Ride 18 - Wet and Wild
I slept in a little this morning and took off at about 7:30 AM for my Saturday ride. It had rained yesterday and last night so the roads were wet but not bad. I had to dodge the occasional puddle but nothing major. I went out today just trying to ride a good distance while maintaining a good speed. I wanted to try and average around 15 mph. I also had a basic idea of where I wanted to ride too.
Throughout the ride I saw a lot of folks out for their Saturday morning exercise. Bikers, runners, walkers, dogs walking their owners and so on. At one point I saw a group of about 5 women who had been running. They were gathered around one of those orange igloo water coolers getting a drink on the side of the road. Several were in the same shirt. As I continued up the road I saw another group of about 6 women; again in the same shirt. It must have been some kind of organized runners club or something like that. I continued to see several other runners.
About two miles after my usual weekday turnaround point I hit a new section of road that is pristine for bike riding. The road has only been in existence for about a year and isn’t well-traveled. It has a bike lane and rides very well. I think I was passed by one car on this section of road.
After turning around and making it about halfway back home I hear, “on your left!” I look over my shoulder and it’s a guy passing me. I’m cruising along at about 17 mph and this guy is moving pretty good. He’s riding a Colnago with aerobars and he’s tucked in. He’s probably ten years older than I am but like I said, he’s bookin’ it. A few minutes later I get passed by another guy, about my age, riding a Trek. The two guys are together it seems and I’m able to stay with them pretty good. In fact, they were rabbits for me to chase. I didn’t want to catch all the way back up to them so they wouldn’t think I was some jerk. To stay with them I really had to push it and it felt great. The both stopped as one of the guys was apparently ready to turn into his neighborhood. I passed them then but the guy on the Colnago passed me again a few minutes later and turned down a side road about a quarter mile later.
This was another super ride. It was nice to see all the folks out getting exercise and even better to see a couple of fellow road riders. It was also great to be able to really push it.
Here are the numbers for today: 25.14 miles, 1 hr 36 min, 20.8 mph max, 15.6 mph average
Paul on Sat, 24th May 2008 9:05 pm
Nice to see those numbers picking up. You do have to be careful about your assumptions on your pace relative to other riders. I was out recently and saw a young guy (I’m really old) on a time trial bike in front of me. I managed to catch up to him and I was feeling pretty good about it, until he told me he was on his way to work at the local bike shop and was just finishing a 50 mile training ride. You never know.
jaxgtr on Sat, 24th May 2008 10:42 pm
Hey, where was your extra distance today? Over to the Shell station? Last time I was over that way, lots and lots of rocks in the bike lane from the building construction on the north side of the road. Has it been cleaned up or cleared yet?
You time and distance is building nicely. You be doing a century before me this year for sure. Your speed is definitely up since you started riding your R300. We need to ride the Mandarin loop. A little over 41 miles, start at Open Road down through Fruit Cove and back. Lots of tree coverage along Mandarin Rd. to keep cool. Maybe something to think about next Saturday morning.
Bryan on Sat, 24th May 2008 11:07 pm
@Paul: Thanks. Your right about pace relative to the other riders. Those two guys could have very well been finishing up a long ride too. I’d be willing to bet they were probably out before I was.
Thanks for stopping by to comment.
@jaxgtr: I followed Gate Parkway around to the cutover through Deerwood Office Park and then crossed over Southside Blvd to AC Skinner and rode that until it ends at Salisbury Rd. Then I rode Salisbury Rd down to the church. Then I turned around and rode the reverse home. It was a really great ride.
Are you talking about the building construction on the North side of Gate just East of the office parks? If so, I’ve noticed a little gravel there but not too much. I ride by there for my weekday rides too and haven’t noticed it being too bad.
The speed did come up once I got back on the R300. I’m not sure I’ll be doing a century anytime soon! The Mandarin loop sounds good. I remember you mentioning it before. Lets let the week develop and I’ll let you know about Saturday.
jaxgtr on Sun, 25th May 2008 1:54 pm
Cool, the AC Skinner is part of my base ride and I remember riding that and the Gate Parkway roads before they let car traffic on it. AC Skinner is typically pretty deserted except for rush hour times in the morning and evening.
If you want to add another 10 miles on your ride, follow this map my ride link. This is what I rode today. I show the start and finish from a business park, but this goes right my by neighborhood but the distance would be the same for you plus a little to get back to your house. I typically end up with 40 as I do a couple of loops in the hood for warm up.
Hey, I might not be able to go this Saturday, I forgot this is the week my wife is having some surgery and she might still be needing assistance, will have to play it by ear. I was thinking it was the first week of June, but then she reminded me that she had it changed to this week.
jaxgtr on Sun, 25th May 2008 1:55 pm
whoops here is the link: http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/fl/jacksonville/63193237
Bryan on Mon, 26th May 2008 10:35 am
@jaxgtr: No problem about Saturday. I hope your wife’s surgery goes well. Thanks for the link.