Outdoor Paradise

Yesterday didn't start off so good. I was going to be meeting with a client in the afternoon to teach their kids. For that I use a game to help teach some basic principles. I'd loaned that game to someone, but I couldn't remember who - and when I finally did, they weren't home. I called to cancel the meeting with the client - and just then BowWow called me.

"Hey," he says, "I'm going for a ride, wanna come?"

To make a long story short, I decided to go for a ride with him and work out some of my frustrations. While heading to the meeting place, I ran into Bartman just getting home and extended the invitation for him to join us.

The three of us took off towards Leavitt for a quick little spin of 22km.

I was thrilled to be out on the road again. All of us were so thrilled to be riding again that once we got to Leavitt we decided to keep on going - we ended up doing 45km. When I checked later I discovered it had been almost exactly three months since I had been out on the road.

I don't even know how to describe my feelings on this ride - it took alot of work for me to hold Bartman's wheel on the Monson's Hill climb coming back. I did find that in general I was able to hang, but until the final sprint (right after Bart had pulled for the final lead-out) I never felt really strong. In the sprint I felt strong. My legs were really capable of going hard.

On the way out I did some high cadence work - in fact ran it up to 155 for half a mile (yes, I was doing a fair bit of "bouncing" in the saddle!) - on the way back I threw it into the big ring for the whole way back and worked on some power.

It snowed today, and so I was unable to get outside for another ride. I realize now, more than ever, that it's important for me to get out whenever I can. I need to ride outside! Yes, the computrainer is good, and I'm going to be working that hard so that I can get my weight down, power up, and reach some of the goals I've set for myself for 2007, but getting outside was good for my spirit. It really lifted me. Even if I have to fly somewhere warm for a weekend, I'll do it. I don't suspect I'll have to, as the weather around here does get warm with the chinooks (at least, warm enough to get out and ride. This is relative, some folks wouldn't ride in our "warm winter weather.")

I wanted to take some pics while we were riding, but my camera battery was dead. Oh well, next time.