The good thing about having taken the class however is that it has turned into a wonderful incentive to get out on the road and ride. I woke up this morning and told myself I either had to do a long ride and push my pace and cadence today or take a spin class this evening. The attractive alternative of road biking rather than spinning braced me up enough to not listen to the whiny voice inside predicting rain and pointing out that the wind chimes were madly ringing. I did make one false start, circling back to pick up the rain jacket after I had convinced the lazy voice inside my head that if it started raining, I would indeed turn back. Fortunately just having the rain gear with me did the trick.
I did a full 55 miles in about 3 hours and 45 minutes which worked out to an average speed of 14.9 mph in spite of the wind. That speed is getting close to a personal best as is the distance. It felt like I had headwinds in every direction as usual, but I must have had them directly to the side at a couple of points since the bike was humming, in a tone distinctly similar to the whiny voice in my head saying "I want to go home." I tricked myself into not listening by mentally singing Mozart masses and requiems until I was as far out as I was going to go. Then the only solution was indeed, to ride until I was "home again all the same day."
I took a route that accessed some major highway with nice shoulders and then wandered back through an area of large horse estates, farms and fields. Many of the wild flowers are fading fast, perhaps discouraged by the cold snap of the last few days. I did pass through an area of fields white with what I think is probably prickly Mexican poppy. At least it has large white 5 petaled poppy like flowers on tall upright stems with leaves that distinctly resemble a thistle and looks like the picture in the book labeled as such. The other flower that seems to be prevalent right now along the verges and grassy edges is the evening primrose, a pale pink to white low growing morning glory looking sort of blossom which is often interspersed with a violent bright magenta purple poppy looking flower of five petals, with leaves that resemble a California poppy. It sort of looks like the photo of a Texas storksbill so that's what I will call it. Obviously my wildflower references leave something to be desired, but all in all it was not too shabby a ride for a Monday morning.
Ride Statistics
Distance
55 miles (actually 56.25 but I prefer not count the return circle for the rain coat.
Average speed
14.9 in spite of or perhaps because of wind- it's a 50/50 propostion.
Time-
riding time 3 hours 45 minutes.
Head winds-
as always, every direction but distinctly strongest from the East and Southeast.
Temperature
65 degrees and overcast
Highlights
The distance, the speed, the fields of white poppy/thistles and some of the sweetest little brindled long horn baby calfs
Road kill
5 possum, 2 squirrels, 1 skunk, and 1 rabbit
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