August 16 Very Short Morning Ride

Today is August 16. Yesterday's blog was incorrectly identified as the 16th of August.

Didn't have much time this morning.

So hopped on Big Red and pedaled my way around the country block just west of my home.

The first 2 km (1.25 mi) south was hard packed dirt with a few loose pebbles. Then a turn right and west for another 2 km (1.25 mi) on pavement. And then another right turn (north) for another 2 km (1.25 mi) of dirt road (as shown in photos below). Then yet another right turn (east) for 2 km (1.25 mi) back to my home on the corner of this country block. (You have probably figured out that the roads around my home were surveyed and constructed to section off rectangular plots of land. Each of these rectangles contains 200 acres of land.)

The ride this morning was short but healthy. Eight km (5 miles) in 23 minutes, averaging 24 kph (14 mph). This pace of my non-road bike keeps my heart rate at a healthy 125-135 bpm.

I always feel better when I ride in the morning. It radically reduces the soreness of my arthritic joints and it gets my blood flowing and metabolism up. The result: I just feel more alive.

A road I rode this morning. Typical of the non-paved roads in our neighborhood. These roads are nice to ride on in that they usually have no houses on them. That means there are no farm dogs to give chase and raise my heart rate in a rapid manner. On one side corn grows. On the other soy beans.