Early Season Riding: Long and Rambling

Greetings!

Got up this morning after skipping two marginal rides last weekend. Weekend temps were high 30's on
Saturday and mid 40's on Sunday but I just couldn't find the motivation. Problem is that is is so
windy in Wisconsin in the early spring (I know someone out there will have to mention what a wuss I
am). If it's "warm", then it's windy, 15 - 30 mph windy, usually out of the south. Additional
problem: the only early season riding (i.e., non-hilly) is to the north. Not so bad, but invariably
I get sucked in with the tail wind and end up chugging 10 - 15 miles back upwind. West and east are
also hilly. So I wussed this weekend.

On vacation this week, I' heading out tomorrow to Utah for our 2003 family testosterone
convergence/ski trip. Myself, two of my brothers and my father will drop in on the youngest brother
who happens to have four boys as well. My poor sister-in-law! Anyway, I was off today so I checked
the weather: more of the same, windy, mid 40's, sunny in the morning and chance of rain in the
afternoon. I vacillated. Got the bike out, got the clothes out - where are my headsweat and glove
liners? Went outside with the dogs - Misha ran off, Madi wouldn't bring her toy. Seemed nice until
the wind kicked up. Went back inside and looked at the bike. Fiddled with the brake toe-in, seems
like I gotta ride now to test my adjustments. But it's so windy! Where are those liners? Found the
headsweat in the dryer, glove liners in the back pocket of the jersey I wore that day it was in the
high 50's. Changed my mind again. It's so windy! and I'm so lazy!

Finally, got my ass in gear and went. Winds 10-20 out of the south-southeast. The plan: go north,
then east, then south, then west. Gotta get at least 20 in as I told the old man I had 200 in
already. Which isn't a total fabrication, as I am closer to 200 than
100. But 20 would put me around 190 which makes my lie less of a lie. My brothers and I are all
very competitive with our father - mid 60's, past Olympic class sailor, 24 Birkebeiners, a
sub-three-hour marathon in his early 40's, better physical condition than I have or ever will
be in. And a professional success to boot. At least I can reasonably claim to be his
intellectual superior; not that I have done much with that superiority.

The ride was fast to the north, and brutal coming back, as expected. Had a dog come out after me,
this time I finally had the presence of mind to spray a fast-approaching dog with my water bottle.
Slowed him long enough to get by. I recently had an exchange with a farmer in my area over his need
to train his dog about roads. The climax (or nadir, depending on your perspective) of the exchange
went as follows:

ME(angry, scared, stupid): You know, I have the legal right to defend myself, to the point of
killing your dog if I feel physically threatened!

HIM(angry, stupid):Not if I don't kill you first!

Yikes! I have removed that road from my routes. Not a great loss as it is a major highway frequented
by "redneck, pickup-truck-driving, bicyclist-hating, sneak-up-on-you-then-horn-blaring" assholes.

Ground up the ridge to our house - I chose my route so that I wouldn't have to come up the ridge
into the wind. My normal return leg of a bike ride is a 2 mile climb heading south. Starts shallow
and gets steeper as you go; buddy of mine has nicknamed it Alp du Glarus (mishmosh of Alp du Huez
and New Glarus, the nearest town).

Can't wait for the warm days and mild breezes of early summer. I can wait for the 90% humidity and
near 100 degree days.

Keep 'em turnin'!

App

 

Keep plugging away. The harsh conditions of early spring riding (i.e. wind rain cold) really make me
feel as if I've "earned" those rides in calm winds 70 degree temps and lots of sun. This past
weekend was cool here (Indiana) too. I actually got snowed on!

Maybe you should try heading out into the wind on the way out. I try to do that all spring long. My
routes are planned by the wind! But again- you "earn" that tailwind on the way home just as you earn
that descent after climbing a hill.

Chris "Appkiller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Greetings!
>
> Got up this morning after skipping two marginal rides last weekend. Weekend temps were high 30's
> on Saturday and mid 40's on Sunday but I just couldn't find the motivation. Problem is that is is
> so windy in Wisconsin in the early spring (I know someone out there will have to mention what a
> wuss I am). If it's "warm", then it's windy, 15 - 30 mph windy, usually out of the south.
> Additional problem: the only early season riding (i.e., non-hilly) is to the north. Not so bad,
> but invariably I get sucked in with the tail wind and end up chugging 10 - 15 miles back upwind.
> West and east are also hilly. So I wussed this weekend.
>
> On vacation this week, I' heading out tomorrow to Utah for our 2003 family testosterone
> convergence/ski trip. Myself, two of my brothers and my father will drop in on the youngest
> brother who happens to have four boys as well. My poor sister-in-law! Anyway, I was off today so I
> checked the weather: more of the same, windy, mid 40's, sunny in the morning and chance of rain in
> the afternoon. I vacillated. Got the bike out, got the clothes out - where are my headsweat and
> glove liners? Went outside with the dogs - Misha ran off, Madi wouldn't bring her toy. Seemed nice
> until the wind kicked up. Went back inside and looked at the bike. Fiddled with the brake toe-in,
> seems like I gotta ride now to test my adjustments. But it's so windy! Where are those liners?
> Found the headsweat in the dryer, glove liners in the back pocket of the jersey I wore that day it
> was in the high 50's. Changed my mind again. It's so windy! and I'm so lazy!
>
> Finally, got my ass in gear and went. Winds 10-20 out of the south-southeast. The plan: go north,
> then east, then south, then west. Gotta get at least 20 in as I told the old man I had 200 in
> already. Which isn't a total fabrication, as I am closer to 200 than
> 100. But 20 would put me around 190 which makes my lie less of a lie. My brothers and I are all
> very competitive with our father - mid 60's, past Olympic class sailor, 24 Birkebeiners, a
> sub-three-hour marathon in his early 40's, better physical condition than I have or ever
> will be in. And a professional success to boot. At least I can reasonably claim to be his
> intellectual superior; not that I have done much with that superiority.
>
> The ride was fast to the north, and brutal coming back, as expected. Had a dog come out after me,
> this time I finally had the presence of mind to spray a fast-approaching dog with my water bottle.
> Slowed him long enough to get by. I recently had an exchange with a farmer in my area over his
> need to train his dog about roads. The climax (or nadir, depending on your perspective) of the
> exchange went as follows:
>
> ME(angry, scared, stupid): You know, I have the legal right to defend myself, to the point of
> killing your dog if I feel physically threatened!
>
> HIM(angry, stupid):Not if I don't kill you first!
>
> Yikes! I have removed that road from my routes. Not a great loss as it is a major highway
> frequented by "redneck, pickup-truck-driving, bicyclist-hating, sneak-up-on-you-then-horn-blaring"
> assholes.
>
> Ground up the ridge to our house - I chose my route so that I wouldn't have to come up the ridge
> into the wind. My normal return leg of a bike ride is a 2 mile climb heading south. Starts shallow
> and gets steeper as you go; buddy of mine has nicknamed it Alp du Glarus (mishmosh of Alp du Huez
> and New Glarus, the nearest town).
>
> Can't wait for the warm days and mild breezes of early summer. I can wait for the 90% humidity and
> near 100 degree days.
>
> Keep 'em turnin'!
>
> App