Winter will just not let go of us. Obviously I am excited for the warmer weather, but also that I can go biking more. Not just biking to work, but for much longer rides as well. This last Sunday I participated in the annual Lakevill Ironman ride. They have a 30, 62 (more like 63.3), and a 100 mile route. My previous longest ride was a 34 mile ride so I decided to challenge myself with the 62 mile route. I started the ride with a couple friends, who then split off to the 100 mile route. So, for 95% of the ride I did on my own. The weather was rather chilly in the first leg (28 miles), pretty much heading West and South. I was well layered, but the breeze/wind was somewhat annoying on the hills, which the first leg had plenty of. At around 23 miles I did have to stop and take off my head mask and just put on the skull cap (underneath my helmet of course) due to I was getting warm and a little nauseous. Had a couple fig bars and a good swig of water and moved on. At the first stop, an American Legion Hall, they had quite a spread of food and drink for riders. I had a small cup of coffee, a bit of water, several orange slices, a blueberry muffin and pocketed some sports bars for further into the ride. The next leg was 18 miles and went East, so I had the wind at my back now. This leg was also more flat and there were no steep hills to climb. Unfortunately, this leg of road was also filled with potholes and bumps, which made for an interesting leg. Regardless, I had a nice cadence at around 17-19 mph. At the second and last stop, which was in Northfield, Minnesota, they were serving small bowls of pasta along side the boxes of fruit and candy. I also had some wheat bread, which I have to find out which baker made them. 
The third and final leg was a pretty much a straight shot North leaving Northfield and going through some more farm country.. The wind was not direct, but had picked up over the previous legs and was annoying at times. The first part of this leg was quite nice, but as in most things, the closer you get to the “finish line” the longer it takes. LOL. It was quite interesting to bike that far and alone. With no one to talk to, or to switch pace setting with, it is a great exercise in mental discipline to maintain a good work rate and not get disheartened. AND not get bored. Since this is the start of the season, it was a good chance to work out some of the usual “early season” stiffness and to toughen up the butt. I sometimes usually have bad pains with my Trapezius (neck muscle) due to riding very stiff and not relaxed. I forced myself to be in a relaxed position and continually “stretched” it while I was looking at the scenery. At the end of the ride I did not have a problem with it whatsoever. I do have to say that about 15 minutes after the ride I started to come down hard, i.e., very weak and a little sore. When I got home I made sure I kept busy walking around and did not sit or lie down. This definitely helped my recovery. For the next day, my knees , lower left back and right calf were a bit sore, but not enough to keep me off my feet.
Having done the ride, I have accomplished one step in a future goal…completing a century (100 miles) by the end of the biking season. I do have another staged ride in another week and I would not mind doing another 60. We shall see.
Oh, for other bikers out there, these web sites may be of interest.
& for those who like to journal
