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March 24, 2005
The racing bike comes out
Tonight was a beautiful night for a ride. This is only the second time this year that I’ve ridden my racing bike. This time it wasn’t quite so wet from snow runoff. But I found out that the trail in Mendota along the cliff under Highway 13 is still covered with glaciers. I ended up riding up Highway 13 itself back home.
Anyway, I rode this bike to work because Dan said he wanted to ride with me after work. And it was fun, but harder than I expected. For a few moments when he got way ahead of me, I felt a little discouraged, like all of the exercise I was doing is not going to be enough for me to do bike racing. But it faded quickly as he got stopped at a red light and I had a chance to catch up.
I rode 20 miles and it felt really good overall! We rode from Downtown St. Paul along Concord Street, found the bike trail entrance at Butler, rode along the river to South Saint Paul, went up the hill by the Library, along Southview Blvd. to Mendota Road to Highway 110. Then we rode along 110 to the Mendota Bridge. That’s where Dan and I split. He rode across the bridge and continued North along one of the River Roads, and I went North East along Highway 13, back to St. Paul. I bet by the time Dan got home, he hit 40 miles. My ride was only 20 miles total.
By this experience, I can seriously say that I’m in better overall shape than I was last year, but not in the greatest shape for riding yet. I need more mileage I think. This was a good start. The 20 miles did not seem to hurt though. Now tomorrow I plan on riding the Great Schwinn Suburban Touring machine for a nice easy ride. Then at lunchtime I’ll run 5.5 miles. Then Saturday and Sunday I’m going to ride 40 miles on my racing bike from St. Paul to Burnsville and back. That ought to keep me out of trouble. I think I’ll be back up to 100+ miles per week in no time. My peak came last year in August when I had some 200+ weeks. But with running and biking this year, I’m still waiting to see how it will work. I will have to see how much energy all of this will take and how I’m progressing.
In the mean time, I am done with winter and I’d better go find a backpack cover so my stuff doesn’t get wet when it rains.
Posted by carl1236 at March 24, 2005 09:24 PM | Cycle Racing
Comments
If you want to see a new route, and get some exercise on some big hills, let me know. The group I ride with is scheduled to meet Saturday around 10 AM for a 40-50 miler (or more if we feel so inspired). It's a good group with a relaxed attitude (i.e. nobody gets "dropped" or left behind with mechanical troubles).
Posted by: Jim at March 24, 2005 09:33 PM
Good Idea Jim. I just have 5 more weekends working at the grouphome, then I'll have some more freetime on the weekends. My commute to work on the weekends is 20 miles each way, so it has been a great source of exercise and saved me time and money. It saved time because I would have to spend a half-hour in the car commuting anyway, and still do my exercise.
But in May I fully expect to be doing some good fun riding and exploring new places.
I'll make it a point to get together with you for a ride. Thanks for the offer Jim.
Posted by: John at March 25, 2005 07:31 AM
Oh, I misunderstood. I thought you were riding to Burnsville for fun. I forgot you were going to work. At any rate, looking forward to when you free up the weekends.
Posted by: Jim at March 25, 2005 07:56 AM
Haha, yes, it is to work, but I'm sure you understand when I say that riding 20 miles to work is fun too. It is such a huge liberating experience. The first time I did it I was just thrilled because It made me even more aware that anything is possible, and that I wasn't tied to my car even for longer distances. Even the U of M is only 10 miles from my house which I used to think was so far away (it can be a half hour drive or more on Highway 94).
But riding a bike anywhere is just pure fun, once I got over the idea that I couldn't or shouldn't be doing it.
Posted by: John at March 25, 2005 10:09 PM
Exactly. Funny how I have to keep telling people that. Most noncyclers think I ride because of deep convictions. Well that's only part of the story. It's just plain fun. That's the real reason.
Posted by: Jim at March 25, 2005 11:47 PM