I didn’t ride yesterday due to the biblical rains plaguing my little town, so I opted to torture myself on the trainer for a while. I rode at a slightly elevated pace while watching some awful program on the Sci-Fi Channel. I think it was a futuristic interpretation of
Beowulf, but I have yet to see even a half decent movie holding true to the original Old English poem. Perhaps some stories are better left alone. Beowulf is obviously one of these.
Sunday offered a reprieve from the rain, so I made another journey out to the Holly Springs National Forest to get in some base miles and do a little exploring. I wanted to go out to Clear Creek and continue my endurance tests on single track, but I knew in my heart of hearts the ground would be too soft and one section of trail in particular is always nasty after torrential rains. I hate mud, so my decision was an easy one to make.
I left at 11 o’clock with the temperature bouncing between 31 and 32 degrees and a slight breeze coming in from the southwest. One bit of success on this particular ride is I seem to have stumbled upon the appropriate level of dress for once. I typically over do it and end up doing a Lycra strip within the first 30 minutes. However, the tips of my fingers and toes did reach a level of numbness an hour into the ride, but that can be corrected with a chemical heating pad, so I still consider my choice of attire to be a victory.
The ride itself was peaceful and offered a good workout, which is all I really wanted. Sometimes you just have to ride for the sake of riding, and this was one of those occasions. The mind does tend to wander when you’re riding alone in the woods with no goal other than to be out there. I found myself drifting into thoughts on a variety of topics from the comical like the best way to take an electrolyte pill on a bike without choking to the truly philosophical, such as the meaning of life and how one life affects another. The deeper questions racing beneath my helmet caused me to ponder how my life has touched others and what value any recipients place on my contributions. I try to be a good person, but we all have our flaws and shortcomings. Then there is the matter of how someone else has altered my own life for better or worse. How have I been changed by knowing this person or that person? How have I valued what others have brought to me? It seems we are the product of life’s experiences. We are every person who has touched our life for better or worse. I like Anon’s answer to this question when he said,
"Some people weave burlap into the fabric of our lives, and some weave gold thread. Both contribute to make the whole picture beautiful and unique." Still, this leaves one nagging question. Just how do I take an electrolyte pill on a bike without choking?
The Numbers:Trip Distance - 43.06 miles
Trip Time - 3:25:33
Average Speed - 12.57 mph
Max Speed - 31:28
Choice of clothing - Under Armor base layer, long sleeve jersey, short sleeve jersey, vest, bib shorts, over socks, long finger specialized gloves under dot gloves, ear covers, cycling cap, helmet.
