Gorgeous Morning Ride

This Ride: 23.3 miles
Kona Distance: 3,037.1 miles
Month to date: 698.2 miles <– (New monthly personal distance record)
2010 Total: 3,503.6 miles
Pace to 5,254.8 mile goal in 2010: (196 miles ahead of goal pace)

I received an email indicating a change in plans for the ride this morning.  Mike wouldn’t be joining me.  Under a full moon, with a few high clouds, I began my ride and what a pretty morning it was!  The trail was nearly empty.  Many of the regulars were not out, and they missed a cool, beautiful dawn.  My goal for the morning was to enjoy the ride and hopefully end the ride a little faster than yesterday.  I was also interested in checking whether or not I solved the bike noise problem.

Yesterday afternoon I loosened and then tightened any component I thought might be causing my noise.  It worked!  A silent bike is a wonderful thing.  The noise coming back after 10-12 miles is not a wonderful thing.  (I’m half tempted to squirt grease where grease doesn’t belong.)  Back to the drawing board.  At least I know something I tightened made a difference.

Exciting news!  When I got home, and was turning off my headlight, I inadvertently discovered that the NiteRider 350 does indeed have a blinky setting!  It was not in any of the literature that came with the light, but I had seen mention of it on a web video about the light.  I’ll be using that setting in the daylight, it makes me so much more visible!  On Monday, I had several people helpfully inform me that my headlight was on.  “Lights on for safety” is one of my mottos.  You will rarely see me riding without a light.

The goal of a little faster ride was accomplished.  My legs are feeling better.  The view from the Naval Academy Bridge was fantastic.  I’m looking forward to the Friendly Friday Ride with SPP tomorrow morning, and then … who knows how far I’ll ride?