Alarm
Snooze
Alarm
Snooze
Alarm
Get up
Feed the dog
Prepare and eat breakfast-consisting of toasted English muffin with homemade marionberry jam and egg, banana, water
Put cycling clothes on
Let the dog out
Pump up front bicycle tire
Rotate back bicycle tire to pump it up
Notice that back tire has a bulge in it
Flat as a pancake
Pump it up
Let the dog in
Load the bike in the car-hoping the tire will hold air
Load me in the car with all gear, food, and drink
Drive to meeting point
Unload bike
Flat rear tire
Received help changing the tube (THANK YOU!)
Decided not to wear leg warmers
Decided to wear my windbreaker
Communication throughout the ride: Going! Stopping! Spitting! Trailer! (Laughing) 8 seconds!
Cheered on TNT runners running a mock marathon “GO TEAM! WOHOOOOO!”
Started up the 4 mile climb of Hilltop
Passed like I was standing still-which I practically was at 6.5 mph (but was asked “Good morning, are you doing ok?” by the passer
C-c-c-c-cold.
Wishing I had my leg warmers, wondering how I can wrap myself around my knees to keep them warm and still ride.
Glad I had my windbreaker
Cheered on to the top of hilltop by those before me and waited and cheered for those behind me
Gathered together and headed down the other side to the end of the pavement before Arrow Rock dam
Frozen by the time we hit the bottom-I’m sure my teeth were chattering
Warmed up as we got into the more sheltered area on the way to the end of the pavement
Hit the end of the pavement and turn around.
Get out of the sheltered area of the pavement and notice that it’s a little cool, but not too bad
Start climbing the mammoth backside of hilltop
4.5mph (uugh)
Tried to get my cadence up
Burning legs
Slowed down
Cheered up to the top without sucking wind
Clapped and whooped it up for those behind coming to the top
Allison met us at the top
Downhill and flat the rest of the way back to the car
Urban assault (Group sticking together to get through stoplights downtown)
Negotiation of traffic
Crossing the street and I almost fell over while traffic was waiting
Lots of Laughing, talking, enjoying the day
Feel great
51.3 miles
4 hours 6 minutes.
12.4 Average Speed.
32 Max Speed.
Total Miles on my bike: 1317.2
1 flat tire
Hmmmm. . . fairly accurate description, but I remember a lot of joyful and fun times, too!!! Perhaps we can read this tale from another perspective? What about the awesome urban assault and negotiation of traffic? The fun interaction with TNT runners? The teamwork and support for one another? :-)
ReplyDeleteYou rode awesome--it is not always about time--that was a pretty intense ride and I thought the team did great!!!!