Over the weekend I changed out tires from Rock Combos (26x1.95) to a set of Conti Contacts26x1.75). I also changed out grips from the stock foamies to a set of Ergon E1's and I had a new pair of Pearl Izumi gloves to break in.
5 minutes. That's what I cut off this morning...and with an extra 3/4 mile added as well.
74 Degrees
Light headwind
mostly sunny, but still dawnish at 7 am.
Distance 5.75 miles.
I gained 5 minutes on my time, even havingt to stop for some crossings a little longer than normal. I was running late as it is, left my house at about 645 to go to my staging point, about 5 miles from work. I dropped the bike, strapped on various things (did you know that if you check the pockets of your Timbuk2 bag you find all kinds of stuff you never knew was there after a year-like the cross strap?), and threw on some tunes. This morning it was a combination of Beastie Boys, some 80's Hair bands, and Music from the Lonely Planet, a series that was on the Discovery Channel and had great music if you are into World/Fusion.
Took off from Hyvee, down Union, over to 34th and down, hit the Tierra. Got to experience my first intersection confusion as I reminded myself to signal so the the guy on the really nice bike next to me knew if I was turning off of 34th or going straight *Sorry*. The Tierra part of the trail is named in part for a park that it goes through, sort of an Apt. Complex/Really large adjacent park next to it. It's got these little canals that go along the one side, with some trees overhanging here and there. Really pretty. Dodged a rabbit and what I think might have been an Oriel.
Got onto RI and crossed 27th on a bridge that someone so thoughtfully paid for, and onto the main trail. Here is where the fun starts-there was a guy at the bridge that crossed me before I turned, so I was behind him for a little while. The RI trail ends up at a YMCA, maybe a mile and a half from the bridge where we turned. In there, after I hit a stride (and a particular favorite BB track) I picked up the pace and ended up calling 'left' on the guy that had been ahead of me. Glanced down as I went (Trek frame, knobby tires) and passed him somewhere between 27th and Old Cheney with a mile and a half to go to the Y. As I glanced and went by, I also noticed that he was a young guy, and had an LFD and Rescue shirt on-those ones they only issue to the Municipal Fire and Rescue.
WoOt! Go FatRacer go go Fat Racer!
So, with some good tunes, decent tires, and a little unintended personal comptition (that this guy was not going to pass me back up until at least the end of RI) anything is possible. I also discovered that a 1/2 inch is a big deal. The new grips helped immensely, but I still started feeling the tingles just after Old Cheney (about mile 4ish). I moved my butt back a 1/2" in the saddle, and felt that 'flood of feeling' into my fingers. My leg position seems to be fine, but I think im putting a bit much weight on my hands-minor adjustment to my position and Wow. Went probably 3/4 mile more today than last week by trusting the rest of the trail in instead of turning off of it go to along the street.
Yip Yip, Yahooy!
No comments:
Post a Comment