Day 61 - Hectic Life, Epic Ride

So, as many of you may know, I am leaving for Chicago today, in fact, in about 9 hours from now. Why am I not asleep you ask? Because I still have FOUR more hours of work left before I go home and snag four hours of sleep and then ride in a car for nine hours after that, big ugh right there. BUT, I am sure I will be so excited that it won't matter once the adrenaline starts flowing.

So today I was like a chicken with my head cut off trying to finalize details for the trip, but I made sure that I worked in the time to get some fitness in too.

7am - Off work
8am - Home, sleepytime USA
2pm - Uggh, I'm up
2:30pm - Mmmm, 100% whole wheat pancakes with sugar free syrup
2:45pm - Homework time
3:30pm - FITNESS TIME

-- Today I decided to jump on my new bike and really give it a proper test. The furthest I'd ridden it before today was a quick 10 miles, so today I decided I'd hammer out the entire bike trail (21 miles).

The first mile was just getting TOO the bike trail, which meant dealing with 12th street traffic, which I despise. Once I dropped onto the bike trail I felt free. I quickly found my cadence and held a pretty quick clip (15mph average) over the first 4 miles. Once the path turned up near 60th street I was met with what I call the 'Prairie Gusts of DOOM'. For the next 2.5 miles I was riding directly into the wind. Now, this wouldn't be that bad if I were riding a tri bike with aerobars or a road bike with drop bars.. nope, I'm riding a Commuter bike on winter mountain bike tires. Dear god, those 2.5 miles nearly killed me.

The best part about the bike trail (when you go the direction I was) is that you get to ZOOOOOM down the big hill by John Morrells. I pegged it out (ie top speed) at 39.2mph on that downhill stretch. It helped to make up for the 9.2mph I averaged through the Prairie Gusts of DOOM. Right after the big downhill comes my very least favorite part of the bike trail, Falls Park.

Falls Park is a beautiful place, but dear god cycling up that sidewalk hurts. You see, I am a BIG guy, and gravity is NOT my friend, and this is a good third of a mile incline that just keeps going and going and going. Once I got past it though I regained my legs pretty quick. It was at this point that I looked at the horizon and realized, gosh the sun is setting fast. I checked my cell phone, hmm, I'd made it to the halfway point in 45 minutes, the sun is setting REALLY early.

I started to try and push the pace, but for a couple of miles it just wasn't there. I was holding a steady 12 or 13mph, but my legs were not willing to 'spin' the way I wanted them too. So instead I dropped into a lower gear and just focused on keeping my cadence up until my legs recovered. Around 26th and Cleveland I started feeling a little better and moved back into the middle cog, 12mph.. 13mph.. 14mph.. ah that was more like it. The trails at this part of the bike trail are often covered in foilage and trees and all that jazz, so the trail got dark quick. I knew once I got to 49th and Sertoma I could really hammer it and be home in 20 minutes tops.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, I hit 49th and Sertoma, wait.. what is that? what.. the fuck.. a 'road closed' sign on the bike trail. I don't have time for this.. No posted detours, and it is getting dark out. I'm 4 miles from home, but I can NOT ride on Louise with no headlight (yes, I am a tardo, I didn't have my headlight on my bike). I made a quick decision to ride to the workout partner's house. It was just as far away, but it was on 49th street so less traffic/turns and I could ride the sidewalk that way.

As it got legitamately dark, I pulled into her driveway, she wasn't home. I called her and waited for her to call back, she always does. Luckily she was near her phone so she picked me up and we worked on Chicago Trip stuff before she dropped me back off at home. Note to self: Pick up bike before leaving for Chicago.

By the time I got home I was like insanely famished, because of course I hadn't brought any food with me. I think this was my BEST ride ever, and yet my worst preparedness level ever. All I had with me was my cell, a credit card, and my ID. No spare tubes, no patch kit, no food, no headlight, uggh.

Here's the skinny on the ride:
25 miles total
1 Hour 45 Minutes
2092 Calories Burned
Top Speed: 39.2mph
Average Speed: 14.29mph

I will probably post once while in chicago, but will wait until we get back to post a bunch of pictures and stuff. I hope everyone has a good weekend, and keeps your fingers crossed/me in your thoughts and prayers/all that jazz. This opportunity could make all the difference.

Josh