So, I’ve been thinking of riding the bike tour again. This year about this time I always think about it. Now’s the time to start training. Well, April really, but May will work.
Some things happened that made the idea and the training more appealing. Sara showed me how to shove a bike in the trunk. Never considered this before. When we rode the backseat didn’t fold down. Jillian sent out an online donation link for her March of Dimes run. Hadn’t seen that before. Makes it really easy to collect money. People can use their credit card and it’s really quick. And then I’ve been digging up old memories the past year or so and reevaluating them.
The bike tour was a very significant part of life growing up. I did it like 7 or 8 times. From 13-18 then once or twice more. The years kind of blur. At the end it wasn’t any fun. A lot less help from people. Fewer sponsors. The National Guard dropped out. Really miss those 6×6 trucks. The bike tour is the reason I have large calves even though I don’t work out.
Anyway, why not. I’m not doing anything, except getting fat.
There’s a bike log I put on the blog to show how much I ride. The best route so far is going out I-40 on the West side of town to Helium road. Park in the Gander Mtn parking lot and then ride out on the access rode. There are overpasses at the 1, 3, and 6 mile points, which gives you a 2, 6+, or 13 mile ride. The access rode isn’t used too much. It’s pretty level, a few low hills. The biggest killer is that the wind seems to always blow. This knocks down your speed by 2+ mph one way and you get it back on the other direction.
My bike kind of sucks for this. It’s a full suspension mountain bike. The smooth ride is great. Grip shifters, 26 X 1.75 tires, and straight handle bars. The tires aren’t very knobby, but the handle bars are killer given that the wind is always going. Dropping down out of the wind can mean 2 mph in speed.
Last weekend, I rode some to see if this was something I wanted to do. If I could do it. A surprising thing happened. I didn’t get sore. At all. So, I rode two days later. Nothing. Then I rode 13 miles two more days later. Again nothing. That’s when I called Dr Jessica. She thinks it’s the Yoga. Lot’s of stretching. Today, I pushed it to 19 miles and I can feel some soreness. Mostly, from my ass and the seat having disagreements over who should be tenderized.
Tasha asked if I wanted to join her team. So, I’m already signed up. My web page is here. It’s the Jewelry Box and More team.