Spring has Sprung

Sunday March 24^th – Tuesday April 9^th

To contrary belief I’m still alive and kicking.  In the three weeks since my last blog post, I've attended several spin classes, rode my trainer indoors, and have had several outdoor rides for a total of 240.68 miles since my last report.  I'm currently just outside Springfield Mo on I-44 heading west.

Progress Status:  Ahead of schedule

Total Miles Rode:  1138.65

Total Miles Remaining:  1616.65

Ride Notes:  I’ve been able to get several outdoor rides in and that makes me very happy.  I’ve been commuting to work via bicycle about 2 times a week and I plan on keeping up that pace until winter hits at the end of the year.   This past weekend I did some exploring around Lake Zorinsky and I found several miles of single track that wind around in the grass lands and up into the woods and hills surrounding the lake.   It’s hard to believe that when just a few hundred yards off the main trail that I feel like I’m in the deepest woods of Colorado.  To think this has been right under my nose for years without ever knowing it was there.  I’m glad I stumbled upon this new trail system.  This week while walking the dog, I also discovered a single track trail that leads from my neighborhood and under the bridge on 180^th street into the main Lake Zorinsky trail system.   I didn’t go past the bridge as it was getting dark and rain was threatening.  I’m excited that I may have found a direct route onto the trails.

The Spring that never comes

Wednesday March 13^th – Thursday March 21^st

I attended 4 spin classes, rode on my trainer once, and rode outside 3 times for a total of 128.68 miles.  My current location is on I-70 just outside Greenville, Illinois approaching St. Louis.   This time next week I should be well past St. Louis.

Progress Status:  Ahead of schedule

Total Miles Rode:  897.97

Total Miles Remaining:  1857.33

Ride Notes:  I was finally able to put in some real miles outside.  My first ride was a commute to work on Friday.  The weather started out in the upper 30’s and ended up in the upper 50’s.  On my way home from work I took an extra lap around the lake.  It started to go down hill from there.  On the weekend I took a ride on Sunday with high temps into the 40’s.  On the following Wednesday morning, my ride into work started with a temperature of 20 degrees.  I bundled up really good and only my fingers and tips of my toes got cold.  The ride home was in the mid 30’s.  Now we are expecting more snow this weekend.  When will it ever end?  I’m starting to think spring will never come.

Mother Nature is a bitch.

Thursday March 7^th through Tuesday March 12^th

I attended 3 Spin classes, took one short outdoor ride and rode inside on my trainer one time for a total of 71.85 miles this week.  My current location is on I-70 just outside Brazil, Indiana.  I will make it more than halfway into Illinois and be approaching St. Louis by the end of next week.

Progress Status:  Ahead of schedule

Total Miles Rode:  769.29

Miles Remaining:  1986.01

Ride Notes:  Mother Nature slapped me in the face this past Sunday leaving several inches of ice and snow on the ground.  I was able to make my exploratory ride on Saturday showing me that the trail I would ride into work was free and clear of ice.  That is not true today.  L  The weather is warming up again, and we are projected to be in the upper 60’s on Friday.  I may get my first bicycle commute into work yet this week.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed and here’s to a warm melting couple of days.

The great melt off!

Thursday February 28^th through Wednesday March 6^th

I attended two spin classes for a total of 32.19 miles, rode my trainer three times for a total of 44.91 miles, and spun once on my home spin cycle for 22.49 miles for a grand total of 107.24 miles for this week!  My current location is just east of the center of Indianapolis on I-70.  I’m getting ready to make a slight turn south towards St. Louis.

Progress Status:  Ahead of schedule

Total Miles Rode:  697.44

Miles Remaining: 2057.86

Ride Notes:  The weather here is starting to make a turn for the better, and with temperatures in the upper 50’s for most of the next few days I’m hoping the remaining snow cover melts so I have a clear ice free path to ride on.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to commute by bicycle to work next Wednesday.  This Saturday morning I will take an exploratory ride to see how much ice and snow remain on my route to work. 

I miss my Mother and I wish Mother Nation would give me a break.

Monday February 4^th through Wednesday February 27^th

I took Ill during the first part of February, and went on vacation during the middle part so I have not done as much riding as I would have liked to.  From Feb 4^th through Feb 27^th I attend several spin classes for a total of 84.53 miles ridden, and I rode my trainer several times for a total of 53.27 miles.  Despite my illness and vacation I’m still ahead of schedule.  I’m currently just outside Dayton, Ohio on I-70 heading west.

Progress Status:  Ahead of schedule

Total Miles Rode:  590.08

Miles Remaining:  2165.22

Ride Notes:   I’m really getting anxious to start riding outside but Mother Nature is not cooperating.  We have had several snow storms recently leaving ice on the trail I would normally ride.  I’m hoping that in a few more weeks I will be able to start a regular outdoor riding schedule. 

This segment of the ride is making me a bit sad.  My mother died in Dayton, Ohio a few years ago of complications from lung cancer.  I miss her. 

Keeping myself fit and healthy is the biggest motivation on this ride for me.  I can’t help but wonder how things could have been different had my mother had the same mindset.  By next week I should push way past Dayton and the memory of my mother dyeing.  RIP mom, you are missed.

Groundhog Day

Monday January 28^th through Sunday February 3^rd

I attended 1 spinning class, rode my new spinning cycle once, and rode my trainer 3 times for a total of 88.56 miles this week.  I’ve moved out of Pennsylvania, through a small sliver of West Virginia and into Ohio.  I’m still on I-78 / I-76 heading west approaching Cambridge, OH.

Progress Status:  Ahead of schedule

Total Miles Rode:  436.76

Miles Remaining:  2318.54

Ride Notes:  I’m actually getting a bit bored with my routine and can’t wait until I can start riding outside.  I kind of feel like I’m trapped in the movie Groundhog Day with a never ending cycle of dong the same thing over and over again.

I’m hoping that Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow and spring will be around the corner!

It’s a slippery slope I ride

Monday January 21^st through Sunday January 27^th

This past week I attended 4 spinning classes, did one short outdoor ride and rode my trainer 1 time for a total of 92.38 miles.  I’m still on I-76 approaching Washington, PA.  I should be able to work my way into Ohio by next week and leave Pennsylvania behind!

Progress Status:  Ahead of schedule

Total Miles Rode:  348.2
Miles Remaining:  2407.1

Ride Notes:  My legs must be getting used to riding this much as I feel good and my legs aren’t as tired as they first were when I started.  I’m very happy with my progress and I am about 150 miles ahead of schedule!

This past Friday I had to go into work at 5:00am so as a result I was able to go home by the early afternoon.  The temperature was a balmy 48 degrees for January and I was ready for another outdoor ride.  I got not more than a mile into my ride when I realized it probably wasn’t going to be a good idea.  I ran into a few lightly snow covered areas that were in the shade.  Those areas of the trail did not bother my riding.  However, where the snow had melted and froze again across the trail was the real problem.  The first patch of ice I encountered got me worried, but I thought to myself that I would probably only run into one or two more of these.  I was wrong.  It seemed like about every 100 feet of trail there was 20 feet of ice.  I turned around and cut my ride short.  I’m hoping for more warm weather to melt this damn ice!