Friday but other duties called. Saturday now and the wind is howling and the sky is ugly. No ride this weekend. No matter, again, other chores call.
The week ahead looks like a mix of dry and rain. But the good news is that the temps are at least supposed to be around 40 for much of the week. The last of the snow should be melting away from the bike paths.
I guess we could use a good rain too, washing away all the salt, grit, sand and grime from the the roads. Even getting rid of at least SOME of all that crap would help.
Don't forget...Paris-Nice conclusion to watch this weekend...my version of March Madness...let the pro cycling season in Europe begin!
Just when you think winter has released its cold grip and you get outside on a bike the next day it looks and feels like December again. Frustrating.
I wanted to try to get out Friday but other duties called. Saturday now and the wind is howling and the sky is ugly. No ride this weekend. No matter, again, other chores call.
The week ahead looks like a mix of dry and rain. But the good news is that the temps are at least supposed to be around 40 for much of the week. The last of the snow should be melting away from the bike paths.
I guess we could use a good rain too, washing away all the salt, grit, sand and grime from the the roads. Even getting rid of at least SOME of all that crap would help.
Don't forget...Paris-Nice conclusion to watch this weekend...my version of March Madness...let the pro cycling season in Europe begin!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Back to Botanical
Like visiting an old friend you haven't seen in a while I ended up back on my beloved Botanical Gardens route today.
Hazy Sun/Clouds
42 degrees
24 miles
I headed out today on the heavy old Trek 7500FX just to get back-to-back rides in before the rain and snow hit. I wanted to explore how clear my route to Whitnall Park actually was. I had to detour at the start, where the path at Bluemound is still buried in snow and ice.
But once around that, the only time I had to dismount was for a bit of an ice burg under the overpass at Wimmer Wetlands. The new blacktop in Root River Parkway is such a welcome change from the potholes I battled there for years.
As I turned into Botanical Gardens I suddenly decided that in honor of today marking the first climbing of this year's Paris-Nice race that I would go ahead and climb up my old friend "Barn Hill".
When I got to the top I decided to check on someone I know who works with the Friends of Botanical. She wasn't in, so I left a message with the nice lady I was chatting with behind the desk named Diane.
Having not eaten anything all day (I know, my bad) I had stuffed two granola bars into my jersey pockets as I headed out the door. Granola bars never tasted better as I munched on them inside the garden's new building.
I must tell you that throughout the season, of the 3,000 to 4,000 miles I ride, none are more beautiful than the ones I do in spring at Botanical Gardens when the crab apples are in full bloom and your legs and mind have a freshness about them that only comes at the start of another riding season. Soon enough the crab apples will bloom there.
But for now I was just happy to be out on those sloppy roads getting a taste of being back outside once again.
Season Miles: 115
Monday, March 7, 2011
Paris-Nice Inspired
Dark, dank and cold.
But inspired by watching the first stage of Paris-Nice on Sunday I went out and did 18 miles or six laps of the Elm Grove crit course.
I can not think of a single cyclist who could watch Sunday's stage and NOT be inspired watching Jens Voight in a successful breakaway. It was a fun stage to watch.
The thing I can not understand about the pros in this race is actually how little gear they are wearing. Bob Roll mentioned it was only 34 degrees as they rolled out of the suburbs of Paris. Chilly. But many looked like they were in the Tour de France in July, wearing only bibs. That's why they call this the race to the sun, because they leave the cold of Paris behind and end up in the warm sunshine of the south of France.
Meantime, it was 39 out there for me today and I had four layers on top!
I was plenty warm and felt good to be out there despite the poor weather. There is still a little ice on the roads too, so you have to ride with your head in the game. No shortage of road salt either, so I continue to use the third-string Trek 7500FX bike.
It's all good though...better than having to resort to the trainer, which I totally hate at this time of year.
Season Miles: 91
But inspired by watching the first stage of Paris-Nice on Sunday I went out and did 18 miles or six laps of the Elm Grove crit course.
I can not think of a single cyclist who could watch Sunday's stage and NOT be inspired watching Jens Voight in a successful breakaway. It was a fun stage to watch.
The thing I can not understand about the pros in this race is actually how little gear they are wearing. Bob Roll mentioned it was only 34 degrees as they rolled out of the suburbs of Paris. Chilly. But many looked like they were in the Tour de France in July, wearing only bibs. That's why they call this the race to the sun, because they leave the cold of Paris behind and end up in the warm sunshine of the south of France.
Meantime, it was 39 out there for me today and I had four layers on top!
I was plenty warm and felt good to be out there despite the poor weather. There is still a little ice on the roads too, so you have to ride with your head in the game. No shortage of road salt either, so I continue to use the third-string Trek 7500FX bike.
It's all good though...better than having to resort to the trainer, which I totally hate at this time of year.
Season Miles: 91
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Paris-Nice
Just a reminder that Paris-Nice, a week-long stage race kicks off this weekend and you can watch coverage on the Versus channel. Coverage starts at 3:00 our time Sunday. Set your recording devices.
And remember that Team Radio Shack's Matthew Busche of Tosa has been selected to the team for this spring classic. He'll be riding in support of Levi it would seem.
As for me, I was a lazy slouch this past week. The weather had me down and twice I passed on getting on the trainer inside.
I think once the sun comes out a little more and the temps finally get up to at least the low 40's with cleaner roads I'll be more inspired to start riding outside.
It's just a little too early yet to be out there, and I'm so burned out on doing "Carmichael's" that I am sort of in a funk when it comes to cycling right now.
Looking forward to Paris-Nice though. The coverage starts at 3:00 p.m. all week long on Versus.
And remember that Team Radio Shack's Matthew Busche of Tosa has been selected to the team for this spring classic. He'll be riding in support of Levi it would seem.
As for me, I was a lazy slouch this past week. The weather had me down and twice I passed on getting on the trainer inside.
I think once the sun comes out a little more and the temps finally get up to at least the low 40's with cleaner roads I'll be more inspired to start riding outside.
It's just a little too early yet to be out there, and I'm so burned out on doing "Carmichael's" that I am sort of in a funk when it comes to cycling right now.
Looking forward to Paris-Nice though. The coverage starts at 3:00 p.m. all week long on Versus.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Ill wind blows
As Sinatra sings, 'Ill wind blow. You're blowin' me no good." And it was no good out there today.
Still, a 39-degree day with sunshine and roads that are 75% clear in March means that if I can squeeze in a ride I'll do it.
I got 12 miles in this afternoon, although I had to detour off my usual Elm Grove route because one of the roads was blocked by ice.
The wind was kicking up 12-20 and it really made things feel cold. I never got into any rhythm but just gutted out a dozen knowing that tomorrow the high temp is only supposed to be 28.
Season Miles: 73
Still, a 39-degree day with sunshine and roads that are 75% clear in March means that if I can squeeze in a ride I'll do it.
I got 12 miles in this afternoon, although I had to detour off my usual Elm Grove route because one of the roads was blocked by ice.
The wind was kicking up 12-20 and it really made things feel cold. I never got into any rhythm but just gutted out a dozen knowing that tomorrow the high temp is only supposed to be 28.
Season Miles: 73
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