Into the distance, a river of black
stretched to the point of no turning back
a flight of fancy, on a windswept field
standing alone, my senses reeled.
fatal attraction is holding me fast,
how can I escape this irresistible grasp?
Can't keep my mind from the circling sky
tongue tied and twisted
Just an earthbound misfit, I.
So today me, myself, and I did the Rio Vista Rumble. I had fools for company, but I won all the sprints!
I've never done a route all by myself. I've finished one that way, but never been alone from start to finish. There is some freedom to riding your own pace without worrying about anyone else. Had anyone been able to come it wouldn't have mattered anyway, since the wind was so brutal it precluded any conversation.
Started out quite cloudy and dark with sprinkles enough to get me damp. Had almost no traffic even on lake ridge parkway. All the traffic was around the several schools I rode past.
Bud, you will be encouraged to know that (Briton?) road - the one that was so foul to ride on, still had some places that felt like you were riding over ruts, but every single bit of the loose scree was G-O-N-E.
With the incoming front, I had the wind from all directions on my way out, but I made the 57 miles to Blum in about 3:15, in spite of having my bag dragging against my tire AGAIN for who knows how long. I knew I felt slow but I thought it was just me.. I was hoping to be done in between 8-8.5 hours. HAH!
That was when the wind REALLY started picking up, the temp dropped, and I got royally BEEPed! The ONE time I had wind at my back for exactly 4 miles my speed never went under 26, even uphill. Then I turned onto a road that was straight as an arrow and gave me a quartering headwind that was wild. I was able to maintain 14-15 with effort, leaning over a bit. When a rig would pass me it felt like my wheels were coming off the ground and I immediately jumped to 18. When a rig came the other way it was like getting punched in the head.
I basically spent the whole way from Blum back to Joe Pool with a headwind. Eventually I was unable to fight it off and round about itasca I was just turning the pedals. Thankfully Bud had already warned me this would happen so I didn't get distraught, just disappointed that my finish time would be much later. The long climbs out of Maypearl aren't fun on a good day, and sucked royally with the stiff wind in my face.
Speaking of Maypearl I saw something that made the entire 200k worth it, beyond FINALLY getting my ride in for my r-12. Right as I came into the suburbs outside the city, there as a 3 foot banana on the edge of his yard waving a big plastic sword at everyone. When I slowed up to talk to him he yells "hey wanna buy a banana?" I replied, "son, I thought *I* was the weirdest thing on the road today.!"
Anyway, nearly the entire last 30 miles were done at 8-12 mph. Even downhill. When the wind turned to the side a bit I was able to get 16-17, and occasional spurts over 20 downhill, but that was rare. Oh, and my seatfoam is toast - no wonder I was so sore on the bike at sebring - I might has well have been sitting on the bare carbon fiber.
Anyway, the end result is that I had a good time. Almost no traffic whatsoever and no dog issues other than a Doberman ver. 2.0 who had stealth mode turned on. Fun ride, mostly good roads, and no bonus miles to speak of.
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Ever seen a 3 foot banana? (Read 914 times)
