The forecast called for increasing winds throughout the morning with 25-30 MPH gusts. The next three days will be rainy. The temp was a near perfect 58F and mostly sunny for my 8 AM wheels down. Same route as yesterday, but a whole different feeling.
Yesterday’s ride was a slog. It usually takes me a mile or so to get into a comfortable rhythm. That never happened yesterday. The hills really got to me so bad that I cut the ride short. You see, the route I took has two options, the “Rochester Long and Rochester Short”. The bail out is around 7 miles into the ride. The feeling good turn around spot is at the 12 mile mark.
Today I got into the zone. Twice when I emerged from my “highway hypnosis”, I was already beyond those hills. My average speed was up quite a bit and the whole ride felt…well I didn’t really feel anything. My mind took me to places other than where I was on the bike. I was on the home stretch much sooner than I realized and as I though about the last climb, I realized that I had already done it. That’s a good feeling.
A Midnight Rider 