Life in the FLAT lane!

Live in the FLAT lane!

On the days I am working, I am trying to get my ride in early, before work. Just like I've always done. Only here, it is sometimes very COLD in the mornings. And here, it is also WINDY in the mornings. Today, that translates to 20-35 mph winds...and they're blowin' from the North! Ugh! I'm still very naive to this new climate of mine, or else not-too-bright. I'll stick with naive. So I braved outside, all dressed up in my COLD weather climate riding gear...looking pretty stylish if I don't say so myself. I'd hoped for a two hour easy spin. So I chose a flat road and headed into the north wind.

I was thinking about the fact that my hands were already numb from the cold, and perhaps this would have been a better rest-day. But I pedaled on, into the wind, waiting for my ride-buzz to happen. Then my ears got cold. Sigh. All of a sudden I get this HUGE horn from a BIG semi truck..who blasted by me. What happened to that Minnesota-nice I've been enjoying so much? Then I saw the license plates. Indiana. It figures.

The wind was bad enough. But the Gusts were killing me. I literally got off my bike and sat down in the dirt, looking at the sun on the horizon. It looked so beautiful. The sunrise and sunsets out here on the plains are really fabulous and spectacular. And with no trees or anything in the distance (which could have been great wind blockers if only there were any), it's very deceiving. You can't see the wind. You're only clue that it might not be a nice day to ride is that Minnesotans are very patriotic, and so there are flags waving in front of every house. Well, that, and the dirt that kept blowing against my cool Oakley sunglasses. Even though the flags were pointing straight at me, I got back on the road and started my pedaling into the wind. I did a couple of track-stands for entertainment, and it did work a little to change my mood.

Why am I doing this? I don't race, and have no special goals for riding really. I hate to suffer..(ask Mike). And no one's making me do this. So why all the aggravation? Sigh again. This was hard hard work...and I wasn't going uphill. I pedaled on for about 45 minutes this way. Almost in tears with how hard this was...(I mean I was in my 39X24 on a flat road for crying out loud, out of the saddle even!), I decided to call it a day and head back home. Even the trainer is more fun than this and I hate riding the trainer.

Woo hoo!! I shifted into my 53X12 and flew. Life in the FAST lane! I was pedaling 38mph on a FLAT road. I've never done that in my life!! There is a lesson in here somewhere about hard work and the pay-off. But I didn't care...I was having so much fun. I was wishing someone I knew would drive by and see how fast I was going cause it had to look as cool as it felt, right? Probably not.

It took all of 10 or 11 minutes to ride back the almost hour ride out. So now I have some time to get some housecleaning done before I head to the bike shop. The PEET's sure tasted GOOD this morning. Even Taylor helped himself to an extra cup!! Mike's made it through his first week on the job!! He looked dashing this morning in his work clothes with his pants tucked into his socks!

Have a great day!