Good Roads and Good Legs

I avoided the road as much as I could this week. But today I cracked. I entertained thoughts of a trip to the mountain to get a big mountain bike ride in, or a multi hour assault on Boyce Park, but I started looking at my schedule and realized that I might not have a chance to visit with my Dad and let B-Man play with him, etc, for a couple weekends, so I figured it would just be easier to ahead out to his place with B-Man and while I was there throw a nice road loop in.

It was a perfect day for riding, and I was kicking around the idea of extending a part of the loop to see if I could get it closer to 50+ miles, but my computer (of course) was acting up and I figured what's the point of trying to figure out a 50 mile loop if I don't know how far I went?? So I bagged that idea about 5 miles in and just threw down my 40 mile loop.

4 or 5 miles in the road was closed. I figured how "closed" could it be an pedaled on. I came to the bridge that was out and sure enough if was pretty damn CLOSED, save for metal cat walk across the small drainage. Hmmm. So I shouldered the Campeon and made my way across the cat walk. It was going swell until I got about half way across it and it started wobbling like fat man's belly. I thought I was gonna bite it. But I saved it and soon enough was back on the road. Note to self: Next time TAKE THE DETOUR!!

Not even 10 miles in, I knew I had pretty good legs today. I was shocked! This ride would have me well into double digits of ride time this week, and I really expected the worst. Having good legs even for lame 2:20 road rides is such a great feeling. It often reminds me of playing baseball and connecting with the sweet spot of the bat. Everything just feels "right".

I did hit some "oil and chipped" roads today (seen above). Not happy about that, but when the legs feel good, it's amazing how my attitude towards them can change. I still don't like them, but what are you gonna do? I think I can see my computer is registering 0 MPH in this pic. Figures! P.O.S.!

I couldn't have been happier with today's ride. The sun was out, the legs felt good, and the roads were fun. I don't often have these sorts of feeling towards a road ride, and often just view road rides as a necessary evil to insure that I don't re-become a Tub-O-Lard™, but today's 40 miles felt damn good.

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Since I'm talking about the road... For the first time in the Tour so far I found the last couple stages uber boring. None of the big boyz wanted to make a move yet, and there were no changes overall. Baring Contador's move the other day to try to assert himself as team leader, the Pyrenees left me wanting. Wanting the freaking Alps and more moves by Contador, Evans, The Brothers Schleck and maybe even Wiggins and/or Vande Velde!

Alright, time for some hydrating and sleep. Hope to maybe get some dirt in tomorrow. But who knows?

Later.