Outside Ride!

I was pretty excited about today's forecast because I knew that it meant that I could finally take my bike off the trainer and get it ready for its first outside ride.  Basically that means putting a new pair of sneakers on his wheels.  Pardon my fingers...

I hate that part. Why is that part always so hard?

I rode to the Attean Overlook in Jackman, just under 30 miles from my house, but almost all of it is climbing, with a few rollers.

My bike computer reads 59.6 - I am calling it 60 MapMyRide. Take that.

It was a solid ride, I spend a good amount of time in aero position.  I was feeling great all the way to the overlook, which was closed still because of snow.

Bike taking a break, Attean Overlook.

I sucked down a gel (wishing I had taken the time to make a PB and J) and spent a few minutes checking out the view. I never get sick of it even though I drive by it almost every day for work.

I was looking forward to the ride back.  Because it was mostly downhill with some rollers, I was feeling good about this being a pretty fast 30 miles.

Not so much.

Apparently, on the way up, I was being pushed along by some wind that I just didn't feel (no wonder I felt so solid).  On the way back, I was faced with some pretty stiff head and cross winds.  There was no coasting down any hill, and I really had to stay on the hood to keep the bike from getting thrown around.  It was kind of crazy and a good test of how I can handle those conditions.  I guess that is another tool to huck in the tool box come race day.

Anyway, my bike really needed another break, and I needed some more fuel at the Parlin Pond rest area.

Yup, we still have some snow.

I fought my way back into The Forks, and I was feeling pretty low - I knew right away that I screwed up on fueling (throw that one in the toolbox as well).  I just didn't eat well before I left the house or during the ride.  What a bonehead I can be sometimes.  I completely know better, I just wasn't thinking at all when I left in the morning, I was so excited about biking outside.

After getting home (kicking myself the whole way for my fueling mistake), the first thing I saw was a carton of freshly baked BIG ginger cookies.  I ate 3.

I would show you a picture of them but they are all gone now.

I wiped the crumbs from my face, changed, and went for a 20 minute transition run that I just wasn't into because I didn't fuel properly on the bike.  I got it done and learned an important lesson that I thought I already knew - never take fueling for granted. 

I hope you all had a great weekend, thanks for reading!


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This week:
Swim - 3000yds (all strength work in pool)
Bike - 117 miles
Run - 25 miles
146 miles total ~ 13 hours