Last ride of April '09

I did my 20-mile loop again. Still have to stop once on that first big hill, but made all the others. A bit slower than last time, but still faster than last Fall. Most encouraging aspect of the ride in terms of training was that my neck and butt weren't sore afterwards. Lots of encouraging aspects of the ride in terms of the season: A warm föhn wind had temperatures up near 70; all kinds of birds singing out their territorial claims and reproductive urges; the white anemones franticly carpeting the forests hoping to be spotted by enough flying insects before the birches, larches, rohans etc. are fully leafed out and hide them; the smell of fresh manure spread on fields (cow -- ok, sheep -- nice, pig -- phew! but still a sign of Spring); and the sun not setting until I was home, had dinner, showered, and nipped across the street for an evening snack with the neighbors on their balcony at 10pm :cool::D.

And now: Happy May 1, everybody. Here in Norway it's still Labour Day, in memory of a strike in Chicago for the 8-hour working day ages ago. The US shifted Labour Day away from that historic date since celebrating unions has never been quite the thing in the US, whereas here we think of unions as helping keep order and predictability at the workplace, also for employers.

I rode my longer commute route today, past the horse farms. It was a perfect day. I had no wind in the morning, and tail wind at night. The sun was shining, and the Beach Boys "Do it Again" was playing in my head. Hard not to love life on a day like this!

35 kms. this morning. Have been cycling every morning for past week or so..average of 35-42 kms. each morning. Then today we had a lunch at the local culinary school restaurant. Good thing we cycled homeward after a 3-course lunch. No need to have dinner tonight!

Sunny with a touch of pacific cool breezes. Last of cherry blossoms.

Only about 7ks - three repeats up the easiest 1k section of my hill. On the third attempt I made it to the top in only the second to bottom gear LOL. So that's some progress, I guess. That section's about 100m altitude, according to my map.

Beautiful sunny autumn day but enough chill in the air that my fingers were starting to go numb on the first descent.

Then I had my bike checked out by a guy who's starting up a beginners cycling group from my local gym. First ride hopefully next week :eek: I've never ridden with a group :eek::eek::eek:

I came home because my husband said we had "books" to do. I thought I could at least get in a quick (for me anyway..lol) 6 mile loop around the area.......well I did that in about 30 min or so and called hubby.... I am still at the shop.....ok fine... I am going to do some more riding. Well on the first 6 mile loop I had 3 near close calls with dogs running and chasing me down the road so my husband said ride a different direction and stay away from those dogs I don't want you to fall and still be clipped in!!!!

So I decided to go back around like I would be doing a second loop and then turn back and do some good hills and come home. Well......omg I think everyone was out with their uncontrolled dog (it was a nice afternoon to be outside).

I finally made it home, no falls and I stayed clipped in!!! I did just under 15 miles.

Tina