biking - dark blue bike1:18:29 21.12 mi (3:43 / mi) +450ft3:39 / mi ahr:135 max:162 weight:139lbs
Balmy day, upper 40s, light breeze from the north. Drove down to West Springfield, did a loop down to Suffield, CT, gently rolling and no snow/ice along the edges, which was the point of going. Well, that and the chance to ride someplace new, which is always a draw.
I'd thought about combining it with a visit to the WCOC meet at Sessions, but with snow still in the woods I decided that there was a reasonable likelihood of slipping/falling, neither something that my back or butt would appreciate. So will wait for another time.
Good effort today, especially the second half coming back north. Trying to hold the same pace as the first half, and the difference between a slight tailwind and a slight headwind was certainly noticeable. Legs have had some energy recently. :-)
biking - rental (Austin -Diverge)1:30:14 23.52 mi (3:50 / mi) +617ft3:45 / mi ahr:125 max:154
Austin tour #3. From my niece's, over to the South Walnut Creek bike trail and out it for about 10 miles. Real nice, just one road crossing. A bit of a SW breeze picking up, noticed it on my way back.
Came back the same way for the first few miles, then Austin streets for the last few miles just for variety.
Another outing that was just plain fun. Love riding new places.
12 PM
biking - rental (Austin -Diverge)17:11 3.72 mi (4:37 / mi) +5ft4:37 / mi ahr:115 max:131
And then last ride of the visit, my niece's back to the bike shop to turn in the bike. Right through downtown. Lots of bike lanes there so no problem, but I was taking it extra careful anyway, didn't want to do anything stupid right at the end of the trip that would damage the bike or me.
Warmer today, sun just coming out after a cloudy morning, temps about 70. No complaints.
And good progress (as planned) towards 5,000. But it's about to get harder...
biking - rental (Austin -Diverge)1:57:36 30.17 mi (3:54 / mi) +741ft3:49 / mi ahr:119 max:145
Austin tour #2. Another fine day (especially compared to back home today), upper 50s, minimal wind. Headed north from my brother's on familiar roads and then at some point just started exploring, meandering around north Austin. Heading eventually for my niece's house in east Austin, but when I was getting close I hadn't been out long enough. So off for a bit more exploring, eventually getting to her place with the desired 30 showing on the Garmin.
Totally enjoyable. Minimal risk. And a lot easier doing the miles than it's going to be back home.
biking - rental (Austin -Diverge)1:37:06 24.48 mi (3:58 / mi) +671ft3:52 / mi ahr:124 max:145
Tour of a bit of Austin. Couldn't have been much nicer. Pleasant day, mid-50s, minimal wind. Riding in shorts. :-)
And Austin is pretty bike friendly, lots of places to go where you've got plenty of space.
Headed north on a route I knew from last year, went a little further than that time, plus wandered around in a few places just playing tourist. Wonderful way to see a city.
And a lot easier getting in a few miles than back home right now. :-)
biking - dark blue bike1:00:50 15.66 mi (3:53 / mi) +130ft3:51 / mi ahr:132 max:148 weight:139.5lbs
Today reminded me of why I've never really liked December -- cold, wet, just generally gloomy. Except it's still mid-November. My mood this morning seemed to match the day, gloomy. Had the usual Monday lunch with Dave, that brightened me up a little. But then a ride was on the agenda, and while it wasn't really cold (mid-30s), and there was only the slightest hint of a wind, and the inch of slush that fell overnight had melted, my enthusiasm was pretty low. But there will be days when it will be a lot worse, and I needed to get in a few miles.
Pumped up my tires before I left, had been about 40, got them up to about 55-60, better. Went off and meandered around the flats south of town, putting out a good effort which, when it's on the flats, I feel more in the legs than the lungs. And I certainly felt it in the legs.
And that was all good. Got home in a much better frame of mind than when I left. Thank you, juniors... :-)
That despite a moment of nervousness. At one point a truck came up from behind, waited while a car passed coming the other way, and then I could hear it accelerate. I could see another car coming the other way, but I wasn't sure how close it was because my attention was on a puddle just ahead. And I don't like to go through puddles because they can hide potholes of unknown size, and who knows what might happen.
So I steered as straight a line as I could, right along the edge of the puddle and, as I said, a bit nervous. In a moment I was past the puddle and could pull back to the right, and the truck was by me, and it was clear it had gone completely in the other lane and I had a ton of space.
It's a small town. People give me a lot of space. But I never take it for granted.