End of January

This Ride: 19.6 miles
Month: 460.1 miles
2011: 460.1 miles
Cumulative Total: 6,579.8 miles

Four riders out this morning in 27°F temps.  Dan & I met at the Rusty Bridge.  We picked up Clif and Bryan near the Ranger Station.  The route was our “Winter Route” because there is snow lying everywhere.  We had some melting the past several days, but the water refreezing on the roads makes for occasional excitement.  No one had ridden the Round Bay loop since the storm.  We discovered it is mostly clear, with a stretch or two where snow and ice are still piled up in the road surface.  The rest of the winter route was typical for winter riding.

I struggled this morning.  I believe it was the popcorn I had for supper last night.  It wasn’t substantial enough to have me fully fueled.  I ate 1100 calories yesterday and 100 before going out this morning, and that’s just not enough to fuel a snappy ride.  I want to drop about 15 lbs, but doing that while riding takes special attention.

January 2011 is in the books.  Here is what I accomplished.

• 460 miles (only 21.4 on the trainer indoors)
• Second consecutive monthly 200k (this one solo)
• 16 days of riding (disappointing, includes 2 days on trainer)
• 29 hours 50 minutes of time in the saddle
• 14,173 calories burned
• 240 miles more than January 2010
• 110 miles ahead of my target pace for 8000 miles in 2011.
• Passed the 1/4 way around the world mark.

I’m looking forward to February.  The weather can be tricky.  Already we have storm alerts out for tomorrow and Wednesday of this week.  Groundhog Day is Wednesday, signaling 6 weeks or less until spring!