Enjoyed oatmeal and tea on the porch with the rising sun. Deb made a great morning even better by joining me.
After a very hot and dry summer, we are now definitely into our seasonal change. Not that our summer is over. It isn't. It's just inconsistent.
For example. As I dressed for the ride, it was 9 C (48 F). Burr. So I put on three layers to keep the wind chill cruising speed from freezing my torso. I pulled my ear warmers over my ears.
As I pedaled out the driveway, I turned my mechanical horse west toward the lake. I visualized a two hour-ish ride to the water and back.
Last week I bought an odometer for Big Red. Now I not only know my speeds and distances, but I also get informed by my technology as to the temp around me and how much fat I burn on each ride. We'll see how enlightening the fat-o-meter is.
Even as I got up this morning, I wasn't feeling great. Just kind of blah and sluggish. I usually write these feelings off as being part of the downside of almost being 59 years old. (That's my chronological age from the neck down. From the neck up I'm 25.)
So I travel the 10 km (6 mi) mostly downhill to the shoreline road. Once there, I have a very novel choice.
Since I am on my old hybrid bike with huge tires and tubes which permit me to ride into lakes and just keep floating (slight exaggeration), I'm not required to stay on the pavement so preferred by my road bike with skinny tires (and sinks rapidly).
After a few moments of thoughtful reflection I decide not to strike out across Lake Huron towards Michigan.
Instead, I opt for a never tried before "Rail Trail." Dozens of the old train right of ways in Ontario have been cleared of tracks and opened to hikers, bikers, ATVs, and snowmobiles. Most of these trail surfaces are hard packed dirt with a fair amount of loose gravel. A fairly good surface for a mountain bike.
I chose a segment of the trail that runs about 2 km diagonally to the east bound paved road that will head me back towards home.
Turns out I picked a not so great segment of the trail. The part I choose soon turns into a pathway of small pebbles about 7 or 8 cm (4 or 5 inches) deep. I am now experiencing the biking equivalent of walking in very deep sand at the beach.
This condition persisted for almost the entire 2 km (1.2 mi). Balancing was difficult. Not a fun time. Was glad to hit pavement again.
As I came to the pavement, I stopped and shed two of my three layers of clothing, my ear warmers, and long fingered gloves.
Now I'm back to my summer fashion statement. I also guzzled a 710 ml bottle of Powerade (the official drink of the Olympics) and a no-name power bar (not the official power bar of the Olympics).
Once back on hard surface, I pointed to home. I found myself trailing about a half of km behind two obviously experienced riders with two beautiful bikes. One bike was a recumbent bike. The kind it looks like you are laying down on as you ride.
As I trailed behind these guys with their amazing bikes, I felt like Gollum from Lord of the Rings sneaking behind The Fellowship Questers. All the time I stare at their bikes and whisper "my precious" :-)
Two hours and three minutes after my departure, I arrive home. I cruised an average of 14.7 kph (9 mph) for a distance of 30 km (18.6 mi)
Reflecting on this ride, I don't think I'm going to do these kinds of distances on Red.
Something about the different body angles really seem to aggravate my back. Don't need that.
So I believe I will stick to daily or every other day, 30 minute rides that should serve the purpose of keeping my heart and leg muscles sufficiently tuned for our big Route 66 ride which starts September 14 (!)
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| A contrast of past and present: A 1854 Pioneer Cemetery and 2012 Wind Turbines |
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| This delightful looking Rail Trail near the Bruce Power Nuclear Power Plant was not really much fun to ride on. But most segments of these Trails have better riding surfaces and are a nice alternative to pavement. |
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