Pink Carrot

Have you ever seen a pink carrot?

I saw one today while out on my 30-mile ride in the countryside.

If there was ever a tale of two rides on ONE ride, this was it.

The first half and the second half of the ride were nothing alike. Nothing at all.

First of all it should be noted that the weather was fantastic for a spring day day in Wisconsin. Sunshine and 56 degrees. Yet it was cold at times for the first few miles because of some wind coming off Lake Winnebago.

Speaking of wind, I am still amazed at times how calm and warm things can seem in your driveway before you roll out, but how windy it can then be out on a lonesome country road.

The first half of this 30-mile effort was wonderful. I had a crosswind that mixed with a tailwind at times. I knew I would be facing a headwind coming home, but why worry about that now heading out?

Glorious sunshine. Lightly-traveled country roads. THIS is what I love about cycling. Talk about 'social distancing'... it's just me, my bike and the open road. The hum of the wheels and birds singing to keep you company.

Non-cyclists may find it hard to believe but if you can remember to just relax your upper body, riding in a nice tuck in the drops can actually be very comfy. I was in a zone and felt good.

I made a right turn and that put me into more crosswind. My next turn would mean the start of a battle with headwind for about 10 miles back into town.

As I approached the turn that would put me into the headwind I was debating if I should stop, stretch and have the Hammer Gel I had tucked into my jersey pocket just in case I decided to 'go long' today, which I did.

Maybe it was because I was thinking of a good spot to stop that I never saw the pink carrot coming from my left. I made the turn that must have been pretty much right in front of her. Immediately felt the surge of headwind. I was planning on making that stop for a break when I heard a voice from behind me.

It took my brain a while to process the moment because it startled me. I hadn't seen anyone coming from that direction.

Another rider had said, "Bike Back", and I realized this just as a lady rider in a pink wind jacket went past me on my left.

She said hi. I said hi. She kept going.

Then I thought I would try to stay behind her, you know, use her as my pink carrot. She rode strong and obviously had a good rhythm going into the wind whereas I did not, having just started in that direction.

I could see her about a half block ahead of me, but I could not catch her. Not into that wind. I tried to stay steady while I reached back to my pocket in a failed attempt to get my gel.

The zipper on the pocket wasn't budging. I couldn't get it open. I wasn't going to stop. It was too windy to take a chance at both hands off the bike to fiddle around behind my back.

I pedaled onward with my pink carrot providing the inspiration to continue a tempo pace.

At one point I looked up and she was gone. I saw there was a right-turn only intersection ahead. She must have taken it. Suddenly it seemed lonely out there. I wasn't scheduled to turn right there, but it wasn't a bad idea because it meant a break from the headwind.

When I got to the intersection I looked and there she was. She had turned right and now so was I. Behind the pink carrot once again, but now that pink jacket was getting smaller, her lead increasing on me until finally a second time I looked up and failed to see her. She was no where to be found.

Pink carrot was gone. I had to save some leg for final climb on a bridge near my home. Now that I had time, I managed to finally get that zipper pocket on my wind jacket open and quickly gulped down that gel. I was glad to have it because I think it gave me a needed boost into the wind.

When I got there, I started the climb fine, but 3/4 of the way up the thing my quads started to lock. When that happens it is dangerous because you almost can't move at all. I'm just not in good enough shape to get away with this at the end of a long ride.

It was ugly....I thought about un-clipping and stopping but somehow I got over the top and limped in the ride to the finish.

Kudos to you lady rider in the pink wind jacket! Nice job. And thanks for being a carrot for a time for me.

RIDE ROUTE

Started as "The Phone Booth" but took a turn

30 miles/13.8 average mph

Sun, 57, Wind 5-10 mph

Note: Longest ride of the 2020 season

2020 SEASON MILES

Indoor: 125.6

Outdoor: 198