Squeezed

I HAD to ride today. No ifs, ands or buts. I got up early, got some java down my trap and then started checking the weather. Mr. Weatherman said that there was about a 3 hour window before the next batch of showers and possible thunderstorms would move through our lovely area.

Who know how long the line of showers would stick around? So I downed a quick breakfast, mixed up some bottles and headed out with the Campeon to get a quick ride in. I needed to ride. BAD! Two days off the bike was turning me into sort of a dick head around the house and had me obsessing about my weight like a Lifetime Movie Of The Week teenage girl.

In a perfect world I would have liked to get out for 3 to 4 hours. Due to the possibility of heavy rains and thunderstorms I played it safe and made due with an extended "Soccer Field Loop". I hit about 38 miles of road, enjoyed the humid, swamp ass temps, and avoided rain for 2:15 of a 2:17 ride. The rain we got was pretty moderate but didn't last all that long. Maybe only an hour or so. Had I known it wasn't going to last all that long or ever materialize into the thunderstorms they said we MIGHT get, I would have prepared for the lusted 3/4 hour ride. But I didn't. Dems da breaks.

I'm not going to bitch too much. It was just nice to get out and get a loop in. I don't seem to mind riding in the humid conditions as long as it's not also 90 degrees. The 75 and humid that this morning had was pretty nice. Today was a 3 Bottle Day. One Heed, one Gatorade/Carbo Pro Plus and one plain water. For a summer ride 3 bottles is usually my norm to take with me. Nothing worse than being out on some hot ass road and have nothing left but a few drops of piss warm Heed. So I stash an insurance bottle in my jersey to make sure.

I had a moment today were I was sooo happy to keep the rubber side down. I was rounding a downhill corner on Rt. 48. I was going about 30 MPH and there was a big ass Buick with a gray hair at the wheel behind me. As I approached the corner I spied some gravel that washed across the road from last night's rains. Major braking was not an option. Moving out around was not an option (due to the aforementioned old woman piloted Buick). So I tightened up the ol' sphincter, tried to scrub a little bit of speed and hit the gravel at the best angle I could. All of this happened in about 3 seconds but it seemed like an eternity. I blasted through the gravel, kept it up right and kept on truckin'.

It's times like that make me long to be barreling down a rooty, rocky, muddy, single track down hill. Where the only thing I need to worry about is hitting a tree. NOT a Buick driven by an old lady who may or may not run right over my fallen, spandex clad carcass and just keep on motoring. Oh well, it all ended up fine. Just one of those "bad timing" type scenarios that I'm damn glad worked out.

It was nice to get out earlier in the morning than I usually do. Less traffic, quite, and peacful for the most of the ride. Things got busier during the second half when the Mini Van Soccer Moms and Home Improvement Pick Up folks woke up and started to stir.

Do you remember the pick up truck I mentioned some time ago that had the "If It Ain't Red Leave It In The Shed" sticker? I see this truck passing on the road during about EVERY ride now. Including today. It's like I have my very own Hick Guardian Angel". I'm still not down with all that tractor speak, but I rest easy knowing he's out there. Doing whatever it is he does, and watching me. I feel safer knowing he's got my back. Apparently he's also got a cool ass tractor. Cheers to you Mr. Ain't Red Dude.

I had a nice post ride snack. Bite Size Shredded Wheat with some GNC Cookies & Cream Whey and Skim Milk. Really boosted the taste of the otherwise sort of bland whole wheat. And I got some quality carbs, fiber, protein, and amino acids in the bod.

Unlike today, tomorrow the weather is supposed to be sweet. Hoping to get 40 to 50 in. That would be a nice Father's Day gift! It is currently pissing down rain here again. I think I might kick up the suck and force myself to go for groceries at Wal-Mart. Folks there should be pretty ripe with stank with all the humidity, rain, and general B.O. Oh well, When in Rome....

Later.