Mzilliox
02-24-2016, 09:23 PM
Today was one of those rare February days when you get to remember what spring feels like just a bit early. Even the plants seem fooled. I decided to skip out at lunch time and go for a long ride I have been wanting to try out ever since finding a new fruit tree nursery in the country. The drive out there was making me wish I had the bike, and just over 40 miles (perfect), so I filed it away for a nice spring day. Little did I know that day would come so soon.
I had a new saddle to try, and i fought with myself over whether or not to try it on this ride. Against my own advice, I tried the Fizik Arione vs that just arrived in the mail. One adjustment 5 miles in and it was good to go! whew! I knew it was gonna be a good ride.
The adjustment came just before the first climb, which can be a bit of torture because I am hardly warm at this point in the ride, and lets be honest, I'm a work in progress. I had been reading a bit about fit and pedal technique, and was trying some new things. The hill wasn't easy, it never is, but I climbed it in the big ring, something I do less than half the time I ride it. The legs were on board with the mind, the saddle felt good, the focus on technique seemed to save energy on the first climb, I knew it was gonna be a good ride.
15 miles along I took a turn I haven't taken on the bike before, partly because it leads to an immediate and intimidating climb, and partly because I know the riding to the left is always fun and scenic. But I had just driven the route, and the climb is only 2 miles long, and I knew what lay ahead on the descent!
Its early in the season, I haven't done many long rides yet this year. I worried for a minute what the climb would do to me, because when its over, there's more than halfway to go, and miles of rollers to conquer! I figured I'd approach a bit conservatively, but I found myself wanting to really climb. I pushed it a bit too hard and nearly bonked at the top, but I crested and cruised, then took a quick water break while enjoying the view. The climb wasn't so bad, and I was excited to hit the rollers through the countryside.
This proved to be the highlight of the ride. Lots of curvy road with and ups and downs (mostly downs after the climb). I was too busy riding to take many pics, but the one with the creek along side is from the beginning of that road.
Eventually the road loops back to the main hwy where I have come home from many a rides. A very familiar and headwindy area. The legs were warm so i got low and let the cadence to the work over this mainly flat ground.
One more climb at the end, the same hill as the start but in reverse. The end is always a killer on the way home. Today was no different, I could feel the legs protesting a bit, but we made it to the top with gears to spare and took full advantage of the long downhill into the home stretch. At this point a part of me was regretting the ride was coming to an end, and I thought about going further. But there was nowhere to go without another climb, and the realist in me took over and ended the ride when in needed to end.
All in all my best ride of the year! Crossed 4 rivers, 4 good climbs, over 40 miles, and I was looking forward to it. I was shouting like a kid at times. Its supposed to rain this weekend, so I'm going to enjoy this one for a while. :beer:
The driveway
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1634/25127857062_bcb6b29395_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/EhsQsS)The driveway (https://flic.kr/p/EhsQsS) by Matt.zilliox (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41573599@N06/), on Flickr
The river
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1522/25127858942_3095cd63fa_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/EhsR2h)Fish Hatchery Rd. Bridge (https://flic.kr/p/EhsR2h) by Matt.zilliox (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41573599@N06/), on Flickr
The Jam
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1512/24615486784_7116d25363_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DvbNCy)Pennington from the road (https://flic.kr/p/DvbNCy) by Matt.zilliox (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41573599@N06/), on Flickr
The Creek
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1549/24878451639_241728e3e6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DUqyVn)Williams creek (https://flic.kr/p/DUqyVn) by Matt.zilliox (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41573599@N06/), on Flickr
The Deer
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1644/24619333683_dcf12b5c2b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Dvwwbp)Oh... deer (https://flic.kr/p/Dvwwbp) by Matt.zilliox (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41573599@N06/), on Flickr
The Farm
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1640/24950529340_1d7da99657_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/E1MZ7m)Whistling duck (https://flic.kr/p/E1MZ7m) by Matt.zilliox (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41573599@N06/), on Flickr
The long road home
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1575/25246139905_2690c1d2dc_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/EsV4Qe)The road home (https://flic.kr/p/EsV4Qe) by Matt.zilliox (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41573599@N06/), on Flickr
I had a new saddle to try, and i fought with myself over whether or not to try it on this ride. Against my own advice, I tried the Fizik Arione vs that just arrived in the mail. One adjustment 5 miles in and it was good to go! whew! I knew it was gonna be a good ride.
