March 24, 2013

The streak LIVES

This one will take some time to recollect and organize -- but, it will certainly be a doozey of a post.  I don't know if I can safely speak for the veterans among the KCUC crew, but as far as my 11 years worth of brevets and permanents, yesterday will stick out in memory as having the toughest, nastiest conditions I've ever endured.  The first half of the ride was actually close to perfection:  tailwind, not too cool, light traffic, which produced a solid 16.7 MPH average at the halfway point.  Turning back north and east for home, however, Glen & I simply started laughing... the promised NE headwind which would daunt us for the entire 2nd half of the ride wasn't only real, it was gusty and cold.  Glen had been strong all day, and as the pack of 18 had long since spread out I ended up on a solo mission for some of the tough bits.  Wind I can handle... cold is fine... even cold and wet is okay once in a while.  Wool, fenders, good rain jacket... no worries.  But, right as we left the Osawatomie Casey's, the sleet had begun.  From there, bad became worse.  The rando spirit pushed to the extreme, strangely our smiles only widened as we made our way north into the wind and heavy, wet snowfall.  The roads became slick and treacherous - something that wasn't to have happened until after sundown... so much for forecasts!  Drivetrains caked in snow, helmets clogged - but spirits high - our group finally finished in just under 12 hours.

The "Gavia Pass" analogy-rich mini-epic snowstorm on this same route last March (what IS it with March around here??) was pretty nasty, and still memorable.... but compared to yesterday?  Pah!  That ride last year was easy.  It had only been 15 miles!  The bar has been set far, far higher now, with regards to "what'r the worst conditions you've ever ridden in?"  The I've-Had-Worse file is full!  Fifty miles, and with stops and such, five hours of riding in heavy winter precipitation.  UN-REAL.

But, the streak is secure.... 21-in-a-row now.

If April isn't sunny and warm, however... I quit.  [LOL]

Okay, not really.  ...'cause I've had worse.


Stay tuned!


March 12, 2013

Checking in

It's been a catastrophically busy 6 weeks... however long it's been
since the last 200km ride in February, which seems like an eternity
ago.
I'm anxiously looking forward to the first KCUC ride of the season
here in the Kansas City area, March 23rd... and we're dancing with 60
degree weather again late this week, forecast. Loving it! ... just
wish things were a little less busy, but the things I'm involved in
are important, and worthy of attention.

We've managed to survive snowpocalypse and snowmaggedon, each a week
apart from each other -- seeing more snowfall than I can remember
since at least 1993 here. Thankfully, there was enough dry pavement
reappearing to allow some local riders to keep their streaks going...
I'm rolling the dice by waiting until March 23rd for my next R-12
ride. Waiting until late in the month is how I flushed the original
2-in-a-row run back in 2010... so, fingers crossed.

Stay tuned -- the bike is still very much on my mind. Actually rode
to work last week... the first time since December. Deplorable for
the so-called "commuterDude"... but, that's life. It's all gonna be
worth it.

Stay tuned... part of that is a note-to-self: a little discomfort and
a few missed rides now... for a much, much more fulfilling life,
later.

Chin high.