Rides #47,48,49: Back in the Saddle, Again

If there is anything that I have learned about my numerous years on the bike, it is that riding is in the blood. It is always there and can never be completely suppressed.

In my case, I took a 10-year hiatus from riding shortly after completing college. Fulltime job, marriage, new house, young daughter – all contributed to no time or energy to ride. But there was no permanent separation from the bike. Eventually, I got back on Old Steed™ and have been riding – albeit haphazardly – over the last few years.

This all led to the possibility to ride around Lake Minnewaska with my brother over the Labor Day weekend. Like myself, he has taken a decade-long break from the bike but can’t avoid its call. He was only three rides into his return – which is not an enviable position to be in when the legs start to complain about being subject to such forms of punishment.

Thus, ride #47 took place on Saturday as a 22 mile, clockwise trip around the lake. The weekend’s weather was phenomenal and perfect for a ride. The morning offered low 70’s and mild temps with only a gentle breeze from the south.

My brother’s legs were both “young” in his return to the bike, but also feeling the affects of a previous day’s trip. This made the trip a little slow, but still enjoyable. The route around Lake Minnewaska is a bike rider’s dream that offers limited hills, great views of the lake, and quiet roads.

Once back at my dad’s place, I decided that I had a little more life in my legs and extended the ride without my brother. I headed back toward Starbuck – along the lake – and up the big hill toward the Inherred Lutheran. There is a nice road from the church that heads back to Glenwood, offering views of Minnewaska, Pelican, and the weird skyline of grain elevators above the town.

I tried to push the pace to the best of my ability. The legs felt OK, since I had been off the bike for over a week. This second ride of the day yielded:

• Saturday, September 6th, 2009
• start time: 11:00am
• distance 15 miles
• speed 19.4 mph
• duration: 0:46
• odometer: 1036

After taking Sunday off for some recovery, I completed an additional ride on Monday that followed the traditional routes in my backyard through the Medina.

While heading out and waiting for a stoplight, a bike commuter came up behind me. We were able to share the road for a about two miles. He talked about how much he tries to ride to work – around four time per week – and included a unique system. He takes his car (along with his bike) into work on Monday morning. He then leaves his car at the office, while continuing to bike back and forth between work and home throughout the remainder of the week. This way, he always has access to a car for errands and emergency needs. At the end of the week, he drives the car home on Friday. This is a pretty smart technique if it can be pulled off. He obviously has a family or at least access to a second vehicle at home, so leaving the one car at work during the week isn’t disruptive.

But, his technique provided a work around to being stuck at work without a vehicle. I always had this concern when riding to work – since I was close to 45 minutes away by bike even under the best of circumstances. It would be great to have two cars available and follow the same system. I’d likely be more inclined to bike commute.

For the remainder of the ride, I was able to yield the following numbers.

• Monday, September 8th, 2009
• start time: 5:30pm
• distance: 23.6 miles
• speed: 18.6 mph
• duration: 1:16
• odometer: 1059

This week’s Song Of The Ride™ (SOTR™) comes courtesy of an obscure band – Detroit Grand Pubahs.  Don’t ask me how I got it in my head, but it has an addictive, twisted chorus. Check out the video if you want to get yourself hooked.