John’s Ramblings

I was disappointed in how the Daffodil went. I had expected to be stronger, but in hindsight I think that I had done a bit too much “overreaching” in my training the previous week, and the legs had not recovered in time. I can see how it happened, and I can certainly wrap my wee little brain around that concept. It was still a disappointment, and it sent me into a bit of a low mood.

I stayed off the bike until Thursday. I have not taken three days off riding since January, when weather forced just about everyone off the saddle. I fussed and muttered to myself that I was being lazy, but the fact of the matter was that I could still feel the fatigue in my thighs every time I did the floor 1 to 3 climb in the house. I needed the time off, but it didn’t help my mood any. I’m not sure if you can go through endorphin withdrawal, but I felt like I was.

Thursday I slipped out of work and did a 15 mile ride through the valley. No hills, but I was able to get enough speed going to blow the cobwebs and foul mood out of my head. I felt pretty good, but I was determined not to overstep too soon, so I took it relatively easy.

On Saturday the goal was to ride to Seattle. Terri had driven up to “the core” in order to do a lady’s spa-day, and I was to meet her north of the University District for libations and repast. I rode north on the Interurban, then cut across Renton to join the Lake Washington Loop. The weather was nice, and I actually was able to start working on my biker-tan (lower arms, tops of knees). The April winds are back, however, and they were directly in my face for the entire 34 miles. I was waylayed for a time by a rather large funeral procession that was routed along Lake Washington Blvd. north of Seward Park.

Between the traffic and a stop at Pert’s Deli for an outstanding oatmeal cookie, it took me the better part of 3 hours to get to my destination at 90th & 35th Ave. We did suds, and a spud at the nearby Fiddler’s Inn.

Sunday’s ride was to scope out Terri’s bicycle commute route, as she is planning on riding to work in Renton on days when she won’t need a car. The route is pretty straightforward; up the Interurban, the zig-zag through the old Longacres site, across Grady Way and she’s there. At a leisurely pace it will take her an hour. Your clever author offered to do the commute with her as a way of padding his mileage. Therefore on days that she bikes to work I’ll be riding this route 4 times so I can come home to work, then ride back up to meet her. I’m not sure how 40 miles of commuting a day is going to suit me, but I’m willing to try anything.

1,592 miles year to date.

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