workout log: 30 september 2006

Activity: road cycling
Location: Markham, VA > Mt. Weather > Bluemont > Marshall > Markham
Distance: 54.8 miles (moderately hilly)
Duration: 3:38
Weather: cold, damp and rainy, then clearing and dry, 52 to 64 degrees
Avg HR: 142 (max 176)
Type: aerobic

PPTC “Nick’s Pick aka The Blue Ridger from Naked Mountain Vineyards.”

This was almost “the ride that wasn’t.” After all, the weather didn’t cooperate with the fact that Nick – the club member who used to lead the “Real Rides” from Dupont Circle – was in the area and picked this route. And over thirty club members showed up for this ride.

When Joyce and I arrived at Naked Mountain Winery, we found the crowd huddled under a pavillion, chatting and lamenting the rain, drizzle, fog and cold. It was almost like winter in England: a clinging damp, chilling to the bone yet with an eerie beauty. A couple club members rode their bikes in from Marshall, but didn’t feel like riding the hills of Mount Weather in a rainy fog. Most people decided to pack it in and go home.

Except for me, and another club member, Mark, who rented a car for the day solely to participate in this ride.

So we received our cue sheets from Mariette, I unloaded my stuff from Joyce’s van and loaded it into Mark’s car, threw on what warm gear I had (vest shell, long-finger gloves, tights), fired up my read blinker, and we shoved off into the unknown – neither of us had ridden this route.

And it was cold – very cold. I was grateful for my vest and gloves, as they were about the only things keeping me warm, other than my physical endeavors. I methodically spun at a 90 rpm cadence, regardless of whether I was climbing a hill or gingerly descending, trying to keep the blood flowing as I rode. Mark did the same, though his pace was slower (he’s a full group-and-a-half slower than I).

I waited at the summit of Mt. Weather to make sure all was well, then descended. The muck and water made braking a noisy, dirty affair, and I could tell that I’d need to adjust my brake pads when we stopped. But the road surface wasn’t slick – just wet, as the oil had washed off from a thunderstorm two days prior.

By the end of the descent into Airmont, we were both shivering – likely pre-hypothermic, as we were both damp to the bone. If I pointed my toes to the ground, water would drain from the vent in the sole of my shoe like a spillway on a dam. My fingers were wet and a little numb, and dexterity wasn’t a top body function as I carefully adjusted my brake pads to avoid swinging into the sidewall of my tire.

At the rest stop – a bodega in a rural town, quite the odd cultural twist – I bought a 32 ounce coffee to warm up. It may have been a so-so brew of coffee, sitting on the burner for too long, but it was warm, I had it loaded with sugar (and a little bit of salt), and it was the best cup of coffee I’d had in ages.

After we’d had a chance to warm up inside the store for 10 minutes, Mark and I set off for the second half of the ride. As we got our legs back into shape, the skies dried up and cleared into the most beautiful day. The sun came out, the wind was calm, and the roads dried out. Mark and I also picked up the pace – we’d only averaged 13.5 mph for the first 25 miles into the rest stop – and chatted quite a bit about why we ride bikes, what our fitness goals are, etc. It was nice, relaxing and fun.

We eventually rolled back into the winery, just shy of four hours after we’d left. We tasted some wine, bought some bottles, and headed back to DC.

And we both agreed: it was one of the best rides we’d ever done. The others who headed home missed out.

Oh yeah, one more thing: 13 months after my shoulder injury, I no longer fear riding in rain.