Friday

I learned my lesson and decided that if I wanted to make it home in time for an after work ride, I would need to leave a little early.  Friday provided the perfect opportunity.  Both the sky and my schedule were clear in the afternoon so I left an hour early and made it home by about 4:20. I had been seeing cyclist through my window all day and so I was excited to fit in a ride.  I pulled on my tights and jersey, which was all I needed for a ride in 58 degrees, and took off down the road. 

I had selected a longer route took me south a bit and let me take on some rolling hills early in the ride.  The rest of the way was pretty flat.  I rode harder than I would have liked the first mile due to traffic.  My thighs ached, but soon settled down after a hundred yards of recovery.  I found a great pace from then on and felt like I could go all day.  This route took me by fields of cut corn stalks that were flooded from recent snow melt.  The light was gorgeous coming down on the water casting orange and pink hues everywhere.  This is just as I imagined cycling to be!

Sadly, although I felt I could keep going, the sun began to set and I had to pedal home.  I am very pleased with my bike.  It has been everything I have wanted.  It is lightweight, stiff and goes wherever I point it.