Today’s long ride was so enjoyable, I thought I’d make a gratitude list of sorts. I am grateful for:
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The great weather we had today - about 6 or 7 degrees cooler than it has been, and less muggy too. So at the start of the ride at 6:10, it was 72 and not 78. At the finish, 92, not 98.
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The great turnout. Even with about 10 of the regulars doing a sprint triathlon in Shreveport tomorrow, we had about 40, it looked like.
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The “road cyclists” that showed up. I am not fond of that “roadies and triathletes don’t get along” mentality that I read about on SlowTwitch so often. Mark invited a bunch of them and they showed - I guess about 10 in all. At about mile 20, Smitty and I decided to take a leak, and one of the roadies did also. So while we were all going on the side of the road, I introduced myself. His name was Phil. Very nice fellow. The three of us worked together and caught back up with the main pack without too much trouble. I asked him about the roadie/triathlete split - he said “not as far as I am concerned” or some such.
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The new route we took. We made it out to the Levee Rd. from Breaux Bridge by a route that none of us knew about, which is surprising. Good roads are just about impossible to find around here, and this is a real jewel of a route that Lolly had mapped out for us. From where we first got off our usual route, it was 35 or so miles one way of newly resurfaced country roads with no traffic. Unbelievable. We were all oohing and aahing about it. I think today this route became one of our most popular immediately.
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The sane paceline stuff we did. When we got down to the six of us that were looking to go 100 miles, we had a very long stretch on the Levee Rd. where we shared pulls evenly at 22-23 mph. All of us could have gone faster, and some very much faster but we kept the pace steady and aerobic, the way you’re supposed to train for an IronMan, as I understand it. Of course we did have some crazy surges, but Jordan, a time trialist extraordinaire, was somewhat merciful. He let us know who was the boss, but nicely, very nicely.
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Only one stop to fuel up. I hate it when we stop for drinks three or more times on a 100 mile ride - it messes up my rhythm.
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No flats. Flats are a part of riding but this year has been amazing for their infrequency. Is it the Continental Ultra Gator Skins? Last year, I flatted a bunch, including in two races. This year - nothing.
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We had a little levity, when Smitty threw a water bottle past Jordan at 27 mph. Well, I guess you had to be there. It was safer than it sounds.
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I am grateful to be alive and healthy enough to do this at 48. I won’t always be capable of it. Some friends are injured and can’t make it back and how many are not motivated (or nuts) enough to get up at 3:15 on a Saturday morning to swim and then go for a long ride?
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I am grateful for the friends I have and the camaraderie we enjoyed today and Saturday mornings past and hopefully a few in the future. For some reason, today’s ride really moved me to reflect and be thankful for all that I have. Wish I could hang on to that attitude all the time!
Ben