Friday motivated by Challenge

(In honor of the Tour de France this month’s distances are in kilometers)

This Ride: 82.8 km
Kona Distance: 3,235.1 km <– This bike now has over 2000 miles on it
Month to date: 357.8 km
2010 Total: 3,985.7 km
Pace to 8,456.78 km mile goal in 2010: +100.6 km

The morning started very warm and humid. Six of us gathered at the Rusty Bridge, talked briefly about the 3C’s (Chip, Clint, Clif) riding the 1000k ride around Lake Ontario, then launched out for the ride to Annapolis for breakfast. This was an odd ride. We were often very strung out. Reasons? Well, my legs and lungs had nothing for the climb in Round Bay (Mike struggled too). Dave P flatted. And there was a turtle rescue on Hwy 2. We split up in Annapolis for breakfast. Bryan, Jeff, and I opted for a bagel and coffee outdoors rather than the sit down meal at C&R. Evan joined us later. He had gotten to the Rusty Bridge a little late. The four of us rode back. At the trail, Evan took the lead and soon we were flying along the trail in a pace line. That would be during our 19.7 mph split.

Once we were back in Severna Park, the gang split up, and I decided to continue on for a time, without a clear goal.  I really didn’t want to put in 50 miles today, my legs just didn’t seem to have it in them.  At Aquahart Road, I met another rider (on a mountain bike) and in a brief conversation committed myself to 50 miles.  (Was that really me talking?)  I focused on the idea that I have a goal of 3000 miles July 1-December 31 and I’m raising money for ELCA World Hunger for every mile I ride, so I just kept spinning.  I wasn’t fast.  I sweated buckets.  I ran out of fluids at about mile 45.  I was counting on a drinking fountain in Glen Burnie, but it is broken.  Still, the 51.5 miles was completed without incident and without a lot of struggle.  I just kept spinning those legs.

Milestone: My Kona now has 2000 miles plus on it in just under 6 months of ownership.  I think I’ll take her in to the shop today for a tune up, to check the chain, and maybe to get my front derailleur working properly.  It would be nice to get those gears back.