All Wrong

The Ride Route: The Rectangle

Miles: 26

Time: 1:57

Ave. Speed: 13.3 mph

Weather: Pesky 12-15 mph wind, sun, 67

Total Outdoor 2017 Miles: 1,165

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The Story

Wasn't there a song that included the lyrics, "Mama said there'd be days like this"?

She was right.

Today stunk.

Stink. Stank. Stunk.

Period.

This was bad right from the start. It's never good when you roll out in the wrong frame of mind. I was upset and frustrated by my morning, which offered up technical glitches involving my PhilCast show.

I thought perhaps a ride would be a good head clearer.

But being distracted by a foul mood can be a recipe for disaster on the road because your attention isn't 100% on what you're doing out there.

Early on it was bad timing, when I had to wait forever for a draw bridge to come back down. No boats. Just a test I guess.

Once I got out of the city and into the countryside it was nice and quiet, but I could tell nether my heart nor my body were into this.

Boy was I right.

From mile 17 on it was horrible.

My legs were burning with soreness. I was sick and tired of going into a headwind and I had no gas whatsoever. True, the only thing I had eaten all day was a banana.

My bad. That didn't help.

My legs hurt. My neck hurt. My butt hurt. My feet even hurt. I couldn't wait for this torture to be over.

Then as I got back into the city I started to feel like I was losing control of the thing...you know that feeling that a crash or some sort of incident is just around the corner.

A semi pulled out in front of me to turn left. No one behind me....he could have waited....but no, he thought he'd just beat me out.

A bus pinched me to the side of the road as I crossed some railroad tracks, meaning I could not go as diagonal as I wanted. I was worried I'd crash there too.

Then not once but three times at intersections I couldn't get over into the proper lane and ended up just walking my bike through the things.

Total frustration.

I was counting the blocks to the end, just praying something didn't happen in those final moments.

This is as bad a taste in my mouth that I have had this season.

Usually that means I won't rest until I get right back out there the next day trying to make things better.

We'll see.

But right now if someone rang my doorbell and asked to buy my bike it would be gone.

Well, as a long-time former Milwaukee TV news guy used to say when he signed off....

Better Tomorrows

(I hope)