Sunday

Its crazy how the beach changes overnite. Saturday it was covered in ice, today the ice was gone and the sand was soft. This was pretty much due to the sun. Even at 25 degrees the sun can soften up a beach pretty easy. And as the sun gets higher and higher everyday it will start to happen a lot. Sometimes we ride the beach down to the restaurant and by the time we get back to it, its soft. Then all the 140 pound guys test it and say it's good, and all the 200+ guys suffer like dogs.

I so do not look forward to those rides. Its like a 40 minute climb to me.

This morn I again hit the trainer but after only 24 minutes had to jump off. Just no motivation to continue. Did not even break a sweat.

I guess that one does not count.

DLD

Todays Ride.

Today's ride was good and bad. I never really got into it. The beach was way too icy to ride (not me tho as I was studded) so the group opted for a woods\road ride. I just was not feeling the woods and broke my chain to prove it. After taking assistance from others to get going again (thanks for the quick link) I took a trip over the bars. No biggie but did aggravate my shoulder a bit. Then it was all road after that so I bailed and headed for the beach by my lonesome. The winds were stiff off the lake and pushed the water\ice a long way up. But it was no problem riding with the studded tires.

The highlight of the ride was seeing this guy. What I assume is a immature bald eagle. He\she had a fish and was trying to eat it in peace but the crows seemed to want some too. I stopped and watched for a long time.

It made a crappy ride tolerable.

And came at the right time as if scripted.

DLD

Winter to Summer.

As much as I love winter and all that it stands for, it only takes about 10 minutes of warmer temps and drier roads to turn my head towards summer.

At what point in time does one ditch all hope for snow and the skiing it provides for the warmer winds of spring.

Soon we will all be wondering what day will our first arm warmerless ride be. When will that first ride when we have a chance to get sunburned be?

Is it too soon to even be thinking that?

Am I wrong for wishing snow to go away? In Feb.

As much as I like winter for some reason I am done with it. Maybe its the fact that the store operates a few months ahead and we are ordering our spring inventory.

All the cool bike stuff is getting me pumped up to ride long.

But reality is that there's a ton of winter to go and I'm jumping the gun a bit. I guess I would not mind a few more ski days before its gone.

As long as the snow melts away the minute I'm done with it.

Deal?

DLD

Eagles and Trainers.

Saw these two guys near my happy place. There now is 5 eagles around. Two mature pairs and one yearling. If you told me this two years ago I would have lauphed at you. Its very cool. We see them almost every Saturday beach ride. Just another reason to join us. I see them if not every day then every other for sure.


Not much has been going on of late. Been putting an hour a day on the trainer since Sunday. With the ride on Saturday that's 6 days in a row in the saddle. Im feeling a little better on the bike.

Last Saturdays ride was an eye opener for me. I really did not post the extent of my bonk. It hurt real bad. I almost did not make it home. The last 5 miles I was down to 8 mph. I didn't eat because with the cold temps I thought we were not going to ride that long. I didn't bring anything to drink either. And paid the price. I felt pretty sick the rest of the day last Saturday.
As I mentioned earlier, that was pretty much a wake up call for me to get going or my spring riding will be in the crapper.
After 5 days in a row in my basement I already feel better. Hope to continue.

DLD

End of the Line

Had a great beach ride Saturday. About 10 riders showed and we put another single digit ride in the books. As I was saying, the beach has reset and was wide open. The sun appeared several times to help out with the cold temps.

Our 15 mile trek (one way) on the beach has 4 or 5 water crossings. Mostly from creeks and whatnot. Sometimes these crossings can be a little tricky and sometimes impossible.

After a warm spell, like we had last week, they swell up and sometimes put a stop to the peloton. Here is one such crossing that stopped us cold. No biggie tho as it came within a mile of where we turn off.

Still had a great 35 mile ride with several hard efforts that left me bonking hard.

Every group ride I do at this point is a wake up call to get my ass going or my spring riding will suffer bad.

That said, I am walking down to the basement as we speak to visit the trainer this morn.

Not without my coffee.

Wish me luck.

DLD