ride recaps

Okay, so not really ‘recaps’ since it’s not like I already talked about them. But I was at a loss for a better word!

My riding this week was purely utilitarian- a couple of trips to the grocery store and the library, oh, and a spin class. Sunday’s ride was, I believe, the worst ride that I have ever gone on in my life. It was so blasted cold, and I was not dressed properly, because I was tricked by the seemingly warm, bright sun that was beating down. Well, the wind was not warm. It was bitter, and I thought my ears were going to freeze off. Before I even got out of my neighborhood, my eyes were watering and the tears were, I’m pretty sure anyway, beginning to freeze. So, rather than take the longer, more scenic, less traffic route, I took the straightest, quickest route. Being Sunday afternoon, the traffic was pretty minimal anyway, so it was much better than that route would be during a weekday. I was out because I really wanted to be on my bike, I really wanted to go to the library, and I really wanted egg salad (random craving). Well, I got to the library, and wouldn’t you know it, they are closed on Sundays. I knew this of course, I just hadn’t been thinking. I returned the books I already had to the drop box. I headed over to the grocery store, which is just across the parking lot, only to find that the deli didn’t have egg salad. Darn it! I decided on some chicken salad and some egg potato salad. I headed home, whipped up a sandwich and plopped a side of potato salad down on the plate. The chicken salad was sweet, which I did not care for at all, and the potato salad was bland. Therefore, that only confirmed that this particular ride was indeed the worst ride I’ve ever had.

Friday, after taking Stella for a walk and taking some photos, I decided to try again for the library. It was still cold, but the wind was nonexistent. I bundled up, and made sure my ears were covered this time, just to be smart. I decided to go as slow as I could go. Not because I wouldn’t have been happy going faster, but I wanted to prolong my time outdoors. It was definitely a pure leisurely ride. Once I arrived at the library, I spent a good amount of time wandering up and down the fiction aisles. I sometimes (okay, often) pick books out by the way they pop out at me- sometimes it’s the title, sometimes it’s the color or design of the spine (yeah, yeah “never judge a book by it’s cover”). I’m sure I’m not the only person who does this. I pick up a book that I think might be interesting and read the inside or back cover, or sometimes I even skim over the first page or two. I don’t have to be entirely captivated by the first page, but I like to have some idea that I’ll actually be interested in. My other book choosing method usually is just to find a book by an author that I’ve liked in the past, or an author I’ve heard about and think might be interesting. Anyway, I actually really enjoy my whole decision process. I could (and have) spend hours in a library. Unfortunately, I have too many things to get done right now, so I can not live at the library. Plus, my actually reading time is limited, so it doesn’t make sense to pick out a gazillion books that I won’t have time to read.

Yesterday, I headed to spin class and the coffee shop with Teri and Kat. I thought I was going to die during spin class. My fitness level has definitely decreased since we found out we are moving and I’ve pretty much abandoned any “real” riding. So, I try to make it up in spin class. I was huffing and puffing and I swear my legs felt like they were going to fall off. I think I might have wrote the same thing about last weeks spin class! Basically, I gave it all I had. When the instructor said it was sprint time, I sprinted towards first place. When it was time to climb, I climbed the very biggest hill that I could climb. I know I had the look of suffering written all over my face. Yet, it felt good. I’m glad I gave it all I had. It’ll help me in the long run. I’ve found the faster I am, or the better I can climb, it doesn’t just help my racing, but opens up my opportunities for joining various group rides. Plus, it makes those easier leisure rides seem so much easier!