The Right to Bare Arms
The Ride: The View Loop
Miles: 26.0
Time: 1:56
Ave. Speed: 13.5 mph
Weather: Hazy sun & mild, 65-73, Breezy at 12-15+ mph
Total Outdoor Miles 2018: 234.4
The Story
Not only was this the first ride of the young season with bare arms and legs, it also felt like the first real 'road' ride of spring as well, as I hit the two-lane country roads to take in my View route.
This picture is of the view that comes after a rather long slog uphill on the route, but this was taken last summer, not today.
Today the view is mostly a bland shade of brown, with the pristine land of Wisconsin farm country waiting to come to life after a long winter, a winter that still has left it's mark with some snow on the side of the road. I know, it is very odd to be riding in shorts and short sleeves on a 74-degree day while going past snow stubbornly hanging on in ditches.
For the first time this year there were cars and trucks to pay attention to while on a two-lane country road as well. And there was wind, plenty of wind.
It was a headwind going out, so I just took my time until I got a little push coming home.
The first few miles I was once again freezing. Riding along the lake and in that wind I was regretting not going with a jacket or at least long sleeves. Brrrr.
This would have been a picture-perfect day for arm warmers, having the ability to start with arms covered, then shed the warmers later in the ride. Too bad I left mine back home in the garage!
But as I expected, once I headed west away from the water things warmed up a bit. Then when I got out of the wind they warmed up a lot. It marked the first time I actually felt nice and warm while riding this year.
I'm glad everything went well...and safe. Let's all be safe and share the road out there this season.
