20160131 cycling

/

Last week was a better week for cycling.

I did not ride on Monday. I had to take my car in for an expensive repair. I had thought about taking my bike with me and riding while they worked on it. The weather was cold and I opted to walked to Starbucks instead.

There are too many of these signs around. This is the the downside to growth.

There are too many of these signs around. This is the the downside to growth.

The MUP along SR56 is still closed. Most of the time, the path is clear but I can't see that from the turns. I have started riding in the bicycle lane in SR56. I have to be more alert for debris in the road and trust that drivers will stay in their lane. Rather than turning left from SR56 to Mansfield Blvd, I turn right onto Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. It is a future road but construction has begun to connect it to Bruce B Downs via Chancey. They have cleaned up the overgrown vegetation but now there is debris in the road, mostly gravel from the all the dirt haulers. On Tuesday, there was a fire truck and the firemen were draining a fire hydrant into a nearby swamp. 
I rode 19 miles.

Ceramic tiles fell off of a truck making a turn. Another downside to growth.

Ceramic tiles fell off of a truck making a turn. Another downside to growth.

I didn't ride on Wednesday. It was raining and I was tired from working late the night before.

Construction made the roads muddy and my bike got filthy.

Construction made the roads muddy and my bike got filthy.

It was still wet on Thursday but I got in 20 miles. My pace has been slow. I have only been averaging about 13 mph.

Friday was cold. I rode 11 miles. 

Saturday was cold. The wind was light but changed so it was always against me. I rode 11 miles.

I rode 4 times for 61 miles. 

I finished January with only 201 miles. It was a cold and wet month.

20161117 cycling

/

Again, I missed riding on my birthday. I had to work in the morning and it was too cold to ride before I went in.
It has been too cold to ride. I can ride comfortably to about 55°. I can ride with gloves to about 48°. Anything cold and I just don't have to the right gear. I don't even like riding with the long gloves because I have to take them off to operate my iPhone and the app so use to track my rides. 

2015 december cycling recap

/

It was a good week for riding. I rode 5 times for 103.8 miles.

I didn't work on Monday and rode three loops around Meadow Pointe. 

I worked late on Tuesday and rode three loops again around Meadow Pointe, 24 miles. I switched bike saddles and felt a lot better.

I didn't have the energy to ride on Wednesday.

No work on Thursday, I rode three loops around Meadow Pointe, 24 miles.

I worked early on Friday and got in one loop for 9 miles.

I was scheduled to work late on Saturday. I went over to Fox Ridge and rode most of the streets. It is much more rural. I heard several roosters, saw some horses in a small paddock, I saw the confederate flag flying under the American flag. The houses ranged from mobile homes to two stores house well kept. 22 miles

20151213 bike miles.PNG

It was an OK week for cycling. I rode 4 times for 86 miles.

I worked late on Monday and rode 20 miles in a modified loop around Meadow Pointe. 

I had Tuesday off but worked until 10 pm on Monday. I was so tire and couldn't get the energy to rode.

I had Wednesday off and rode 3 loops around a Meadow Pointe, 24 miles.

I worked late again on Thursday and rode three loops around Meadow Pointe, 24 miles.

No ride on Friday. I worked early and had no energy.

I got in 2 loops on Saturday before I went into work at 11.

The holiday hours are killing me and my biking.

Rain and working early cancelled my Friday and Saturday rides 

Christmas retail doesn't work well with cycling. I had to go into work early this week. On the days I did ride, it was windy and curbed my enthusiasm. 

20151129 cycling recap

/

I did a little better cycling last week. I cycled 5 times for 82 miles. 

The boys didn't have school last week. I didn't work on Monday. I got in two loops before I took the boys to the chiropractor. 

I worked early on Tuesday and Wednesday and only got in short rides. 

Ryan has been riding longer and farther. He doesn't have his own iPhone so I cannot see where he is. 

Thursday was Thanksgiving. I was lazy and Ryan left before me. I made him take my dad's iPhone so I could find him and he could call if he needed help. I watched his progress on Find My Friends. 
It was close to lunch time so I didn't get out until late. It was windy and unpleasant. I only got in 18 miles. 

Black Friday and I was scheduled to work at 8 am so no riding for me. 

I got in 24 miles on Saturday since I didn't have to be to work until noon. 

coffeeneuring challenge complete

/

I am really glad I did the Coffeenuering Challenge this year. I didn't get to try many new coffee shops because we don't have a big variety in the area. I did get to ride outside of my comfort zone and try new routes. 

I discovered that hot tea is not a good drink for me while riding. It is too hot and I lack the patience for it to cool. I learned that I shouldn't ride on wet boardwalks with my narrow tires. 
I learned that riding in the road without a shoulder is sometimes better than a poorly maintained path.
I discovered that I am not so brave at going fast speeds downhill as I when I was young. 
I am still slow when changing tires.
I learned how to take advantage of wind.
I confirmed that I do not like bananas in my smoothies and Starbucks pastries look better than they taste.
I now know my body and brain cannot take too much bouncing over rough gravel and washboard roads.

I rode 168 miles.

I spent $134 on food, drinks and bike repairs.

I found that I prefer smoothies while riding. I also prefer the smoothies at Panera. I discovered that riding for 2 hours just barely justifies the calories of a smoothie and a treat. I would be better off having the smoothie alone or bringing along a small treat of my own.

I learned which roads have bike lanes and decent shoulders to ride on. I rode my longest distance (34 miles) and didn't collapse. I find that I have to ride harder to get my heart rate up. I want to explore more routes. Riding against the wind still sucks but sometimes it can push you back home.

#1 Stonemill Artisan $4
Helmet $60
21 miles

#2 Starbucks $4
20 miles

#3 Panera $7
33 miles

#4 Panera $7
Two tubes $30
21 miles

#5 Panera $7
25 miles

#6 Starbucks $8
21 miles

#7 Panera $7
27 miles

Total
168 miles
$134