10.27.09

Great morning for a ride! Temp was perfect: 48-51.

17.5 in 1.5 hours

10.22.09

The sky as I was leaving this morning

Short ride today: 10.5 miles, 50 minutes
Temp: low 50s--can't remember exactly

Gorgeous ride!

10.21.09

My friend took this picture; she is dexterous and has great balance, not to mention a good eye!

Today's ride was so beautiful! Temperature was 48 to start, 61 at end.

We rode 21.5 miles today--a new route that we did not measure before taking--in just over 1.5 hours. I am good at some things, directionally, but I find that it is very hard for me to keep my bearings while riding. I've gotten lost and ridden on unmarked roads and crossed major highways at unfamiliar places. Then I get home and look it up and am surprised. I know a cycling friend who carries a GPS--I've always kind of smirked at this, but when I'm standing next to a cornfield on some country road, it would be comforting to know where I am, or more specifically, how many miles till home. I'm also not good at estimating distance.

All this to say: we were going to do a shorter ride today, but we didn't. It was a gorgeous day to ride more!

We saw the aftermath of an accident. A set of wheels came off a trailer and smashed into the front of a van. I was suddenly aware and grateful again for God's protection. Had we been there earlier and been hit by the wheels, I don't think we would have survived.

Afterward: I feel great--10
cold: not at all--10

Loved loved loved today's ride!

10.20.09

Someone made our fall rides more fun! (There are little orange gourds on every post.)

A little idyll we usually zip past

Another great day for a ride. We got too hot, having overdressed.

Miles: 20
Temp: 46 at start, 53 at end
Time: 1.75 (including stops to take pictures and take off clothes)

Song in my head: Salvation Belongs to our God (same as yesterday--but this route allows for much more talking, so I don't need a song...)

Afterward:
Tiredness: not at all, really: 10
Cold: nope

10.19.09

Today was a GORGEOUS day for a ride. We did 14 miles in 1.25 hours. Temp. was 35 starting out, 43 by the time we got home. No breeze, sun making the trees glow.

I was tired, but that was from being up too late last night.

Felt pretty good the entire ride.

After: feel great --10
not too cold at all --also 10

Song in my head: Salvation Belongs to our God (by Petra) from Revelation 7, the CBS chapter this week.

10.16.2009

Grey day, gorgeous leaves...

COLD today! 36 degrees, not too much wind.

Took a route with rolling hills--beautiful! 17.5 miles--thought it was less, so a little perturbed by the 1.5 hour time until I checked Map My Ride and saw it was longer. This route takes us past farms, beautiful landscape, and one little section of 4-lane highway. Last time we rode this, the shoulder on the highway was full of junk, broken glass, rocks, etc. This time it had been cleaned off! It was pretty sweet.

Still need shoe covers, better gloves.

Conversation was good today--got some good perspective from my friend.

Songs in my head: (It's Too Late to) Apologize
Lord, Have Mercy

Afterward: not too tired at all--8
not warming up--5

10.14.09

18 miles
38 degrees
1.5 hours
light rain started just under 1 hour in

walked up one hill and talked at the top (tired, important conversation topic)

windbreaker, gloves were good today. need shoe covers.

song in my head: "I'm Climbing Up the Mountain"

afterward: tired 7 (on a scale of 1-10)
cold 5, esp. feet

Keeping track

A friend and I have been bicycling several days a week as our workouts.

I love it.

I love being outside, I love working hard, I love talking with my friend, I love the encouragement, I love the thought of building muscles while burning calories.

The last two days have been tough rides, mainly because of the weather. We talked today about sticking with this and riding all winter and logging our miles. The word "hardcore" came up, descriptively.

We aren't planning to race or take a long trip or spend too much more money (maybe on shoe covers). We just want to stay healthy, working out in an enjoyable way.

So this blog may end up detailed or boring or insiderish-sounding. My goal is to have a record of what I'm doing. Read along if you like. Ride along, too!