Blissful Ignorance

Yesterday I went for my first ride of June 2012. Instead of easing into things why not just throw cation to the wind and see what happens?

I was meeting 3 others in Lake Orion and then heading out for some trails. Why not ride out and get some extra miles? So I did and left Troy at 8 a.m. and off I go for my first ride of June and last one since May 27th. With my ear buds secure and Bob Seger's Greatest Hits playing, I pedal softly toward Downtown Rochester to connect with PCT and flatland it to Orion. I cover the first 17 miles in just over an hour and feel good. I meet the guys at Kern and Greenshield, turn off the music and head North for a lap at Bald Mountain, then over to Addison for another.

I haven't ridden Bald in about 2-3 years and not much has changed. It was a nice way to break up the ride and helped me get comfortable in the trails again. Now over to Addison and replenish the water before hitting the loop. Water full and off we go. What a great lap. It flowed well and I like the re-route eliminating the gravel climb. (side note: what's up with that new path along Lk. George?). Back to the building for more water before the ride home.

I'm about 2:30:00 into the ride and ready to head home. Time for some nutrition and turn on the music. This time the playlist is going to be different. (Rage Against the Machine, Cluth, Metallica and a bit of Lil Wayne) I have another 1:15:00 +/- in the saddle and I'm not sure how it will go. The route is Predmore, Rush, Dequindre, Sheldon, up Bloomer Rd for some added suffering  and John R home.

All is well for the first several miles but when I cross Rochester my thighs start feeling it so I back it down and take on some more nutrition and water because now I know the last hour is going to be a mental and physical battle. I recover slightly over the next 2 miles and try to ease the climbs but my body is shutting down. I get past Stony Creek, then Letica and decide it's best to cut through Bloomer Park and bypass the climb. By the time I reach John R my thighs are blown and needle like pain passes through every couple minutes. I've been here before and now they drill.  I finally reach the driveway after 53 miles and 3:45:00.

Oh well I still had fun and it was nice talking with the guys. Today it's off to Stony Creek for some laps of next weeks 'Heat Miser' and then some Tour watching.