Well, today just goes to show you that you never really know what a ride may bring you, because today, a day that was going to be a rainy day off, turned into the biggest ride of the year for me, as I hit six days in a row now on a bike.

The rain never happened. It was dark, cloudy, and dank...about 47 degrees this morning. But having nothing planned outside of a few errands I had already run, I had the time to ride. The radar didn't look too bad so I figured I would try a little ride. Little did I know at that point...

The new spoke is in and working fine. About 8-10 miles in, the sun broke out and stayed out for most of the ride! The birds were singing and lots of people were out. Suddenly, I felt alive and was glad I went out to try this.

Then came the centerpiece of the ride. Up ahead, a high-viz carrot. (He had one of those high-viz colored wind jackets on) What the heck, lets try to bridge the gap and catch this guy I told myself.

This was no casual rec rider I quickly found out. I wasn't gaining at all, so I had to kick it up a notch and really try to catch him. I was doing 23 and closing ever so slowly. Finally...finally the guy let up a bit and I stayed on it. I caught him and struck up a conversation with him as we rode side by side.

"Thanks for being my hi-viz carrot to chase," I said. "You were really going there." He replied, "Oh, I've got it just in spurts for right now."

We went on to talk a little about how crappy the weather has been and how that has hurt training, or at least put us behind schedule. I asked him if he was going to be out here in a week (we were near the Whitnal Park area where the WCA race will be held next Saturday.) He said he would be. Nice guy. Must be racing. He said maybe we'd see each other at the race as he went one way and I went another.

I really put out for that catch. I was tired, but felt great. So I did a total of six laps on the course they will be racing on next week. That's the most laps on the course this season thus far. I took a few videos with my camera there as well, just so I could send them to my sister in PA for her to get an idea of the roads she will be on when she comes to visit in June to ride with me here.

And if that all wasn't enough, I felt so good and the sun felt so warm (wind jacket now open and flapping in the breeze behind me now) instead of heading back after the laps I continued south to check out part of the Franklin loop. I did about half of it before heading back.

By the final five miles my neck and butt were getting a little sore. Typical stuff for early in the season when you are on the bike for longer than you have been in the past. 2:33 minutes for 40 solo miles today. It's been a heck of a week for miles...finally. And Sunday is supposed to be nice and I'm in town so I plan to do it again tomorrow.

One thing is for certain about today...I sure did earn the Italian dinner we're going out for tonight!

Huh, I posted yesterday on here but I don't think it went obviously!

Anyways...I just wanted to say it was kewl you rode with the roadie and chatted. Catching the wheel of someone is something I yet have to do here maybe someday

Glad to see you on your Klein and happy again bro. Nice LSD ride!

I know you're planning on a ride today. Six or seven days in a row now right? Take it a tad easy on yourself now, or your not following your own preaching! HEHE Rest and Recovery soon!