50% Sun and incredible spring weather, 50% rain, wind and general nastiness.
I am really digging the road when our trails are beat up, today's ride was no exception despite the rain. I rode past the Hospital Rd. lot on the way out and the way back and was pretty surprised at how many people were riding. Hopefully they stayed off the newer and/or muddier stuff.
I started out and felt amazing, legs felt real fresh. My goals were to head into the Colts Neck area and look for some hills, push a bigger gear than I did last ride, and stay in the big ring as much as possible while keeping a decent spin. I was looking to do about 3 hours, and met all of my goals pretty well.
The rain started in Marlboro, so I made a quick stop at the Bicycle Hub hoping it would end. I refilled water, looked outside and realized it likely wouldn’t end. Pit stop lasted 5 minutes, and then I went for the quickest way home without hitting too many main roads (besides rt 34). I was damn near cackling inside, saying to myself “harden up, you LOVE this shit" but honestly the rain blew.
Got a flat less than 2 miles from home, no tube or pump on me (looked at the tube and inflator as I left the garage earlier, I love learning lessons this way). 10 seconds after I stopped this dude was heading out o his driveway for a jog and said "need a pump"? Bingo, I electrical taped the living shit out of the hole, inflated until his pump was about to explode, said "thanks" and hauled ass the rest of the way home.
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united...sant/465522589
Overall a great day!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Irony
I bagged work early today, blazed home and rolled out of the garage at 2 with a goal of spinning for 3 hours. I was real stoked with the weather and wind direction, so headed for Island Beach State Park.
On the way back North I swung through the swimming pavilion’s lot to answer a work call (I know, lame). I was spinning slow and finished the call, then set out north again while putting the phone away. Just as I got back down on the bars and started kicking it up this older dude blazes past me on a classic old road bike, pushing a big gear.
He didn't say hi.
I got an instant "ohhh it’s on" thought in my head and started cranking. I reeled him in, which was way harder than I hoped, and returned the favor. Every time I looked back he was hanging tough, about 50 yards back the last time I looked. I proceeded to ride a lot faster than I wanted to until I hit the gate house and finally shook him off. I hit Ocean Ave. and spun through arcade hell at a good clip.
I felt pretty spent, and as I hit Bay Blvd in Ortley decided I should kick it down and ride mellow until home. I also felt like a complete ass for re-passing that dude and not saying hi.
Minutes later a guy on a Cervelo passed me like I was standing still.
He said hi.
I returned the greeting, and once again stood on 'em. He was pushing entirely too big of a gear and dropped me handily, like I was a 6th grader on a beach cruiser. As we crossed to Rt35 north I thought I was closing the gap, but maybe HE was on the phone because after 5 or ten minutes he kicked it back into gear and I lost sight of him by the time I hit Mantoloking.
I got home and thought about the irony of the ride. Isn't biking cool?
On the way back North I swung through the swimming pavilion’s lot to answer a work call (I know, lame). I was spinning slow and finished the call, then set out north again while putting the phone away. Just as I got back down on the bars and started kicking it up this older dude blazes past me on a classic old road bike, pushing a big gear.
He didn't say hi.
I got an instant "ohhh it’s on" thought in my head and started cranking. I reeled him in, which was way harder than I hoped, and returned the favor. Every time I looked back he was hanging tough, about 50 yards back the last time I looked. I proceeded to ride a lot faster than I wanted to until I hit the gate house and finally shook him off. I hit Ocean Ave. and spun through arcade hell at a good clip.
I felt pretty spent, and as I hit Bay Blvd in Ortley decided I should kick it down and ride mellow until home. I also felt like a complete ass for re-passing that dude and not saying hi.
Minutes later a guy on a Cervelo passed me like I was standing still.
He said hi.
I returned the greeting, and once again stood on 'em. He was pushing entirely too big of a gear and dropped me handily, like I was a 6th grader on a beach cruiser. As we crossed to Rt35 north I thought I was closing the gap, but maybe HE was on the phone because after 5 or ten minutes he kicked it back into gear and I lost sight of him by the time I hit Mantoloking.
I got home and thought about the irony of the ride. Isn't biking cool?
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