Snow Globe
Interesting little ride today with a few thoughts...
First of all, once again weather dictates my riding schedule. The rain that was in the forecast was pushed back, and suddenly I was left looking at yet another hot, sunny day in what has been a week of hot, sunny days.
Saturday looks like a washout, so there was no way I was going to miss a chance to get on the bike today, despite the fact that it was less than 24 hours ago that I had to stop at 30 miles due to a left leg muscle that started to cramp.
Well, the tuna salad and tons of fluids I took in after yesterday's ride must have made for a pretty good recovery because I felt great as I rolled out under the hot sun.
In fact, I decided to do a few of the longer Lake Loop laps and push for average speed. In other words, instead of just riding along taking the day in, I was riding at tempo with hard tempo sections. No taking it easy. Push, push push when you can. And it all worked.
Everything was going great until out of nowhere on the third lap all of the sudden that same muscle that runs down along in the inside of my left thigh to my knee barked out around my quad. Instinct told me to check my computer immediately to take note of when it happened. Exactly at 14.7 miles in.
So I lasted 14.7 before the clearly-tender muscle started acting up. But heck, I had gotten two hard laps in averaging almost 15 mph. Great work. Felt super in the sunshine. 87 degrees but without a high dew point yet, this felt perfect to me. I do love to ride in the hot conditions.
On one of the turnarounds during a lap, I was on that small walking path loop and it felt like I was riding inside a snow globe.
The air was thick with cottonwood seeds.
Along the sides of the path it looked like snow had piled up...
So for the second day in a row I was forced to cut the ride shorter than I wanted to. Plus I felt I had more miles in me easily, but that one muscle gone off kilter can change all of that. No sense in trying to be a hero and getting injured for a longer period of time.
So I did the smart thing and pulled off, taking a slow roll back home.
Oh, did I mention the bikini model that walked out of a backyard to her car out of nowhere during the ride? Maybe that was just a mirage, but I'm pretty sure she was real.
The things you see on any given ride!
RIDE ROUTE
Lake Loop, 3 laps
20.3 miles/14.5 average mph
Sunny and hot, 87, Wind 10 mph
2020 SEASON MILES
Indoor: 125.6
Outdoor: 740.8