The adjustment came just before the first climb, which can be a bit of torture because I am hardly warm at this point in the ride, and lets be honest, I'm a work in progress. I had been reading a bit about fit and pedal technique, and was trying some new things. The hill wasn't easy, it never is, but I climbed it in the big ring, something I do less than half the time I ride it. The legs were on board with the mind, the saddle felt good, the focus on technique seemed to save energy on the first climb, I knew it was gonna be a good ride.
15 miles along I took a turn I haven't taken on the bike before, partly because it leads to an immediate and intimidating climb, and partly because I know the riding to the left is always fun and scenic. But I had just driven the route, and the climb is only 2 miles long, and I knew what lay ahead on the descent!
Its early in the season, I haven't done many long rides yet this year. I worried for a minute what the climb would do to me, because when its over, there's more than halfway to go, and miles of rollers to conquer! I figured I'd approach a bit conservatively, but I found myself wanting to really climb. I pushed it a bit too hard and nearly bonked at the top, but I crested and cruised, then took a quick water break while enjoying the view. The climb wasn't so bad, and I was excited to hit the rollers through the countryside.
This proved to be the highlight of the ride. Lots of curvy road with and ups and downs (mostly downs after the climb). I was too busy riding to take many pics, but the one with the creek along side is from the beginning of that road.
Eventually the road loops back to the main hwy where I have come home from many a rides. A very familiar and headwindy area. The legs were warm so i got low and let the cadence to the work over this mainly flat ground.
One more climb at the end, the same hill as the start but in reverse. The end is always a killer on the way home. Today was no different, I could feel the legs protesting a bit, but we made it to the top with gears to spare and took full advantage of the long downhill into the home stretch. At this point a part of me was regretting the ride was coming to an end, and I thought about going further. But there was nowhere to go without another climb, and the realist in me took over and ended the ride when in needed to end.
All in all my best ride of the year! Crossed 4 rivers, 4 good climbs, over 40 miles, and I was looking forward to it. I was shouting like a kid at times. Its supposed to rain this weekend, so I'm going to enjoy this one for a while. :beer:
The driveway
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1634/25127857062_bcb6b29395_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/EhsQsS)The driveway (https://flic.kr/p/EhsQsS) by Matt.zilliox (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41573599@N06/), on Flickr
The river
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1522/25127858942_3095cd63fa_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/EhsR2h)Fish Hatchery Rd. Bridge (https://flic.kr/p/EhsR2h) by Matt.zilliox (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41573599@N06/), on Flickr
The Jam
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1512/24615486784_7116d25363_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DvbNCy)Pennington from the road (https://flic.kr/p/DvbNCy) by Matt.zilliox (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41573599@N06/), on Flickr
The Creek
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1549/24878451639_241728e3e6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/DUqyVn)Williams creek (https://flic.kr/p/DUqyVn) by Matt.zilliox (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41573599@N06/), on Flickr
The Deer
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1644/24619333683_dcf12b5c2b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Dvwwbp)Oh... deer (https://flic.kr/p/Dvwwbp) by Matt.zilliox (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41573599@N06/), on Flickr
The Farm
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1640/24950529340_1d7da99657_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/E1MZ7m)Whistling duck (https://flic.kr/p/E1MZ7m) by Matt.zilliox (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41573599@N06/), on Flickr
The long road home
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1575/25246139905_2690c1d2dc_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/EsV4Qe)The road home (https://flic.kr/p/EsV4Qe) by Matt.zilliox (https://www.flickr.com/photos/41573599@N06/), on Flickr