It's been quite a while since I've been on my road bike. I've been busy riding the mountain bike, training for some Adventure Races. I've been running and of course swimming. But I just haven't been riding my road bike lately.
It's strange because everytime I get back on it, after a brief hiatus, I just love that feeling...that 'I'm a kid again' type feeling. I get that feeling everytime I get on my motorcycle too, but it's even better on my bicycle.
I planned on a mtn. bike ride today too - but we've had quite a bit of rain lately, and although I enjoy riding in the dirt, I'm not a huge fan of riding in the mud. So, road bike it was.
Anyway, it was just a great ride. I rode 40 miles, from my home over to Highway 101 down the Coast to Del Mar, California and back. Two hours and 10 minutes - for an average of around 18.7 mph as I recall. Not bad for a month off the bike (road) and the hilly course.
Did I mention my bike is 23 years old? When I was 20, I raced bicycles on the US National Sprint team and worked at a bicycle shop and I worked for a custom frame builder, Dave Moulton. He made me three custom bicycles. A road bike, track bike and a mountain bike. Somewhere along the way I sold the mtn. bike, then years later the track bike, but could never bring myself to part with my criterium frame. I've upgraded the parts, but still ride the steel frame.
When I ride weekly group rides with a local racing team, all the vets look at my ride and say 'wow - nice bike'. All the 20 year olds didn't even know they made bikes before aluminum and carbon fiber. My bike weighs at least 5-7 lbs more than theirs, but it's 'my' bike. Custom made for me. Nothing rides like it.
Tomorrow, back in the pool and then Friday I'm heading to the mountains for some snowshoeing to train for an upcoming snowshoe race.
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