Beginning of the Season

Kaiser · 03-12-2006, 11:53 PM

is a mixed bag for me.

Ride #1 yesterday (road). 25-35 mph winds made this a baptism of fire for the 2006 riding season. I had a decent average pace considering that I rode by myself. Only 17 miles though, in deference to the winds and first ride and impending thunderclouds. Temp was a summerlike 70 and I went out in just a jersey and shorts.

Ride#2 today (road). 20 mph winds and a 40 degree temp made half the ride a sufferfest, even with 7 other guys from my club. Only in Chicago can you wear just a jersey on afternoon, and the next morning have to go to full PI Polar Fleece tights and jacket, balaclava, and neoprene gloves and booties (which I don't have so I go with the po' boy version of 2 pairs of socks and plastic baggies over the toes). Boy, oh boy did I have a problem going up into the wind. I knew it was going to be a long day when I opted to sit on the back of our rotating paceline pretty early on. The goup repeatedly slowed down for me - since it was out first weekend, it was billed as a 'no drop' ride with an easy pace of 16-18 mph. It ended up being an early season pace of 21-23 mph into a 20 mph wind and lost it near the turnaround point... a place where we usually really crank it up. I just told them I'd catch them on the return, and when I did, with the gale at our back, we were hauling at 27-29 mph. Had no problem keeping up on the return though I didn't take the front at all for fear of exploding altogether. While it's not a good feeling to be the only sucker who can't hang, I knew most of the guys and they were very good about it. All in all, 36 miles ended up not tiring my legs much, even with the wind.

A windy 50+ miles for the first weekend of the season. I hate wind. Maybe because I am not a strong rider, when in a group I probably operate closer to redline than most to keep up - then if the wind is factored in, I don't have much left before my legs start burning. Looks like I have some work to do.

But it is great to be back in the saddle outdoors again. Can't wait until my next ride, but it may be a while since it is supposed to be snowing here by Wednesday.

FishrCutB8 · 03-13-2006, 09:00 AM

You live in Chicago and you don't have Toaster Booties...you are a sick man, K...

Kaiser · 03-13-2006, 10:41 AM

Snow or salt or temps below 30 means Kaiser doesn't go out on the road (I don't have a beater). And when I do go out on mtb in those conditions, I am not moving quick enough for them.

In other words, no need.

kuri · 03-13-2006, 02:34 PM

Props for getting out in today's weather K. I HATE riding in the wind. Growing up in N. WI you can bet I did my share of riding in miserable weather. No more.

Did you get any snow today?

They got a foot+ up in WI

Kaiser · 03-13-2006, 08:01 PM

No snow Chris. Just increasing winds. Blah, I hate this much wind (45 mph gusts). Sucks when you even go out and walk in it for a bit.

I went out yesterday... but my 4 year old rode his bike in the gale this morning when he went out with my wife for her run. He only got blown over twice.

You still got family up in WI?

kuri · 03-14-2006, 01:30 AM

That is a funny story about your son. He's off the training wheels huh. pretty soon he'll be asking for a sweet BMX bike!

yeah my parents still live up in the northwoods. They got 19" of snow today! Growing up there I'd bust out the X-country skis after storms like that and just head a block down to the lake and take off.

Kaiser · 03-14-2006, 09:56 AM

He's been off the training wheels for almost 2 years now! Last year he raced at the velodrome a bunch of times in the summer.

Where at in N. WI? I'm very familiar with the area, having spent summers up there (Boy Scout Camp in Pearson north of Antigo) and having to travel the river valley and the bay in later years as a salesman to the pulp and paper industry.

kuri · 03-14-2006, 01:27 PM

Four yrs old and racing at a velodrome.... man... a junior Davis Phinney in the making.

I can't believe you know what an Antigo is

now THAT is a small town.

Grew up in Rice Lake, which was a big logging town back in the day. waaay back in the day, so you might have heard of it having worked in the industry.

and you know what logging means - yep, logging roads. Miles and miles of them. Alot of fun if you don't mind ungodly mosquito swarms and ticks in the summer. Much better in fall.

Not far from the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival too. That angry old man Lemond has shown up a few times to race there