Often the MapMyRide app simply fails to synch & upload. Irks me.

I fiddled with the saddle height so-as not to orphan some of my downstroke in my legs. Getting closer to my old proper position.

Every early season I must fiddle with saddle height. It doesn’t change drastically from season to season but until I dial it well in I fiddle. Banging away on Mr Tib at 14 mph & 15 mph on Amabo means my heights are off; leaving some oomph in the legs with each pedal-stroke.

Early Season Tinkering.

Today a good day

The roads are still nearly empty – the virus testing center is set up and empty

Quite a cold day – frost warning & 31° this morning & just about 47° when I started riding at 11:30. Wrapped in Winter togs & I wasn’t the only one.

Same guy on his Time-Trial Trek was absolutely killing it at the Airport. He’s the guy who 3 years ago got me to Standing Sprint just after the turns; I’ve lost much since then but it’s a good way to do Sprintervals. If I ever manage to catch him, I’ll thank him.

Finally got to try one of the old Monday triples, which now runs through tornado damage. Tough getting back into cycling shape.

Finally took Fortland up to Perlen to see the tornado damage from a Month ago ( feels like years ago). I’m guessing that as with bikes, tornadoes climb out of valleys slowly. This made for extensive damage & there are still holes where houses used to be. It was a lugubrious ride, nothing like the enjoyment in denying gravity I used to feel.

I tried to follow the tornado’s path from where it jumped the Cumberland but the bike path veers left & the tornado continued straight.

I noticed the direction a few cyclists were taking & bet Shelby was open again & I was right. The “new bridge” is complete but there’s no paved trail & the rain means mud & I won’t try that again. Total yuck. But the path to the Airport was open – littered along the sides with Roofs Doors Air Conditioner Components & Aluminum Siding. I’m guessing the nails (which one still finds on Holly Fatherland & Lillian) are lost in the woods. There are stretches where one can see the river so many trees are down.

I took some of the old hills mostly to see the extent of my own damage but even then I had a slow thoughtful rude.

April will have me again on Newhall & other damaged roads.

All the big double-trailer wreckage haulers have moved on to the next disaster but the smaller haulers still make regular trips to our metal recycling dump by the Cumberland – right along my regular Saturday route. Even with a Coronavirus order not to congregate East Nashville still manages to pick up the pieces & move them along so the rebuilding can begin.

Oddly, just across the street from the metal-separating magnets Davidson County has placed its Coronavirus Drive-Through Testing Center – another type of picking up pieces & moving along toward rebuilding.

26 days with no ride so I took things slow against the wind to build my legs again. Many more waves & head-nod greetings these days of no group rides; we are sad & isolated but still chasing peloton dreams.

Tough days

Took the 48 over Shelby Bridge in 38° just before noon. Has to give February at least one more ride; it’s been a bad mild Winter what with me shackled to the yard for constant Codes people to inspect. 204 miles for the Month. Hoping for a strong April.

I’m getting used to the extra requirements & compensating well enough. Regular uphills will help plus the heavy bike on off-days. Now, just to survive the rain on Aurora

Some road-work & construction near the Titans’s Bubble but the roads mostly clear of bad debris, but I wish they’d put a driveway-break at the entrance of the Ted Rhodes Greenway.

Lovely windy day in the 60s, which I misjudged by wearing traditional Winter gear. Dope. I rode the usual hills but first time with the 48 up front (16 rear). Increased difficulty but it feels still right.

The long greenway still lacks the connective asphalt so I’m afraid a Dam ride will have to wait till April