Note:
Robinson/Old Falls/Tonawanda Creek N/Townline/Diller/Sauders Settlement/Shawnee/Lower Mountain/Baer/Church/Daniels/Youngstown/W Lake/Lake/Maple/Nelson/North/Chestnut/Irish/Ridge/Green/Thrall/Blackman/Upper Mountain/Subbera/Sauders Settlement/Meahl/Aiken/Beach Ridge/Meyer/Bear Ridge/Tonawanda Creek N/Old Falls/Robinson.
Not the best performance, and a far cry from this same route last year. The weather started about the same although far windier this time. And I'm certainly not in as good of condition either.
But you know what? I loved this ride! It's exactly what I needed today. Started well and was flying with a strong tailwind and life was good until about 22 miles or so. Then it was about the mental aspects as much or more than physical. I hit something while stretched out on the aerobars and wound up with a very rare front flat. Haven't checked it out, but I presume a snakebite, pinch flat. No problem, much easier to fix than the back so sort of a perverse treat if you're going to have a flat. Back rolling in a matter of minutes.
A short time later I had to turn from South to East and even then the crosswind wasn't bad. Picked up a bit when I got up to Wilson along Lake Ontario where it's a bit more open. But not a problem.
Turning back to the South on Maple I knew it wasn't going to be easy. And it had started clouding up a while ago, but it soon became apparent that I likely wasn't going to out ride the rain today. And so after about 8 miles it started to rain lightly and then downpour. Not a problem as it was warm even soaked and wearing just a light jersey and bib shorts. On the plus side the winds died off a bit and I started riding much faster again.
the rain let up after a bit and the sun even started to peek thorough to the point I thought that might be it. Oh silly me! It stayed dry through climbing back up the escarpment, but then another round of rain started and became rather persistent. But even that passed for a bit before restarting. I pressed onward, although at a lethargic pace as the winds had also picked up again in addition to steady rain.
Grinding it out happily in another brief dry spell, about 3 miles from home the sky really opened up to a full on downpour. Loving it all the while I rolled into my driveway.
This ride was the exact cathartic experience I was seeking when I headed out today. Yay for me, I'm happy with what on the surface isn't a very good ride, but was actually awesome!
As a side note, this is the first time I had tried the Clif Shot Bloks. Probably won't use the a lot because of the cost, but they are pretty much like square gummy bears...which I love. |
