4 Hills in the Wind

I got a later start than I wanted but the wind was under 20 mph and I wanted to see that I could still climb into a headwind. My leg is by no means 100% but it’s improved enough to start taking up the old routes again. I’m looking forward to Airport Sprinting again.

I could not make my fancy WristCam take a picture of our Mounted Police on patrol but it was comforting to see them out there again.

The final uphill completely exhausted my leg. Worth every pedal-stroke.

Just lovely relentless wind

Short Aurora

I’ll blame the pollen for my fatigue these days. I let the roads dry & rode Aurora for 8.1 miles over 25 minutes. Tomorrow is a PT day so Wednesday will be my first outside ride this week.

Leg feels good; Hector helps plenty & I’m back up to the 50 pound kettlebell.

Quick Flat Ride

We had temperatures in the 60s today with almost no wind. I managed some 16 & 17 mph splits and avoided all but two hills so I made decent time. I stayed away from the Airport because I’m by no means ready for sprinting yet. The leg felt good — not weak but merely tired & out of shape.

One old cyclist on a classic 70s frame blew past me beyond capture but I caught & passed a younger cyclist on a more modern bike who had passed me. Catching a wheel is something every Fixie rider must be able to do.

I’m nearing the end of my PT so cycling will increase. This will still be a grim year.

Just A Few Flats – 700 unexpected feet of Up

Despite Davidson’s predilection for puncturing tubes I did the classic Wednesday route today. I had forgotten that 2 complete circuits got you 32 miles. I had to take my Weak Leg exit so I left half a mile out there. Straight pedaling felt good & I managed some 16 mph splits.

Winds were in the low teens & gusts in the high teens. Wonderful training weather.

I may have to keep this route despite the puncture danger. I saw 3 flats out there.

Outdoors — Double Hill route Fixie

Since I could not break out of the 20s on Shelby Bottoms’s greenway twice in a row I ventured out into the hills for 2 laps — about 8 extra miles — & came in at 32 miles albeit in a lugubrious 2 hours & 17 minutes. The legs feel fine but after 2 months of indoor exercise they need at least 2 months to become Cycling Ready. The Weather was lovely with just enough wind to make things tougher.

My watch gave me an elevation gain of 1064 feet so naturally I prefer it.

Outside is so much tougher than inside & so much fore worthwhile.

2nd Ride

I fully expected to hit 31 miles today; when I took a right turn out of Shelby Bottoms to climb 5 hills I condemned myself to 23 miles but I got 732 feet of up out of them. Worth it. My left leg still does most of the heavy lifting but the right is getting stronger daily. I figure by July I’ll be ready for actual climbing.

Lovely weather and just enough wind.

First Outside Ride In Months

I was more than cautious at the start but I handled my first steep hill well enough — Aurora one leg at a time reaps benefits — & once I found a good rhythm things went very well. I don’t think I ever went faster over a mile than 15.6 mph but I’m calling my first ride a success.

I did 3 hills in all for 586 feet of up & managed a not exhausting 22 miles.

Poco a poco. What I find most difficult is slowing the bike with my legs; ideally Fixies have no hand-brakes & I use mine as infrequently as possible, but until the right leg is 80% and above pedal-braking will be very limited.