Spring.. Back Again, Maybe

Ride Stats

• Distance:53.51


• Time:3:07:02


• Avg. Speed17.2 mph


• Max. Speed45.4 mph


• Climbing:4580 feet


• Avg. HR:139 bpm


• Energy:2182 cal


• Distance 2007:542.0

44°

High: 46° Low: 39°

My IE

44°

High: 46° Low: 39°

Considering all the crazy weather we've had this week I think completing 3 outdoor rides was an accomplishment. Today was probably the nicest day as I didn't encounter any monsoons like on Wednesday and I didn't have to battle a 30mph headwind like on Friday.

I've been using bikejournal.com to log my rides for the past 2 weeks. Their website is pretty weak functionally and artistically but it does have a great feature where it ranks riders on distance, time, speed, etc. The site has thousands of users from all over the world and it's really a shock to see how much distance some riders are logging. Strangely it isn't the racer crowd logging all the miles, it's actually the slightly out of shape 40/50-somethings who astound me with huge daily rides. Possibly even more impressive is that their average speeds are typically very low meaning that they spend 5,6,7 hours per day in the saddle. To me, riding for any length of time over 3 hours is just plain boring. After 180 minutes, I'm ready for a shower, fuel, and R&R.

I'm also intrigued to know the personal lives of these guys. I can't imagine what type of job caters to 40 hours of riding per week and I certainly can't fathom a wife or girlfriend (umm.. ok, I'll add in "partner" to be politically correct... not that there is anything wrong with that) who puts up with these epic rides.

It is also interesting to note that a high percentage of these riders are riding recumbent bikes. These contraptions look like bikes augmented for the Special Olympics to me. (Note: I fully support the Special Olympics and have volunteered at one. I simply don't like the recumbent "style" of riding) Is it easier to ride recumbents for long distances?

In the rankings, I find myself surrounded by Kiwis, Australians, Floridians, Texans, and Californians with very few representatives from the colder regions of the world. It just doesn't seem fair to be wearing booties, Pearl Izumi AmFib shorts, and lobster claw gloves when Crocodile Dundee is cruising along the Bass Strait in 80 degree weather. Oh well... summer is coming mate!