Wind

I set my alarm for 4:50 a.m. on Sunday. I knew it would be cold and windy but I still wanted to ride. After morning services I was in my car by 6:15 and on my bike at 7:05.

The cold doesn't bother me because I have the right clothes. But the wind! That's another story. They seemed to becoming out of the southeast and were gusting to as much as 40 mph. I felt as though I was riding with a flat for much of the ride and was out of my seat much more than usual. Boy, was I slow. (Except for the occasional flat where I had the wind at my back; it felt like I had a motor for those few stretches).

At the 1:50 mark, I decided that I had had enough fun for the day and decided to cut my ride short. Rather than going on my normal route, I took a shortcut back. I ended up doing only 34 miles rather than the 38 I had planned. Unfortunately, because of the wind, it took me just about the same amount of time.

One good thing about a ride like that. The hot shower that follows really hits the spot.