Urban Half-Century Ramble
Today, I got started a little late, but earlier than I frequently do. With the longer days, the sun sets about 8 and jumping on my bike at 4:15 means that I can still hammer my miles out. After scrubbing, degreasing, and lubing my ride for the first time in a while, I was ready to feel that sweet smoothness as the chain responded to my power. I wanted a little change of pace from my usual Saturday routine, so I drew out a route map that included portions of Menlo Park, Atherton, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Los Altos, Portola Valley, Woodside, and a little piece of Redwood City. Saving the loop for last, I felt warmed up by the time I started my climb up Alpine.
It was a little murky and cool (about 58° F / 14° C). The pouty, mopy overcast clouds started sniffling like it was going to rain as I started my thump down Middlefield Road. That would be just perfect—a plunging temperature and a rain shower. Especially since the weather sites predicted 65° and partly cloudy. Of course, I left my rain gear at home. But, as long as it was pouting and not sobbing, I might as well shove on.
It was one of those days that just feels wrong for riding—overcast, humid, chilly, breezy. I kept the push going, bolting down Foothill and considering momentarily doing a back-and-forth on that beautiful cycling speedway. Heading up to Portola Valley on the old standard, Alpine, was fun, because I haven’t climbed Alpine in quite a while, due to the quagmire of road construction at the base of the road. After a short breather in Portola Valley, I stomped hard and completed my ride with a nice 41 mph zip down Woodside road.
I definitely need to start doing longer rides, but I’ll take a half century today. Especially one as fast as I did this one.
Today: 50.25 mi; 2:37:55 (19.1 mph avg; 41.0 mph max)
April: 700.26 mi; 37:19:30 (18.8 mph avg; 45.0 mph max)
2005 : 2430.67 mi; 130:55:04 (18.6 mph avg; 45.0 mph max)
Goal : 5000.00 mi (2568.45 mi to go : 48.63% complete)
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