Apr 11 - time to stop blowing ?

The wind has been crazy.  From the early morning there were whitecaps on the ICW.  There were many times, looking down at my Garmin, when I was pushing 150+ watts and going under 10mph.

I've not done the all-out blast with the power meter that Aaron has recommended.  What it has done for me, however, is make me more aware of my wattage output and as such, push harder.  On the way back home yesterday, for instance, with that wind now at my tail, I was often under 90 watts and rolling at 20+ mph.  Seeing that, I would push it up to 125-135.  That said, my average is still in the 110-120 range over 70 miles.  I've got to do some shorter rides and push the average up at least 50%.

Aaron gets the Schwalbe tires at a discount but they're terrible around here.  I put a new tire on the power meter wheel (for want of a better name) and now, after 800kms, it's done.  Three rides, including the 600k.  The two rides here have produced two flats, including one yesterday with a good cut right in the center of the tread.  I wasn't sure that it would hold without a boot, but it did.

To compare tires -- I put the Continental 4-season's on the rando wheels last year just before starting the big rides, so I put well more than 6000 miles on them.  Yes, they are twice the price but compared to 800k/500 miles they're a bargain !  That said, the Schwalbes last a long time up north -- it's US 1 that is the tire-killer.

Thinking back -- US 1 killed a Continental 4-season after only a couple of rides two years ago so perhaps it's the road, not the tires ?  I need something a lot tougher for these road or perhaps a pair of tubeless for my daily rides.

I had my session with John yesterday.  Slow progress but progress.

Habitat for Humanity came the other day and took away the pull-out couch that had been moved into our bedroom when Mark was here taking out the kitchen.  Sandy took the baby stuff off to the consignment store.

Speaking of babies -- this young girl pulled into the convenience store yesterday as I was arriving, parking in an odd spot partly blocking traffic.  As I walked by the car into the store I saw that there was an infant in a carrier in the front seat.  Inside the store, assuming that she'd be in view of the car, no she wasn't.  I did my ATM thing to get a receipt and then came out, stood by the car.  I didn't want to have a stolen baby on my conscience when I read about it in the newspaper.  As I stood there, I saw that the back seat had a 2-year old (approx) in a car seat.  Here this girl was out of sight of her car, two children, not locked, obviously not long enough in the sun to hurt anyone but anyone could have taken them out of the car.

I was there for almost 5 minutes.  I was torn between just standing there and calling the police.  She came out and I told her that and her response was ... wait for it ... "good for you" and drove off.

I should have called the police, but at least nothing happened to them on my watch.

Today ... not sure.  Tonight ... pick up Mary and John at midnight.  I'll have a snooze before that or I'd never last.  I'll have to go into the airport to meet them because they don't have a US-enabled cell phone.

Onward !