Mar 22 - extreme sports

So what is your definition of extreme sports ? When I think of extreme sports, I think of a lot of things, but never thought of long distance cycling. Hamid mentioned something in reference to the extreme sport in which we're engaged and it suddenly made me realize that yes, it's probably extreme.

Prior to that conversation, you see, I would have used several adjectives to describe what I was doing, along the lines of -- stupid, bizarre, crazy -- I guess those are the things that I think of when I picture people doing extreme sports, so I guess that a 400km bike ride qualifies. Does that justify it ? Hardly !

Biking across the country ... was that an extreme thing ? I don't think so -- that was more of an adventure, a life experience, a ... I'm at a loss for words, but I don't think of it as extreme. The days were manageable, the companionship was fun -- a lot of prep and a lot of work, but not extreme.

Why do people do extreme sports ? Why do people go to extreme anything ?

Ok ... enough of this ... more in the a.m.

--------

OK, it's a.m. again.

Stats from the ride:

Elapsed time -- 18:40 (probably a little less than this)
Rolling time -- 16:32
Total Distance -- 248.7
Average Speed -- 15.03

I actually find a couple of things surprising here. First, that the accumulated stop time is around 2 hours. It's amazing how a half-dozen Control stops etc. all add up. We were not "lollygagging" either, as far as I'm concerned -- other people took much more time at stops. At each stop, however, it was always me who was saying -- ok, time to get rolling again -- at which point Hamid would use the restroom ... well, not always.

Second, I'm surprised that the average speed was as high as 15. I thought that it would be slower, given our struggle with the wind for so long.

Comparing this with the last ride of equivalent distance at 17:40 elapsed time, 16:06 rolling time, 15.6 average speed ... a small increase in average speed, but an additional 1/2 hour of stopped time -- both the effect of traveling with someone else. Very interesting.

It's probably hard to do something like this without an hour of stopped time. There is just no way that you can get through the convenience stores in less time, purchasing something, getting the card signed, being pleasant and all ... so if I could average 16 mph, with an hour of stopped time, that would finish the ride in 16:30. That's probably as good as it gets without a breakthrough in training that would bump up my riding speed.

It's all very fascinating, in a crazy sort of way.

---

So, yesterday was pretty much a wash. I did get to 7am Mass, went to Publix on the way home to pick up some yogurt and cottage cheese, unloaded the X5 later of it's bike burden, cleaned the bike later in the day, had a snooze ... you get the idea.

I also fiddled with my battery operated LED light mounts. They are clamped onto the vertically angled supports for the frame rack. One is very tight, only moves with a lot of force. The other was not clamped tightly enough and would tend to gradually twist with vibration, risking that the light would start hitting the spokes. The problem was not that the screw was not tight enough, rather I had to put more material inside the clamp so that it could be tightened more. That I did, adding some thread locker as well to firmly fix it in place. Once it had gotten light during the ride I took the one light off the mount and put it in the pack. I didn't bother putting it back on when it got dark, not wanting to worry about it as we were riding. I still had two tail-lights -- as many as anyone else.

Today it's raining with more showers predicted. It also rained for a short time yesterday. Sandy's clothes, dry before the rain hit yesterday, are still on the line. If she doesn't do something with them, they'll be there tomorrow too :). I see that the boat cover has water in it so I'll get out the pail and do some bailing. I had not bothered putting props under the cover to make it self-draining. With more rain on the way, perhaps I should do that.

I'll probably ride tomorrow and then Thursday, Monday then Thursday next week and then Friday I head to Tavares/Orlando for Saturday's 600k. Wednesday we'll go boating, perhaps Friday again with Sheryl, then Tuesday or Wednesday with Carol and Allister. The boating schedule depends on what Allister has planned for golf in the area. If we opt instead to all go out together, Sunday would work but we'd have to get moving because it's a busy day at the boat launch.

Allister and I could go over early and get the boat in the water and give the "girls" -- Sandy, Carol and Sheryl, time to get moving. Carol and Allister will still be on Central Time, having only come over from Panama City on Saturday -- cracking the whip on Sunday morning might not endear me to our cousins ! Bruce and Bev are coming to dinner as well, driving up from Sebastian on Saturday and going back home that evening. They are bringing Paco ... so it will be a busy place !

Today ... I'm going to finish off my taxes. Enough said on that score.

That's it.