Pete agreed to photograph the San Antonio Wheelmen class before their weekly ride this morning. That meant we had to be at one of the ride points, so we geared up the cameras, loaded up the bikes, and headed over early this morning. 
We took some group shots. Then headed out on the route and took some shots of the group as they rode by. Task completed, we drove back to the parking lot, unloaded our bikes and set out. I had decided my personal goal was to hit 15 miles today. The route started nice and easy with what seemed like a warm-up built into the route.
I'm not yet ready to pull out the water bottle and drink while I'm riding, so at 3.5 miles, I needed a water break. That done, we were back on the road, except we had just turned a corner. The wind was now in my face and I could not hold a cadence of 70. Pete sensed my struggling and pulled in front of me shielding the wind a bit. Wow! Now I could do 75! I foolishly tried shifting to see if I could hit 80. As I started to fall behind, the wind got stronger and my cadence really fell, so I shifted back, double-timed it and was back in place.
At 5.5 miles, the road surface changed and I was suddenly aware of the seat I was sitting on. I also became painfully aware of the edge of my underwear and where it was being pushed into my butt. About this time, Pete notices in his mirror that my face is red. He falls back to check on me. I've decided I'll go to six miles and see how I'm doing. I tell him his shield is working, so he pulls back in front.
At 6.2 miles, I've had it. I had started to think I could make it to the stop sign we had seen while out taking photos, but that is nowhere in sight yet and my butt hurts. I know I have to go back as far as I came and I'm not sure I should proceed on. Another water break and Pete heads off at his speed for more distance and I turn around to double back. We did the first 6.2 miles in 37 minutes. That sounds impressive, I think.
Now the wind is at my back and I'm okay. The butt is still sore but I think I can make it. I stop at the same stop sign for a mid-way break on the return trip. Then I hit 10 miles! Wow! That was a feeling! It energized me for about half a mile. Then I started to struggle to hit 11 miles.
I know the highway crossing is coming up and I'm a bit nervous about being tired and crossing a five lane highway by myself. I rest for a few minutes at the gas station on the corner and watch the traffic pattern. I decide I might as well go for it, so I get back on the bike. As I pull up to the stop sign, there are no cars in sight, so I keep rolling across the highway. I did it! Now that I'm across, I'm in the home stretch. The last bit of the ride is uneventful. The local cop waves as he passes me and sees me signal for my turn. Before I know it, I'm back at the truck. I finish my water and load my bike onto the rack. Holy cow I did 12.4 miles today!
Goals
Today's Miles: 12.4
Total Miles Achieved: 26.4
Financial Investment: $90.64
Total Weight Loss: 2
We took some group shots. Then headed out on the route and took some shots of the group as they rode by. Task completed, we drove back to the parking lot, unloaded our bikes and set out. I had decided my personal goal was to hit 15 miles today. The route started nice and easy with what seemed like a warm-up built into the route.
I'm not yet ready to pull out the water bottle and drink while I'm riding, so at 3.5 miles, I needed a water break. That done, we were back on the road, except we had just turned a corner. The wind was now in my face and I could not hold a cadence of 70. Pete sensed my struggling and pulled in front of me shielding the wind a bit. Wow! Now I could do 75! I foolishly tried shifting to see if I could hit 80. As I started to fall behind, the wind got stronger and my cadence really fell, so I shifted back, double-timed it and was back in place.
At 5.5 miles, the road surface changed and I was suddenly aware of the seat I was sitting on. I also became painfully aware of the edge of my underwear and where it was being pushed into my butt. About this time, Pete notices in his mirror that my face is red. He falls back to check on me. I've decided I'll go to six miles and see how I'm doing. I tell him his shield is working, so he pulls back in front.
At 6.2 miles, I've had it. I had started to think I could make it to the stop sign we had seen while out taking photos, but that is nowhere in sight yet and my butt hurts. I know I have to go back as far as I came and I'm not sure I should proceed on. Another water break and Pete heads off at his speed for more distance and I turn around to double back. We did the first 6.2 miles in 37 minutes. That sounds impressive, I think.
Now the wind is at my back and I'm okay. The butt is still sore but I think I can make it. I stop at the same stop sign for a mid-way break on the return trip. Then I hit 10 miles! Wow! That was a feeling! It energized me for about half a mile. Then I started to struggle to hit 11 miles.
I know the highway crossing is coming up and I'm a bit nervous about being tired and crossing a five lane highway by myself. I rest for a few minutes at the gas station on the corner and watch the traffic pattern. I decide I might as well go for it, so I get back on the bike. As I pull up to the stop sign, there are no cars in sight, so I keep rolling across the highway. I did it! Now that I'm across, I'm in the home stretch. The last bit of the ride is uneventful. The local cop waves as he passes me and sees me signal for my turn. Before I know it, I'm back at the truck. I finish my water and load my bike onto the rack. Holy cow I did 12.4 miles today!
Goals
Today's Miles: 12.4
Total Miles Achieved: 26.4
Financial Investment: $90.64
Total Weight Loss: 2
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