Category Archives: Tues/Thurs 7:45am ride

Endless ramblings regarding the every Tuesday & Thursday-morning bike ride, leaving Olive Hill & Canada Road at 7:45am, rain or shine

There’s a bit of a pattern here; slower ride Tuesday, faster ride Thursday…

Personal stuff, Tues/Thurs 7:45am ride

Behind again here, and why not, pretty much everything in my world is behind right now. The “Essential Business” status for the bike shop has us going nuts from the opening bell until shortly before closing. It’s common for all three phone lines to be going at the same time, and with between 3-6 staff for customers at any given time, the math really doesn’t work out very well. We’ve actually had to leave a message on the answering machine that lets people know, if we can’t get to the phone during normal business hours, send us an email. Never, ever, thought we’d have to do something like that.

Been in this business for over 40 years and there’s never been a time like this. Kids bikes? Sold out. Mountain bikes & hybrids? Sold out. Some will be arriving in a few weeks, some in a couple months, some not until October???!!!

And then there’s the new shop. It’s not much fun paying for two locations while occupying just one! But construction is complicated, permits something we weren’t prepared for, and of course, not much time for a clear thought when things are so busy.

But there remains the bicycle, and despite the craziness, I’m still at it, commuting to the shop, dragging myself very slowly back home at the end of the day. Sundays, nothing too long, although that can change now that the county’s eliminated the 10 mile radius from home limitation. Pescadero here I come! Tuesdays have been relatively easy; Kevin (pilot) usually shows up and he’s happy with a moderate effort. Thursdays I’m typically on my own, and Thursdays are when I find the drive to hammer. Not just up Kings, but pretty much the whole ride. I seem to be in a game to get the highest average weighted power possible… up to 221 watts now.

I’m still here. –Mike–

What is it about my Thursday rides that go so much harder/faster than Tuesdays? Best time through the park since 2015

Tues/Thurs 7:45am ride

How many photos of West Old LaHonda are found in the Almost Daily Diary? Don’t know, but it’s a LOT.
Interesting morning. Some issues causing me some grief and lack of sleep, and I started up the hill wondering if I’d turn back early. But that’s tough for me to do, especially if my legs seem to be working, and this morning they were.

Solo ride (again), as befits social distancing right? Saw quite a few others out there though. When I made it to the gate at the top of Huddart under 10 minutes, I was thinking OK, maybe I’m feeling better than I thought. My heart, legs and lungs all seemed to be in-tune, all able to run right at the same edge, without that feeling of “I sure wish I could breathe a bit better, since my legs feel good today.” About two-thirds of the way up, I came across “that guy” who Kevin (pilot) and I couldn’t catch a few weeks ago. No big deal, except that he’s on a mountain bike. Doing a whole lot more work than we were. Today? I spotted him well ahead, bridged the gap and passed him strongly. And kept going strong afterward. Remember, the most-important rule of all, in cycling… never, ever, pass someone you won’t be able to stay ahead of.

And yes it was one heck of a nice morning, first day in ages where I didn’t need leg warmers, or a base layer, or long-fingered gloves.

Got to the top of Kings in 29:29; had I ridden as hard the “normal” way, I might have been a 28-something. That will wait for another day. At the top, no hesitation, just turned left and kept going. When you’re riding solo, you’re in control. Keep the watts up. Level out the effort.

Average speed 16.3mph. I can live with that. 10 years ago my rides were in the 16.4mph range. And I got back to the starting point right at 9:18 too! Basically back on the old schedule. With the old legs, old lungs, yeah, older body. But still feeling like I can drill it once in a while.