A Personal Best

Local conventional road biking wisdom says that you should try to head out into the wind so that you will have it behind you coming home when you are tired. A good theory, except that I often catch myself thinking that heading out into a head wind just makes the whole biking experience unbearably depressing since in Texas I invariably end up biking into the wind in whichever direction I am biking, even if I do a complete about face and come back directly the way I just came.

Wednesday for some reason, the weather and biking gods smiled and I had the unique experience of having a tail wind strong enough to boost my speed up to 20 mph, a heady elixir indeed. Since I usually bike at a high gear ratio of 3/7 to improve leg strength, the sensation of flying was nearly tangible. So heady was the feeling of speeding along that I actually got 20 miles out before the reality of wind direction and Texas biking hit home and I realized that I was going to have to pedal against that same wind going back. Thoroughly bummed out I found a Starbucks and considered options while contemplating a cinnamon dolce latte. I could give up, lock my bike, throw myself on the mercy of a taxi except that a) I didn't have a lock with me and b) I didn't have any money to pay a taxi and c) I didn't think my cell phone had enough charge left on it to locate a taxi that would come pick me up out in the burbs. I realized that I would have to bit the bullet and ride home.

At this point two late twenty early thirty something young men rode up in their slick brightly colored nylon, Tour de France style speedy helmets and killer aviator sunglasses. Much puffing , posturing, stripping of gloves and checking of blackberries ensued while they dismounted and clacked off in their special biking shoes into the store for coffee. While they were inside I checked out their trek bikes and was hefting the one which was the same model number as mine to check out if the Z at the end of the model number meant something weight wise. As I was hefting the owner came up and asked me what I was doing. I indicated my bike, also a trek 7100 model, and explained that I was wondering "what the difference was between a trek 7100 and a 7100Z"to which he replied, "mine is newer, better and cost more." He sat down with his back to me while pointedly engaging his companion (who had the grace to look a little embarassed) in conversation. I retreated back to my table and finished my coffee, deciding that I would just have to trudge on home the most direct route I could find and feel virtuous about fighting the headwinds.

As I stood up to leave I heard snob biker remark to his companion "if this were a meeting I would have my blackberry and phone turned off but since it's just you...."

"Ah" thought I and headed out.

The return 20 miles was acomplished in about twice the time it took going out. How stiff was that headwind? Well at 3/7 with a tail wind I was averaging 20mph. Heading into the wind with a gearing of 2/3 I was fighting to maintain 10 mph. At least the wind had the grace to die a bit as I rounded the last corner into my street, and the crowd in my head went wild as I threw up one victory fist for my first ever 40 miles in 3 hour road bike ride.

Today Phil and I went out for a short ride. The weather was chancy gusting and trying to think about raining but we figured we didn't really have to take the bikes off the car and actually ride unless we wanted to so.......

Still exploring the country roads outside of Houston burbs, we ended up starting out in the town of Fulshear, home of world famous (in their own minds at least) Doziers BBQ and country store. The first 9 or so miles were, as always, into the wind but at least the road had a bit of a swell and roll to it, and for a change, was not absolutely straight. We stopped and poked through an antique shop as a halfway break and then turned to take a less direct route back. Miracle of miracles, the wind direction held and the majority of the return ride was with a tail wind. Twice in one week to hit 20 mph is a record for me and a first for Phil. The road back was even more rural, lots of large ranches, rolls and swells and gentle curves and continually crossing Bessies Creek which meandering past in a series of ox bows. Pleasantly interesting in spite of the variety of road kill and trash.

The last 5 miles was against the wind in a sporadic light rain so we rewarded ourselves with some of the "world famous" BarBQ.

In total that makes 100 miles this week for me in three rides for a total time of 8 hours or 12.5 mph, which considering the headwinds, ain't bad for an old lady.