My last ride on my road bike was 25 miles on February 12. Yesterday we went out for 70 miles in the delta - very flat, but very windy. The first half of the ride we had a headwind and the occasional cross wind, and the pavement was awful. But it was a beautiful day, we were on lightly trafficked levee roads and we had some pretty vineyards, river front homes and the river itself to distract us. Still, I was glad on the second half to be on better pavement and to have tail or crosswinds. And we still had those river views.

The first half of the ride we averaged 14 mph and my HR average was 145. The second half we averaged 18.3 and my HR was 150. Those rates are solidly in my endurance zone on the bike. I was deliberately trying to keep it below 155. I spent the last 17 miles either in the drops or doing invisible aerobars. Happily, my bike is quite comfy, even with the time off. I have put my race wheels back on it and I could feel the crosswind with those deep rims. I'm a little tired today and I can tell I haven't had much saddle time. I don't really recommend taking 11 weeks off your bike. Although, in fairness, we did ride the tandem once and we did the White Rim trip.

Veronica