13 Mile Ride

Bill wanted to share his riding experience on the 13 mile ride he did after work today.....

13 Miles

"Since we have changed our clocks ahead for spring it is now lighter 1 hour longer which allows me to get outside and do my training. It's always nicer to be on the road training than in the shed; you face all the elements outside that you do not experience with inside training. So I thought I would share what goes on during my training ride.

Out to the shed, check the bicycle over. How do the tires look, is the pressure OK, not tonight, add a little air, water bottles full and in the baskets, computer locked in place, cell phone in the small saddle bag under the seat all zipped in. Sunglasses on, helmet strapped on, gloves and ready to go.
Out the driveway, turn right, warm up the legs a little up the first small hill, on to the main road, no one coming, pump hard to cross the road, settle in and get the cadence up and settle in for the ride. 
First three miles are not too bad, do you see the flag over on the right, looks like we have a pretty strong quartering tail wind, you know what that means, head winds on the longest leg of the ride. Well, enjoy the wind while you can. First three miles done. Tail wind, pretty flat with just a few inclines, time not too bad, feeling good. Heart rate “OK” and breathing fine.
Shoulder narrows too much to continue to train so cross over and stay on the wide shoulder, Bam, the wind hits you, down shift to continue your cadence, wind gusts again, down shift again, look down and you're doing just 10-12 mph, not so good any more. You're working harder, heart pumping a little harder, you feel it in your legs a little more, that’s “OK” you need the work out.
Back to where you turned on the main, Ahhh, your first hill, remember this hill, this was the first hill you saw when you were just doing the 6 miles, it intimidated you, you turned back home, you knew it wanted to conquer you. Not this time, you like this hill, it does not intimidate you any longer. You're not going home, not this time, you still have 7 miles to go.
Drop down a few gears, settle back in the saddle, push a little harder, no problem, feel it in your legs, its burning a little, heart pumping, panting a little harder, no problem you got this. Bam, there it is again, the wind hits you just as you crest the hill, its not going to be your friend tonight, don't back off.
Shift up a few gears and push a little harder, this wind it just will not give me a break, you can now see the clouds being blown in, keep going. There it is a road that will take me to the last leg, not the right one just the one to take you back. No don't do it you still have a few more miles to go, push through the wind up that slight incline and you have your first hill to go down. A little relief, the wind seems to stay out of the valley, yes a little relief. Now up the hill this one is a lot like the first one, no problem, you got this, down shift, settle into the saddle and push, work those legs, you got it, now its time to turn down the last leg of the ride.
Make the turn, the wind is with you for the first 100 yards then the trees break it up, well its not a headwind so be happy. First incline, down shift, work the peddles, push through, there it is again, you feel it in your legs, almost to the top, you know what is waiting around the corner. The road turns and opens up, the wind blows through, you feel it, its now coming from your left, no problem and a down hill push, you drop into the lower bars, make yourself as small as you can and push as hard as you can, look in the mirror is anyone coming, clear, take the lane and push, at the bottom is a stop sign, slow down make the right turn, you are now on the last leg.
Past the farm with the newborn goats, and young calves, you whisper by, they look at you as you go, no noise, just the whisper of the chain. It does not scare them, they just look up and watch you peddle by.
Just a few more hills and there it is the last hill up, it's one that is steep, short and not forgiving, you remember it, it was the one that kicked your #@%* the first time. You hit the top and were panting so hard that you could not hear anything but your heart pounding and your lungs emptying themselves. Not this time, first push as hard as you can, get every foot of that hill as you can, then be ready to start down shifting, quickly, one after the other, don't stop. Then and only then find that gear you like and stand up, you are going to push this one standing up. You got this, your reward is just ahead. A quick down hill around a few curves up and down a few inclines and there it is, the red barn with the calves in field by the corner of the fence. This is what you have been waiting for.
Just as you crest that little hill, there they are waiting for you, you pull the chain up on the large sprocket, it happens fast, start shifting, one after the other, down in the lower bars, dropping gear after gear; one more, one more, none left, this is it.
Your now back in the saddle, leaning way down, pumping, pumping, this is your reward, this hill, this moment. You push your legs until you feel the burn, 18, 20, 25, around the curve, you feel it as you lean over, pushing harder, tucked in tight, 27, 29, 30, you bring the bicycle up right, still pushing, harder, 32, 35, 37, you feel the burn in your legs just a little more 38mph, you are out of the hill, still pushing, there it is, home. 
You made it, slow down, into the driveway, drop down some gears, un-clip, off the bicycle, into the shed, up into the stand, slide the computer off, turn off your flashing tail light. Off come the helmet, gloves and sunglasses, time to go into the house, lock the door to the shed, done for the day.
Tomorrow we do it again."