June 17 Ride Reports

[Duck on Wheels]

I did 35 miles in the Janesville Pie Ride. Good grief was it hot out there! And I am thoroughly disillusioned as to the flatness of the prairies, but not as to their windiness. Also, I'm feeling a bit dizzy right now. Could be because my hydration pack sprung a leak so I had to rely on my bottles. I went through 2 liters of water and half a pack of sport beans, but in this heat that may not have been enough. So now for more water, and ... a piece of cherry pie with a scoop of Babcock ice cream on top

p.s. 1) I got a late start, but caught up with a few family folks. On the way in I rode alongside one family group: Son (I'd guess somewhere between 10 and 12) charged ahead (after asking permission) once they got to the bike path, but followed all traffic rules while we were on the road. Daughter 1 (my guess about 8) was on her very first 35-miler on her own bike! She finished in good form, much better than I. Daughter 2 (maybe 6?) rode in front of Dad on a front-mounted recumbent tandem attachment -- I've never seen anything quite like it before. Mom on her own bike, possibly for the first time (since daughter 1 was now on _her_ own bike and didn't need somebody else as "main motor"). I was very impressed with the whole setup and with how Mom and Dad were coaching the kids on traffic rules as we encountered different situations.

p.s. 2) I was less impressed with another family group that took off around the same time as I and had about the same speed. The kids were great -- calling out when they passed and passing along "car back"s etc. But why ever would Dad go out on a family ride with only a baseball cap on his noggin and ear buds (mp3) in his ears? Such a bad example!!!

p.s. 3) Over the dizziness now; the pie, ice cream, and water have helped. Also over the foot numbness (I think my feet swoll up in the heat, since the numbness was both entire feet at once, not starting right at the clips) and back pain (note to self: do not slack off on that core work!). But could the blotchy red patches on my legs be heat rash, or am I having an allergic reaction to something? Probably heat rash; they start right at the cuff of my shorts and none on my tummy where my allergy rashes have always started).

p.s. 4) Though hilly, windy, and hot, the prairie was very pretty. Pretty enough to distract me, most of the way, from the discomfort of the hills, wind, and heat.