43 miles on the bike and a pulled pork sandwich

Went out for a ride with my wife. We did 43  miles of streets and bike paths around town then stopped for a quick lunch at gigi's.

Here is my lovely wife devouring at spinach and tofu burger.

This is me waiting for my Cubano sandwich. Which ended up worth the wait.

All in all a great day.

Summer

Summer weather finally comes to Minnesota. the last couple days have been not just not cool but actually warm... really warm. The high today got up to 95. for May in Minnesota that's pretty darn warm. I didn't ride today so I missed the oportunity to get aclimitized for the months to come and upcomming ragbrai in particular.

I have felt really consistsntly good on the bike. I am however not doing at much riding as I am used to. It concerns me a little to be not logging the miles I should. My schedule both at home and at work has been really busy and I am struggling to get work out time in.

I really need to get out on my rollerskis.... speaking of workouts. I would like to get some rollerskiing in this summer to maintain some skiing skill and strength.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Marty Minnesota road race

the Marty rr was yesterday and I decided to go for it. it was my first bike race of the year and it turned out to be quite and opener to the season. it was a largely flat course with a few rolling hills. one would think it would be a fast paced race with A big bunch sprint finish. On any given Saturday that would be the case, but not this Saturday. The standing 25 mph wind with 45 mph gusts had plans of it's own.

Every division was broken up after the first few miles by the ripping cross winds. the fields was broken into small groups clinging to each other in desperation just trying to make the distance. I was one of the many lost soles struggling in perposterus conditions.

Every race is a story, with charictors an motive and hapenstance. this Saturday was certainly a tale to remember.

Afterword in he parking lot I watched from beyond earshot groups of friends and teammates wiery and windblown. retell their tales. Rounds of laughter and wild jestures mime the shaken landscape and the chaotic maylay that was attemping to ride in a group.

It is a slice of pride that I was one of a few hearty soles that finished the day, spirit intact.

Oddly I am greatful to have a shared understanding with strangers. why would that be a source of content?


Marty rr that's one for the books!

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

f'in cold

I have mentioned this before but it stands to be stated again. riding in a cold spring rain is the coldest thing I do all year.

I ski in temps as low as the single digits and never get as cold as I got on today's ride. the rain had me soaked to the skin and the driving wind and rain was freezing me to death. the air tempurature was about 45. so it was like swimming in 45 degree water for 2 hour. by the end my fingers and toes were complety numb. my knees ached as did my back and sholders.

The truly estonishing part is I went out in it!? I've done this to myself before. Why I would subject my self to it again is either eternal optomisim that it will be different this time or just plain dumb.

it took a half hour scalding shower to get me to stop shaking and calm.

note to self: don't ride on cold rainy days, you fucking itiot! : )

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

The Birke hangover is almost over.

Like last year after the birke I turned into a puddle of goo. legs have had no snap to them at all and tired, sore and sore. But this week things are starting to feel better. Rode yesterday short ride 25 miles but hilly and windy.  defiantly not a stellar day on the bike I got pretty much spanked but the two guys I was with.   the real news is the recovery. My legs feel better today than they have in three weeks. I think the base riding I've been trying to do is starting to sink in and my legs are starting to acclimatize to the bike. Skiing if so radically different from cycling from a muscularity point of view that it takes my legs some time to adapt to the high specificity of cycling.

So that's a really long winded way of saying I'm feeling a bit better and am pretty jazzed about it.

laying low

I've been off the bike and weights for the last 4 days. I was having really really sore legs and very sore knees. Every trainer I've talked with or worked with has always been very cautious about knees. So when mine really started to bark I laid off everything. Today is the first day I have felt significantly better.

I am leave to go out of town for a week and am wondering if I should try to ride today. I think I'd have to go really easy but it might be nice to get some air.

I always struggle when I have to take a break or when I'm on taper. I've become so accustom to having physical activity when I don't I start to get really irritable and fidgety. Oddly I tend to get sick when I lay off too.. odd. I don't tend to get really sick but a light cold is a common side effect of taking it easy for a while.

I'll be heading south next week and am taking the bike and will be riding in a warmer climate. Hope my knees and legs are feeling better to take advantage of the opportunity.

The bike is back

Yesterday was my first day on the bike. I went out for a really short ride and took it pretty easy. The good news is the legs weren't totally dead feeling and more importantly it was really really nice to be on the bike. This is one of the best aspects of having a two sport year. Just about the time your bored with one sport the season is over and the next feel fresh and exciting.

I took out the mountain bike as the roads here are still really messy. Icy spots, tons of sand, debris, and wet. So the mountain bike is defiantly the bike of choice in the early spring. once the roads clear up I'll get out the road bike. The weather is to be consistently in the mid to upper 40's and on and off rain for the next 10 days. That should melt the remainder of the snow and wash the roads a bit. we have a really deep and high water volume snow pack. It will takes a lot of heat to melt all that mass. but once the cooling effect of the melting snow is gone then the temps can really go up.

Spring isn't here yet but you and tell it's knocking at the door.