notes on a monday ride

Over the weekend, John fixed the wiring to my bike’s computer, which had shredded at some point on RAGBRAI 2005. The computer records and grants me access to statistics, such as rate, miles (per trip and total), and time. Heck, it may even wash the dishes, though I have yet to locate that function.

The pooter doesn’t lie. Which was my biggest fear about hooking up a cyclometer to my bicycle. It seems as if my rides this summer have been a little shorter than I thought. For example, my River Road route that starts at Jefferson, crosses the river at Ford Parkway, proceeds apace on West River Road to Franklin, crosses the river again, climbs St. Clair back to the alley behind our garage—that ride is eight point five miles. Not ten.

Even though I knew this underestimation was a possibility, I wanted the computer installed so that I can have a running total of miles. I also want to be able to use it as a training tool so I can do that eight-point-five-mile route but at a quicker pace. The computer allows me to monitor my speed so I can keep a constant 14 mph for the entire ride, hills and inclines and all, which makes for a short but intense ride.

The weather was muggy—80 degrees with 80 percent humidity—which does not make for a nice bike ride—and overcast. I got to try out my new sunglasses’ amber lenses. They worked well, almost as if I wasn’t wearing shades at all. I did the River Road loop, crossing back at Franklin—as we’ve established, eight point five miles. Then, I did the loop again, crossing the preceding bridge (Marshall/Lake), which added six miles. My goal had been to put in fifteen miles, and I came close enough to call it a day. My average rate was 12.5 mph. More a fun fact than anything else. My priority is trying to get miles on my legs and saddle in preparation for riding a century in a month.