Riding the Winds of Change

I get out there today with the intention of just cruising along. I had my digital camera with me and was planning on taking some shots of the areas I ride through. I start out the same way I always do but today it is different. Normally I struggle for the fist 8 miles because the wind is in my face and it is somewhat inclined and I am just out of shape by cycling standards.

But today it was different. I started going and it just felt awesome. I had put in 20 two days agoa and so I thought, Finnally! I have gotten into some form of shape and I can hit this section faster. I mean I was going 5 to 6 mph faster than Sat. The wind was in my face so I assumed it had to be me and not the wind that was causing this awesome ride.

I hit about mile 11 and mother nature decides to ht me with the surprise. Usually the first half is the struggle and I cruise the second half with less wind. Today I made the turn and SMACK! here comes the wind.

It knocks me down to about 15 mph and I am huffing and puffing and thinking to myself, I am going to have to endure this for the rest of the ride. Luckily I did change direction and the wind let off a little bit but it was still harder.

It was still the best ride I have had, I have got to get my buddies back from vacation so I can hide behind them next time that happens.

Here is the measure of success so far though: When I started 20 miles took 2 hours. 3 weeks ago it was 1 hour 45 min. for 20 miles. Last week it was 1 hour and 30 min for 20 and today it was a 1 hour 15 minutes for 20 miles. Doesn't matter if that is a good time for the average person. . . .it is improvement and that is all that matters to me.

I did get some photos which I'll publish as soon as I figure that out.

Beware of Dog

I actually meant to post this last Wednesday but have just now gotten to do it. A friend of mine I ride with, we'll call him "Doug" and I have had two run ins with dogs since we started riding together. One such occassion resulted in Doug doing a flip over his handle bars and a slight scratch on the ankle. So we decided not to go that route again.

So here we are riding along minding our own business. We were on about mile 9 and just cruising along chatting when this dog comes charging out to the road. We was a pretty good size pitbull looking mix and he wasn't stopping at the end of the yard. So we put the hammer down. I had to slow so that I wouldn't hit the dog and Doug sped up to get away. Then once the dog moved in front of me I had to speed up because when he found out he couldn't get Doug he came after me. We made it out without a scratch but I was huffing and puffing for another half mile.

So here I go last Wednesday on my own planning on getting in 20 miles. I decided that just in case the dog was there again I would start off at a good clip and be going fast enough when I reaced the house it wouldn't matter.

I make the turn and I just poor it on. I'm peddling and peddling and just really giving it all I've got. Well. . . . . .I started about 3/4 mile to early. I misjudged where the house was and I was wore out by the time I got to the beasts yard. Fortunately he wasn't there.

Sunday Cruise

I got the "Honey Do" list done for the weekend and Sunday afternoon was able to stretch out a ride. Man I feel out of shape. The first 10 miles were horrible. It was somewhat windy but not as bad as it has been. I probably only averaged around 13-14 mph. The road isn't flat but by no means is it hilly. It must have some grade to it because the second 10 miles was 15 minutes faster than the first.

It felt awsome!! I will be glad when a couple of people I ride with get back from vacation. It is much easier to keep motivated in the slow times when someone else is there.

The road idiots weren't as bad this time. I still can't figure out why people want to pass you when the stop sign is 20 yards away.

Traffic Dodging

After a week and a half I finnally got a ride in. I didn't think it was going to happen. Got dressed at 3:00 pm, had to change back to fix a work problem. Got home from that and the wife and kids wanted to go to supper. Much to my wifes chagrin, I choose to put an hour in on the road.

I was able to get in 15 miles which for me is not bad. I'm so new at this that I go from 25 mph to 13 pretty quick.

Since I have been riding I have confirmed what I already new, people drive like idiots. 2 miles into it a grain truck passed me and decided to release his air brakes which half expected something so it did not startle me to much. Then you have the folks who follow you slowly for a mile and then decide to pass at maybe 1 mph faster than what your going.

The kicker today was this girl who passed me with oncoming traffic a mere 30 yards from a Red Light.

All in all though it was awesome. The country around here is great to look at and you get to see things you wouldn't normally pay attention to.

Got a cycling magazine today and noticed the severe lack of anything over XL in the shirts. That along with the fact that they call my weight class Clydesdale just confirms that there is an untapped market out there for plus size clothing.

The irony of being Lance

Being named Lance and starting cycling as your exercise of choice at the age of 32 does not come without the comments of "joining the bandwagon" considering the popularity and success of Lance Armstrong. When you add to the fact that when I started I weighed in at a whopping 264, the urge to supress a giggle is quite straining. When I read most of the articles in magazines I see training methods which are based on a 150 lb rider and I think to myself, "hadn't seen that one since the 8th grade".

When I first decided to look at road bikes, I was very uncomfortable about the effect my weight would have on performance. Don't get me wrong, I am 6' 2" and I carry 264 rather well. I have been active in aerobic weight training for two years so I am not totally out of shape.

But all I saw were those skinny tires and I thought, this should be interesting. In July I made a decision that I needed an activity to inspire me to be in shape and drop some weight. I had been toying with the idea of cycling for quite some time and back in the days of paper routes and no car, my Raliegh was my transportation.

I went to Wood-n-Wave in Grand Rivers, KY which is about 30 minutes from Murray near the Ky. Lake. I talked to Steve, the owner, and explained my plan. He was awesome to deal with and gave me a great price on a Trek 1000c which he told me was a good comfort bike for a beginner.

I started riding that afternoon and love it. So here I am 10 months later. I have ridden quite a bit but not as much as I would like. This winter my wife bought me a trainer for Christmas and I was able to put some time in at home in the den.

Right now I am 248 lbs. Not near the average riders weight but not bad either.