Monday 1 December 2008

My Epic Sunday Ride.

The weather has been cold, windy and wet for weeks. There has been some decent riding but lots of misery, too.

The plan was to ride from home on Saturday, drive out to the in-laws Saturday night and ride 5.5hrs in the mountains on Sunday. The weather was shaping up to be great. I'd been off the bike for a bit and I really wanted to ride.

I did 3 hours from home on Saturday as planned. I'd been sick for a few weeks and had actually dropped some weight in the process. Not my original strategy but I'd take it. I was worried I'd feel the time off and that the infection might still be lingering. I felt a lot better than expected.

I knew the next day would be a harder ride so I held back a few times when all I really wanted to do was crank it up and see how long I could put out some juice. I wanted to know what was in the tank. I did a few jumps and a couple of 5min pieces but mostly solid, steady tempo. I was still itching when I got off the bike.

Went to lunch with the family, watched SpongeBob and was in bed by 8:00.

Brilliant sleep. I woke up at 8:00am and wrestled with my son while we ate breakfast. I filled some water bottles and pumped my tires. I went to the bedroom where I had all my kit laid out and then out onto the balcony to make my final clothing choices.

Wow. All the recent high winds and rain had cleared the air and the sky was deep, cloudless and blue. I could see two ranges in in the direction I was headed. It was 22*C and the flags were limp, with an occasional twitter just to let you know they were there. This was going to be epic.

Final clothing choices made (and accounting for at least 2, 15 minutes descents and 1, 30 min+ descent with altitude) I sprang into the bedroom. I laid out the Power Meter, HR strap, Powerbars, ipod, phone, apple, shoes, socks, vest, leg and knee warmers, shorts...shorts?...SHORTS!... AND JERSEY!

Damn.

I fumed.

I ate the apple.

I packed up my crap and carried my bag to the door. I put on my shoes. Then I picked up my son and handed him his ball and we went to the park.

We played soccer (this kid can run with a ball!), some basket ball, a game where he threw the ball down the court, chased it, then he picked it up and I had to carry him to the hoop and we watched some bigger boys play baseball.

Then we went to Toys'R'Us and I bought the first Christmas gift of the season.

I had a great ride on Sunday. Epic ride.