Bad Lag

I rode all three days this Labor Day weekend. I haven't been riding much, only on the weekends and I missed a few weeks due to travel. Sitting behind a desk my entire working life - not good for one's fitness.


The first day's ride was a short, flat warm up. I felt so much better after that ride, I was very happy I went.


Yesterday was much longer, almost double, and had a pretty substantial climb, too. The grade isn't bad but it is long (~5% for 4 miles). Temperature was about 90 degrees - hot and dry. When I got to the top of the slope (6200 ft ASL), I knew I'd gotten a work out. My route continued on up for few more miles but the grade is much lower (1-2%).


I turned around at the county line and headed for home. That's when it hit me, right in the face, literally: a sustained 25 mph head wind most of the way home. I rode on the drops trying to beat the wind. It helped,... a little,... maybe. Finally, I turned west and the steep descent took me quickly to home (~35 mph for several miles). When I finished, I was beat!


Today, I drove over to a local bike path that follows the River. It's a bit lower down (5200 ft ASL) , so there's more air but it is also hotter. The route is flat and runs north-south, right into those 25 mph head winds. The wind grinds you down for the entire southbound leg - more riding on the drops. The heat and strong sun wears on you for the entire ride. The low humidity meant I drank all of my water and still had a parched mouth. There's no sweat, though, just a salt crust.


I drank more water when I got back to the car. 90 degree temps, the head wind and three successive days of riding has me beat. I'll sleep well tonight.




I love riding my bike. I always have.




P.S. - C&V content is my 1975 Bob Jackson ridden by an aging man.

John E

I put 24 miles on my still-new maroon(!) Brooks Team Pro saddle. I had forgotten how long it took me to break in the Brooks Pro it is replacing, but we're getting there.

The most exciting(?) part of the ride was having my saddle turn into a rocking chair as one of the Campag. seat post bolts started to come loose. Not having a 10mm spanner with me, I managed to finger-tighten it enough to complete the ride securely and uneventfully, but it was a good wake-up call to check all bolts and fitments more frequently.

I had been doing most of my recent riding on the Peugeot UO-8 with panniers, so it was a treat to get out on the older Capo. Next year, rider and bicycle will have a combined age of 125, so I guess that qualifies as C&V content.

jamesdak 

Bad Lag, you need to "certify" the C&V content with a pic of the Bob Jackson.

Bad Lag

Certified Genuine Bob Jackson

jamesdak 

Sweet, now it's legit!

And I'm heading out now to put some miles on mine...

Wildwood 

Oh that's nice. Those tall headtubes are good for riding in the drops.

Bad Lag

I finally figured out why I was so beat after the rides. I was (and remain) dehydrated. It has been cool enough that my water intake was down.


I need to drink more water. <-- I really need to remember to do this.


Not being "thirsty" does not mean I don't need more water. Yellow urine means I need more water. I need to keep drinking until my urine is clear.




P.S. - sorry for the bodily function descriptions, but it is a medical fact and of concern to any/all active people.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

cool story bro.

Dirt Farmer

Wow, maybe it's the camera angle, but that looks like a lot of housing.