I was able to get out for a ride this morning, after not riding for a few weeks.

2003.08.30 – 13:35

Heather had laid out a 40mi path around West County to take this morning which sounded fun, and since I’ll be apple picking tomorrow during the trailnet ride, it’s my last chance for a weekend ride before the MS-150 next weekend. The ride was a good mixture of hills and slopes, requiring almost constant pace changes at times. It’s a great path to train on for building speed and ultimately endurance, and I expect to take it again next time we plan to stay in the county for our ride.

This was the first time I was able to use my CamelBak on a ride, and I’m so glad I have it. The convenience of having the water right there makes staying hydrated so much easier, and I often forgot the water was coming from the pack on my back. The pack’s contents stayed cool, so there was no sucking down warm water. The backpack fits well and the weight is distributed so there is no strain on the shoulders my all.

I had also repositioned my cleats forward on my shoes to move my foot’s connection to the pedals a little closer to the toes. At first it felt odd and I anticipated stopping the group so I could change them back, but after a few miles it felt more natural. During the ride, I felt better able to leverage my ankles into keeping a more consistant pedal stroke, maintaining more power overall. It seems to have taken some of the strain out of my knees as well, which is a plus as that often slowed me down.

The weather was of course still humid, but that was bearable. The clouds behaved and did not rain on us, but kept helped it stay relatively cool at about 80 degrees, allowing for a pleasant ride.

Computer:

• BikeTime 2:59:03
• Distance 42.56mi
• AvgSpeed 14.2mph
• MaxSpeed 37.5