sandi_SL4-49 - Monday Sept. 23, 2013

ROUTE: neighborhood/long creek/faithon
TEMP: 89*F
WIND: from the S/SE
TRIP: 31.31 miles
START TIME: 0955hrs
FINISH TIME: 1314hrs
TOTAL RIDE TIME: 2:39:15
AVERAGE CADENCE: 63
GOAL: getting back into the routine
OF NOTE: the wind had strong wind gusts. i decided to stretch out my ride a bit more but, the stretch was a bit more challenging than planned. i took the wrong road! i ended up way further than i wanted to be.
the ride started out with the intent of goin' 30 miles and making a visit with bff. both goals were met. tho i did notice a big difference from Sunday in the way i felt, explain that later.

i readied myself in my usual way. was really excited to get out there on my bike. after preride checks, i set off on my longer ride.
after leaving the neighborhood, i contemplated the direction i wanted to take after my break at the Shell station. i made the decision to take faithon. i wasn't sure what the road i was supposed to make my turn on tho. but once i was on my way, i concentrated on getting up the incline.
it was difficult for me. the south wind was continually blowing against me making it difficult to do much coasting. the winds really made me work. 8)
i came to an intersection, which i wasn't sure if i was to turn onto, so i went thru the intersection. as i waited for the light, i looked at the road in front of me and noticed some inclines i didn't think i was ready for yet. however, i pressed on when it was safe to go. not far from the intersection, i began thinking, 'i should have turned right at that light.' but i continued forward not wanting to backtrack. whatever came up, i would face it. what proved to be the last incline, i was able to see it quite a ways in advance. it was steep. i contemplated how i would make it up the incline. i didn't have much speed starting up but i kept the gearing so i could continue pedalling. it was beating me and i knew it. after a white van passed me, i came off my bike. not hard. didn't even fall. but i was goin' so slow, i couldn't recover from a move over some unlevel pavement. so i decided to just walk the bike up the rest of the incline. guess i walked just over half way up. to be honest, i was tired. my enthusiasm was there but my energy wasn't. motivation to visit my bff kept me goin'.
when i reached the top, i remounted the bike and continued on not knowing where i was exactly. i knew i was farther than i wanted to be. when i came up on a familiar road, i turned north. following beltline to the 5 corners, i turned on pioneer and was finally getting closer to where i wanted to be. pioneer crosses the road i should have turned onto from faithon. now i know. i continued on pioneer towards scyene. riding up scyene towards my short neighborhood sidetrack, i got back on beltline.
missing my turn as i was in the right lane, i made a safe u-turn and got on kearney. by this time, i was wanting the ride to be done. but i also wanted to make the 30 miles. so onward i pushed with my bff's place on the horizon. just b4 i was about to turn into the parking lot for my bff, a vehicle passed me on the left. it was stupid cuz there was plenty of space to pass me on the right side. some drivers just don't care that bikes have the same rights as a car. it's frustrating. and to think, i used to be one of those drivers. glad i learned the law. just wish the others would. anyway, i made it to her place and was able to get a bite to eat and hydrate. chatted with my bff and made plans for friday nite pizza. can't wait. i said goodbye and got back on my bike. finished the ride coming up collins and cooling down with a short ride in neighborhood. i got in the house and found it difficult to do anything but shower and lay down to sleep. i was wiped out. so that is exactly what i did. didn't make the tuna, clean the kitchen, or anything else.
i did contemplate as to y i was so wiped out compared to my Sunday ride. and i figured it was the fact that i had 2 cups of hot mate' b4 i left. mate' is much different from tea or coffee. it is an herbal type drink. it has a little bit of caffeine like coffee but it contains a lot more stuff the body can use and it really does make a difference. so i will try having a couple cups of mate' b4 i take a ride. i am also getting up earlier so i can start riding early in the mornin'. it's cooler and i can get finished b4 the heat hits. we'll see how that works out.8)

until my next ride post... 8)