24th ride of 2020 - Friday, 4/10/2020 (GOOD FRIDAY)
2020 mileage: 1337.0
I always feel a little odd about riding on Good Friday, but nevertheless I got it done, going out at 9:00 a.m. and riding the Packard/Platt Square (13.6 miles in 1:38). While not as long as my rides to Baker Rd., this is still solid enough to feel like a good, substantial ride that is worth doing. With the coronavirus quarantine still in effect and thus in-person worship at our church prohibited, they are live-streaming a service at noon, and I wanted to be sure to make it home in plenty of time for that.
Weather was a big factor today, as it was 33° when I began, and up to 40° by the end. However, for the second straight day, wind was a major factor—today, it was a frigid, knifing 18 mph wind out of the northwest that absolutely sliced right through me, and on those stretches where I was riding into it, it felt like I was wrestling a giant. The wind-chill when I finished, a bit before 11:00, was 31°. Also, when I went out to start my ride, I was dismayed to see a light coating of snow on the grass, the roofs, and the car—while I know that this is not outside the realm of normalcy, it still didn't seem quite right, somehow, for April 10.
At one point about 3 miles into the ride, my chain came off the front gears and got all tangled up, and I despaired of being able to rectify the situation. But amazingly, I was able to strip off my heavy winter gloves, and even in the cold was able to get it sorted out and be on my way again in short order.
Yesterday, someone made a comment in a Facebook triking group to which I belong that made a lot of sense. I hadn't considered it before, but they encouraged not to despair over speed, especially in comparison with regular two-wheel bicycles. "For one thing," they pointed out astutely, "you're dealing with 50% mrre ground friction that you have on a bike."
I always feel a little odd about riding on Good Friday, but nevertheless I got it done, going out at 9:00 a.m. and riding the Packard/Platt Square (13.6 miles in 1:38). While not as long as my rides to Baker Rd., this is still solid enough to feel like a good, substantial ride that is worth doing. With the coronavirus quarantine still in effect and thus in-person worship at our church prohibited, they are live-streaming a service at noon, and I wanted to be sure to make it home in plenty of time for that.
Weather was a big factor today, as it was 33° when I began, and up to 40° by the end. However, for the second straight day, wind was a major factor—today, it was a frigid, knifing 18 mph wind out of the northwest that absolutely sliced right through me, and on those stretches where I was riding into it, it felt like I was wrestling a giant. The wind-chill when I finished, a bit before 11:00, was 31°. Also, when I went out to start my ride, I was dismayed to see a light coating of snow on the grass, the roofs, and the car—while I know that this is not outside the realm of normalcy, it still didn't seem quite right, somehow, for April 10.
At one point about 3 miles into the ride, my chain came off the front gears and got all tangled up, and I despaired of being able to rectify the situation. But amazingly, I was able to strip off my heavy winter gloves, and even in the cold was able to get it sorted out and be on my way again in short order.
Yesterday, someone made a comment in a Facebook triking group to which I belong that made a lot of sense. I hadn't considered it before, but they encouraged not to despair over speed, especially in comparison with regular two-wheel bicycles. "For one thing," they pointed out astutely, "you're dealing with 50% mrre ground friction that you have on a bike."
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