How long has it been? I don’t know, but I’ll freely admit I’ve been neglecting the blog. But it’s that time of year when I start getting out for my Sunday morning bike rides and then posting about them. So here’s the first one of the season.

I headed out at around 8:50 AM. The temperature was cool, probably a degree or two below 40, but the sun was out and I knew it would be warming up as I rode. I decided this would be one of the rides where I don’t worry about speed and pace, just ride the bike for a couple of hours, enjoy the scenery, the animals in the fields, and have a nice time. So that’s what I did.

I was out for almost exactly two hours. I rode almost 30 miles. I think my computer said 29.5, and I averaged 15.1 mph. Which is decent for me at this time of year and for not trying to push it. I included Bishop in the route near the end. This is a road that includes a very hard hill. It’s not especially long, but it’s very steep and it gives me a good gauge of how I’m feeling on the bike, and I felt okay. I did drop into my lowest gear coming up it, but that’s to be expected. Later in the year I’ll be able to climb it in a higher gear, although not a lot higher.

I already commented on what the temperature was when I left, but I was properly dressed and felt comfortable on the road. The only issues I had are the ones I always have when it’s cool. For one, my eyes always water a lot at the beginning of the ride. The wind comes past my glasses and they just tear up a lot. I always spend the first few miles wiping tears off my cheek and out of my eyes. The other issue is the long fingered gloves I wear when it’s cold. They just make everything so difficult. Unzipping jacket zippers to get at food while riding and things like that just get tremendously more annoying. But rather that than have cold fingers.

Well, that’s it for today. I don’t know what the plans are for the rest of the day. Maybe some reading, maybe a movie, maybe some housework and laundry, probably a combination of some of those.

Have a good day and enjoy.