First outdoors ride of 2011.

After a month of freezing cold weather, I finally decided it was time to take the bike outside.  It wasn't exactly balmy outside, but it was above freezing.  In fact after this past week of having temps hover in the low teens to windchills that were sub zero, anything above 32 degrees was appealing.  The downside to riding in the cold, is the time it takes to get ready.  In the summer you can throw on a pair of cycling shorts, a jersey, and your on your way.When it's cold though, you have to be a bit more picky about what you wear. If you wear too much, you will sweat your butt off, then freeze to death once your sweat starts to chill (doesn't that just sound gross). If you wear too little......well your miserable from the start and it doesn't get any better. If you're a little cold when you start, typically you will be just right once you warm up into the ride.

Here's the clothing list for todays ride. Riding pants, Riding Shorts (they're padded, the pants aren't), Jersey, Windshell, Toe Warmers (these go over the toes of your shoes, they're great), Insulated Socks, Head Sweat (bad name but it keeps your head and ears warm), Cycling Shoes, Helmet, Glasses, and of course the ever so necessary Ipod.

  I rode from my house (which is near the hospital) up to Hondah Casino.  Of course it's mostly uphill up to Hondah and today it was uphill with a tail wind.  That made the ride up, very comfortable.   Not so much on the way home though.  That tailwind that I so enjoyed at my back for 11 miles, was in my face and blowing very cold on the way back for the other 11 miles.  My fingers and my ears were feeling the pain, but all in all it wasn't too bad.   In fact it was great to be outside.  I wanted to make it at least to McNary, but there was just too much ice on the shoulder of the highway and ice and skinny tires just don't mix.   Being that it's early February  I'll take whatever I can get.  I'd much rather ride 90 minutes outside than 15 minutes inside.  It was good to feel the burn in my legs.  Nothing beats a good workout to clear the lungs and the head. 

I'm definitely out of shape. Today my heart rate averaged about 144 for the entire ride.  When I'm in shape, I can maintain that heart rate all day long.  Today was a struggle.  It took all I had to even hit a rate of 157 and even then it wasn't for very long.  When I ride the Ironhorse in May, my heart rate will never go below 160.  Needless to say, I have a lot of work to do. 

I'm sure most of you saw the Super Bowl.  What a great game!  I'm a big Vince Lombardi fan so of course I was going for the Packers.   Either way though, it was a good game.  At least it wasn't a blow out.  Close games are always much more fun to watch. 

It's getting late and everyone is asleep.  Gonna throw in one more load of laundry then I'm hitting the sack.   Have a good night.