Friday, June 19, 2009

Back on the Wagon

I definately fell off for a while.

I went well over a month without riding the mountain bike and was not getting much time in before that. A few random road rides on the weekends is about all I could fit in.

Saturday I rode on the road with the Montevallo Riders. It ended up raining on us pretty good and near the end it poured so hard I was having trouble seeing the road because my glasses were fogging up. However it was nice that the temperatures stayed more in the 70-75 range instead of the 90+ they have been.

Last Tuesday I rode a lap of Oak Mountain Counter Clockwise by myself after work and rode a fast but comfortable lap. I did legs at the gym that day during lunch so I knew it was just going to be a casual ride. The temps were in the 90s so I know that wasn't helping either, but still managed a respecful (for me) 1:35.

Wednesday my legs were aching all day. Really makes me realize how long it has been since I have pushed myself at all. I was planning on trying again for Thursday but if they kept aching like this, there was no way I could ride.

Thursday came and the aches were gone. Once again work agreed with me and I was able to get out at a decent time and headed to Oak Mountain again. I headed Clockwise this time off by myself (even there was a group ride) so I could just ride. I have been so stressed with work and everything that riding has not really been fun lately. Riding by myself, I can just push myself and relax and not worry about anything. The only problem came while I was descending the hill after blood rock. I got a stick caught up in my back wheel wrapping itself around my hub by the brake rotor. I know I was pushing myself a bit, but apparantly my brain was not working as I put my thrmb on the rotor while trying to pull the stick out. Of course the rotor was still scalding and I have a burn line on my thumb. The rest of the ride went OK and I finshed with a 1:32.

I at least have a baseline for each direction and my goal is to try to ride every Tues and Thursday after work in addition to a something on the weekend.

Hopefully this will be me getting back into it.