I keep complaining about my lack of time in the saddle – which unfortunately continues. I am not putting in the miles that I would like to see at this time of year. I get “just enough” to survive a longer route, but come in thoroughly disappointed at my performance numbers.
Still … all miles are good miles when on a bike. Even when they don’t add up to improved conditioning.
Thursday’s after work ride provided great conditions for cycling. The sun was out and the wind was mild. The only odd component to the mix was the temperature. It was deceptively cool for the way it appeared – as it looked to be a warm, sunny afternoon. When I got home, my outdoor thermometer only registered at 61F. This meant that I put on a base layer before adding a typical kit. I was glad I did, as I felt “just right” with my body temperature and would have been cold with fewer clothes.
Since the sun was out in cooler temperatures – it produced large swings in my perceived temperature. While I was in the sunshine, I could fee the warm radiation through my clothes and on my exposed skin. As soon as I would pass along a heavily tree’d area and into the shade, I would instantly feel cold. There was no “happy medium” for the ride.
I also noticed that most of the roads have not yet been swept this spring. Although this sounds like a very first-world complaint, it actually sucks to ride on shouldered roads with the winter/spring debris still present. I find myself continually darting back and forth avoiding the various large rocks and sticks and anything else that is thrown from the wheels of a car. The roads I traverse have a fair share of gravel driveways that lead onto them, so there are large piles of stones all over the place.
As I’ve had bad experiences with punctured tires due to these stones, I try my best to avoid them. The roads simply need a good sweeping. I’m not asking for much else, really.
