I got outside on my bike today for the first time in 2011. It was so nice to be able to get out on the road and ride. It sure beats the hell out of riding the trainer in the basement watching a movie. It was about 45-50 degrees and a little chilly, but still great.
I did 20.5 miles in 1 hour 13 minutes for an average of about 16.85 mph. I figure it was decent enough for a first ride all things considered. The route I did took me through Paoli, and was the same one that Laura and I rode many times last year during our training. It has some nice flat, fast sections as well as some hills that remind you of what great terrain we have for cycling in the Madison area.
As soon as I left the house and got to the point where it was too far to turn around, I realized that I forgot my RoadID. This little bracelet has my name, emergency contacts, and emergency medical information on it. For about $20 you can have a little peace of mind that in the event of an accident, emergency responders can identify you and contact your loved ones.
The one thing I always forget when I start riding at the beginning of the season is how damn close cars get to you on the road (RoadID is helpful in this instance)! I am fairly certain the Wisconsin has a "3 feet" law, which requires vehicles to give cyclist 3 feet of space, but not many people seem to know about it. A couple cars got uncomfortably close, but there was one box truck whose side mirror couldn't have been much more than a foot from me, or at least it felt like it. Not the most fun when you some of your maneuvering skills have not quite come out of hibernation yet...
My brother, Dan, is coming back from Thailand on Saturday, and I, along with the rest of my family, will be very excited to see him and hear more about all of his travels over the last year. On Sunday we are going to the Brewers vs. Cubs game at Miller Park. It should be a good time to catch up, drink some beers, and enjoy the national pastime.
Until next time...
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