John’s Ramblings

Last Sunday was the third Cascade Training Series ride that I had signed up to help lead. After Saturday’s 93-miler, I can’t say as I was enthusiastic about hopping back on the saddle for another 56, but I had committed my time to the task. As I woke and prepared to drive to the starting point in West Seattle, my legs felt tired, my shoulders were a little stiff, and all I really wanted to do was to maybe have a cup of coffee in the hot tub, then crawl back into bed. Instead I showered and dressed, loaded my gear in the car, and started my drive to Jack Block Park in West Seattle.

My best-case scenario at this point was to show up for the ride, have several other ride leaders available to fulfill my obligation on my behalf, and then excuse myself. On the other two CTS rides I had participated in there had been a surplus of leaders available, so my fatigue-addled brain figured that a ride of 56 miles through “the core” of Seattle would be a big draw for leaders. I parked at the appointed lot, hopped on the Lemond and headed to the check-in table where I was informed that I had been designated “red-leader”, meaning I was in charge of the slowest group (12 mph) and would end up sweeping the course again. So much for going back to bed.

Two bits of good news- I would have an experienced co-leader with me today (thanks, Karen!), and we only had one rider signed up for the red group. This fellow was actually a much faster cyclist, but he was having back problems so he had switched to a recumbent for this ride. We made a collective decision to ride at the back of the Yellow group (14 mph), and see how that pace worked for our ‘bent rider. If he was good to do the pace, we were certainly in favor of getting done sooner rather than later. My backside was voting for less saddle time on this day.

The sun came out, and we ended up having a lovely ride through Seattle. I don’t ride much “in-city”, so I got a good taste for some areas I had never cycled through, or even seen in some cases. We started with a lap around West Seattle, then headed south to the ‘burg of South Park, both areas I have ridden through previously. Then it was back north along Boeing Field, east on Dearborn, a bit of the I-90 trail, west Lake Washington and the Arboretum. We headed west again through Interlaken, a road that turns to trail through a beautiful area I had no idea existed in the city. We stopped at Gas Works Park where I snarfed down the best tasting mediocre baklava. It was just OK as baklava goes, but it sure hit my spot on this day! The tour finished with a loop around Magnolia, down the Seattle waterfront, and then back to the start line.

I headed home feeling strong, and quite accomplished for having done a 56 mile-2nd day ride after the previous day’s mileage. I was met at the door by the dogs and the smell of 6 racks of ribs braising in the oven. Father’s Day dinner with the family would be ribs and gourmet macaroni and cheese. Disgustingly delicious after a full weekend of riding. The kids all came by, and we had a marvelous time. I made it halfway through the viewing of my new dvd of Spaceballs (Ludicrous Speed!) before I absolutely crashed at 9 PM exactly. Nighty-night.

149 miles and change for the weekend, 1,903 YTD.

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