Closing out the books on 2018 - Monday, 12/31/2018

I had hoped to ride outside today to close out the year, and could have bundled up against the cold, as my coldest outside ride to date is a nippy 17°. But we are enjoying a daylong rain, and I refuse to ride in a cold rain.

So I went to LA Fitness again, and did a good, brisk 90 minutes on the stationary bike, to finish the year with 3520.9 miles. The mileage compares favorably with 2016, when I had 3572.4, and is well ahead of the 3020.6 miles I rode in 2017. (In 2015 I only rode 2423.8, but that is because I didn't even get my first trike until that May.)

I am troubled by the fact that I only had 121 rides outside this year. Throw in the 120 times I rode inside this year, and I still come up with a total of only 241, which is well short of what I like to think of myself as doing (roughly 6 times/week, for a total of 312).

My original goal for this year had been 4000 miles. I think if I could have been more disciplined this year and not taken so many days off, I would have had a good shot at it. Well—here's to a renewed effort in 2019!

121st ride of 2018 - Monday, 12/17/2018

2018 mileage: 3325.9

Today's ride was—well, let's say "refreshing." I abandoned my original plan to ride in the morning, in order to let it warm up a bit, and when I went out to begin at 12:10, it was in 35° partial sunshine, with a bit of a breeze to help me along (10 mph from the NW).

Though I felt amply refreshed, these balmy conditions induced me to limit my ride to a single round trip to Marsh Park (10.2 miles in 1:08).

Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

My original goal for the year (4000 miles) has long been out of reach—while still mathematically feasible, I'd have to average 48.15 miles/day for the rest of the year to make it. However, 3500 miles seems much more realistic and doable to me ... I'll need to average 12.44 miles/day for the next 2 weeks, and given that my workouts on the stationary bike at LA Fitness have settled into a regular routine of 20 miles, I hope I'll be OK (even though, of course, they are closed on Christmas Day).

120th ride of 2018 - Tuesday, 12/11/2018

2018 mileage: 3275.7

I like to think of myself as riding about six days per week. But I'm highly chagrined to see that this is only my 120th (outdoor) ride this year, so clearly I've fallen well short of my goal.

Today I rode another round trip to Baker Rd. Riding right into a moderate wind (12 mph from the west) on my way to Dexter wasn't the most fun I've ever had in my life. But it was tolerable ... and kept me from overheating. 😎 When I began, at 11:15, it was a refreshing 30°, and up to a sweltering 32* when I finished.

Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

119th ride of 2018 - Friday, 12/7/10`8

2018 mileage: 3225.54

The cold weather that has arrived in recent weeks has sharply curtailed my outdoor riding. But today I bundled up and scrounged up all the gumption I could muster, and went out at 9:30 to do only my 2nd ride outside since November 14, going 12 miles in brisk, 26° conditions.

I rode a single round trip to Marsh Park. But they are paving Textile Rd. east of the park, over to Platt Rd. It is still closed to thru traffic, as the paving is halted (for the winter, I believe). But I was able to ride about a half mile beyond the park, to where the road is closed as the paving stops, at Campbell Rd., where there is a small country cemetery. They are also extending the trail on which I ride, and the ground has compacted for this, but the asphalt has not yet been laid (also awaiting the spring, I assume). So today I rode on the road. Michelle has asked me not to do this, and I am happy to honor her request. But today I judged it OK to ride in the bike lane, due to the absence of vehicle traffic.

As I rode, a bouncy, lovely choral song whirled through my thoughts. This was "A Winter Morning" by Brent Pierce, which the St. Olaf Choir had sung during my freshman year (1975-76) at St. Olaf College. The text (written by the composer) goes:

Sing to the world, the Lord has now come
On this, a winter morning.
Praise him with timbrel, harp and trumpet,
Praise him on this morning.

Angels are singing Alleluia
On this, a winter morning.
Telling the world the Lord has come
On this, a winter morning.

Wise men have come to bring him gifts,
Sing, sing Alleluia.
The shepherds have left their flocks to see
The son of God this morning.

Look at the star. It shines in the sky
For all mankind to follow.
Christ has now come to set men free
On this, a winter morning

Link to (Relive) video of today's ride

118th ride of 2018 - Tuesday, 12/4/2018

2018 mileage: 3193.4

The early onset of winter here in southern Michigan has kept me inside on the stationary cycle since November 14, so I'm sure glad I've begun counting those miles this year. Today, however, I decided to bundle up and head out at 12:15, and riding in mostly sunny 30° conditions (that heated up to 32° by the time I finished!)—and with the added benefit of a gentle cooling breeze so I wouldn't overheat 😎—I rode a round-trip to Baker Rd. (Dexter), covering the 19.4 miles in 2:28.

The only down side was that I had judged I could ride today without taking along my auxiliary battery pack. But I had not reckoned with the way the temperature drained that charge in my phone, so it ran out of power about 5 miles from home on the way back, and consequently I have no Relive video to share today (since Relive creates them from my MapMyRide data).

As I write this up, my feet are swaddled in a cozy fleece, and the circulation has almost returned to my toes!