Didn't post after yesterday's ride, so this is a 2-fer. After not cycling for 3 days over the weekend, my body was well recovered - but I'd done a good bit of destructive dieting over the weekend as well at CigarFest 2009. So the ride to Norfolk and back was desperately needed.

Today, I intended to push the distance a little further, and also wound up heading in a new direction - south. the ride took me down South Canton road through Crary Mills, across 68, up Butternut Ridge Rd., and then back home on 56 through Hannawa Falls.

22.4 miles in 1:37 for an average speed of 13.8 MPH.

The original plan would have taken me down Bagdad Rd. instead of S. Canton Rd., and up County Rte 28 instead of Butternut Ridge Rd for a total distance of 25.0 miles - but I missed one turn, and then lost track of where I was, so I took a road I knew instead.

Oh well, time to clean up, and maybe have a cigar to reward myself.

And on the 7'th day... he made it back to his original distance and original speed. Today's ride took me 20 miles to Hotel Grande in Norfolk, and then home again. Round trip was 1:28 minutes for an average speed of 13.6 MPH.

Definitely feel as though I could have gone further - will push it a little more tomorrow, and then hopefully be up around 25 or 30 miles when I get back to it after a weekend off.

For now, though, time to take a shower, cook some dinner, and then off to open mic night at La Casbah

This evenings ride was 50% longer than the others over the past 4 days... so I'm feeling really awesome about it.

Went up Route 56 into Norwood, down Park St to River Road, and followed River Road back home. 15.3 miles in all - and I didn't get an exact time since my iPhone and iPod were both dead. The trip was roughly an 1:15 for an average speed of 12.24 MPH.

This route was really actually very nice - there were two inclines that were fairly brutal. The first headed up Park St until you reach the intersection with River Rd.. I used to ride from Norwood down 56 to Potsdam, and then back to River Rd. on Norwood, so that stretch used to be downhill - so I was unaware of what I was getting into there. The second was a couple miles into the River Rd., and I don't even think it was all that bad by itself, but I hadn't gotten my heart rate under control yet from the first incline, and had to stop to bring it back down again.

Anyway - woo! here's a map.

I'm going to try to do this trip again every day this week... although tomorrow the weather most likely won't cooperate. If I make the ride Wednesday and Thursday though, I'll be at 93.8 miles since I started biking again last Thursday (the 23'rd) before I leave for the weekend to attend Cigar Fest 2009

Feeling great... can't believe I ever stopped biking.

I didn't get to post yesterday, but did manage to make it out for a ride yesterday afternoon. I set out without a planned route, and wound up heading towards Parishville. Had I made it all the way there, it would have been about 16 mile round trip. After not biking very much on Saturday, I was feeling pretty good, and wanted to push my distance quite a bit. However, the weather had other plans. It was pretty chilly out, about 49 when I left, and then it started raining about half way to Parishville - so I turned back around Allen River Falls Rd.

Here's a map of the ride. It was 9.3 miles, in 34 minutes, for an average speed of 16.4 MPH.

The plan for after work today is to head up to Norwood and back, which is a familiar route. I used to bike Norwood to Colton every day, so this will be a subset of my old route. Here's the planned route.

No big ride today... as I spent the better part of my day underneath my car doing some routine maintenance. Now that the nice weather is finally here, I've been doing miscellaneous things that need to be done on a car w/ 64,000 miles. Today's tasks:

• Changed my transmission oil
• Replaced my brake fluid

The two may seem unrelated, but actually my car's clutch uses the brake fluid. And as it turns out, my brake lines were pretty full of air - so it was definitely necessary.

Unfortunately though, I found out the bleeder values on my front driver side caliper is rounded off... so until I get a replacement in, and a pair of vice grips, the task is on hold. Although, just with having bled the clutch and three of the calipers, it's a noticeable improvement.

I did get a short ride in though, since I needed some extra tools and my car was up on jacks - so I biked to the Auto Zone and back. Only 3.5 miles, but I pushed the speed a bit to make up for it - 12 minutes and 30 seconds round trip for an average speed of 16.8 MPH.

Here's a map

Today's ride was slightly longer, and slightly slower... took the Back Hannawa Road out to Hannawa Falls, then home on 56. 10.5 miles total in 53 minutes for an average speed of 11.8 MPH.

Back Hannawa is a lot hillier than I remember... it was pretty brutal, but the ride home on 56 is fairly mellow, so it doesn't seem so bad once I'm home again. I'll probably take Route 72 again tomorrow, just for the comparison. It's hard to tell which was worse, since I was already a little fatigued still from yesterday.

Anyway, here's a map of today's ride:

View Larger Map

Time to hydrate and take a shower!

So, I went to one of my favorite tasty beverage establishments last night for open-mic night, and to have a cigar with friends. When I went to order my drink, I was informed by the bartender (a good friend of mine) that I needed to start working out, because my stomach was getting noticeable.

Sure, I've let myself go a little... but ouch!

So today starts the new regime... back to cycling. During the summer of 2006, I rode 25 miles every day - come hell or high water. Of course, I was gainfully unemployed that summer (well, was self employed that summer...) which made things easier. But no more excuses!!

I just got back from my first ride of the season - my house, down 56 to 72 and into Hannawa Falls, by the Birches (another fine tasty beverage establishment), then back up Rt. 56 to my house again. Here's a map:

View Larger Map

Depending on how my sub-par body retaliates, I'll do this again either tomorrow after work, or Saturday AM.