I got up yesterday with a couple of projects to do prior to going on my daily ride. I needed to check the rear brakes on the car so I pulled the hub, they were fine. Needed to do maintenance on the mower, got that done too. Then the fun part, clean the V-rex. Made her spotless and clean, got her drive train well lubed and ready for action...(hmmm that sounds like ****).
Anyway, my goal was to ride 50 with that in mind I headed into the wind. It was blowing steady at about 17mph and it was no easy feat to ride into it for as long as I knew that I would have to. I rode at about 11mph in a low gear that I could spin fairly easy so as not to have to work too hard at it. I got about 13 miles from home and stopped in Centreville MI at a Shell Mart for a couple of Gatorades and while drinking one of them I looked over my shoulder and the sky was turning quite dark. As I had been riding into the wind I knew that this darkness was headed my way.
The storm looked to be about 10 miles from me so I thought that I would just head home and see if I could beat it. With the wind at my back I took off, after answering a couple of question from a man and his son, (had to be polite, and I love talking about my bike). With the wind as a push I rode easily at 17 mph and just ate the miles up. About 2/3rds of the way home I noticed rain drops beginnng to fall and the wind picking up. I looked over my shoulder at the sky and the blackness was on my 6. Lightning began to light the sky and the cracking of the thunder was deafening. Streaks of white light smacked the ground not too distant from me and I began to pray.
Halfway up Marvin road a the heavens opened up with a downpour to rival anything that I had ever seen. With the lightning and thunder cracking all around me I sped onward. I got to the main highway, M-66, (about 6 miles from home), and the wind, rain, and thunder busters were so intense and heavy that the cars were pulling over to wait it out. I kept going, dutifully imersed in prayer, as I was too exposed with noplace to seek shelter. Man was the rain intense, it blew so hard that it stung. I puzzeled over this and looked down at my shirt. I was covered in hail about the size of my fingernail. No wonder the rain hurt.
Anyway, made it home okay. Now to dry out my seat.
Anyway, my goal was to ride 50 with that in mind I headed into the wind. It was blowing steady at about 17mph and it was no easy feat to ride into it for as long as I knew that I would have to. I rode at about 11mph in a low gear that I could spin fairly easy so as not to have to work too hard at it. I got about 13 miles from home and stopped in Centreville MI at a Shell Mart for a couple of Gatorades and while drinking one of them I looked over my shoulder and the sky was turning quite dark. As I had been riding into the wind I knew that this darkness was headed my way.
The storm looked to be about 10 miles from me so I thought that I would just head home and see if I could beat it. With the wind at my back I took off, after answering a couple of question from a man and his son, (had to be polite, and I love talking about my bike). With the wind as a push I rode easily at 17 mph and just ate the miles up. About 2/3rds of the way home I noticed rain drops beginnng to fall and the wind picking up. I looked over my shoulder at the sky and the blackness was on my 6. Lightning began to light the sky and the cracking of the thunder was deafening. Streaks of white light smacked the ground not too distant from me and I began to pray.
Halfway up Marvin road a the heavens opened up with a downpour to rival anything that I had ever seen. With the lightning and thunder cracking all around me I sped onward. I got to the main highway, M-66, (about 6 miles from home), and the wind, rain, and thunder busters were so intense and heavy that the cars were pulling over to wait it out. I kept going, dutifully imersed in prayer, as I was too exposed with noplace to seek shelter. Man was the rain intense, it blew so hard that it stung. I puzzeled over this and looked down at my shirt. I was covered in hail about the size of my fingernail. No wonder the rain hurt.
Anyway, made it home okay. Now to dry out my seat.
