May-25

May-25:

BJP: Coley-ShadyGrove loop-Coley-DocN-Kemp-Virgil; 46.6 m.; est 1757 ft climbed --> effort index = 64; 2hrs, 49min; 16.5 mph avg pace.

1st Qt. tot: 20 rides; 755.3 m.; 47 hrs, 31 min; 15.9 mph.
Apr tot: 13 rides; 666.4 m.; 42 hrs, 58 min; 15.5 mph.
May tot: 12 rides, 643.3 m.; 40 hrs, 31 min; 15.9 mph.
YTD: 45 rides; 2065.0 m.; 130 hrs, 58 min; 15.8 mph.

Legs were much restored. However, I started even slower than usual, avg'ing only 14.8 mph after 9.75 miles when I turned off Carpenter Pond onto Coley. By the bottom of Coley, I had found some zip in the legs, and aided by the terrain and the breeze, was avg'ing 15.5 mph. Managed to hold onto 15.4 mph by the time I got back to Carpenter Pond -- I judged that pretty good.

By the time I completed the approx 2.7 mile "Shady Grove loop" and returned to the top of Coley, the average was at 15.7 mph. Down Coley and back up, the avg up to 16.0 mph.

Across Carpenter Pond and Leesville into the breeze at a good clip, then down Doc Nichols with gusto. NC-98 and Kemp in style. And then . . . and then . . . up the 2.37 miles of Virgil in what is likely a PR of 8:24 --> which suggests an avg upslope speed of 16.9 mph. I know I was shocked that I still was holding onto 16.1 or 16.2 mph when I got the top of Virgil.

Heading for home on Carpenter Pond at first things were going well. Then one of the local thunder showers go me. Light rain transitioned to heavier rain. I could barely see through my fogged up and rain drop splattered goggles. I kept the goggles on because at least no rain drops were hitting directly into my eyes. I had to pull back on the "ferocity" of my attack given the rain, the rivers of water running down the road, and the fact that I could barely see where I was going. I had slowed considerably as I approached NC-50, and it was a good thing I had, because with WET rims and WET pads, I had almost no brakes. Luckily there was almost no car traffic. The last major concern were the two small, but strategically placed holes on the descent on Mt Vernon Ch Rd, near the bridge. It is well that I know that stretch of road by heart because I was navigating the bike by reference to the white fog line and the center double-yellow lines. I never did see the two little holes, but I sailed past.

Upon reaching PUE, the rain stopped. And about a mile later, the road was bone dry.

I am confident that without the rain that I could have found another tenth or two for the overall ride average. Oh, well, at least I proved I still had snap in the legs and that some serious hill riding (preceeded by a mostly sleepless, tossing-and-turning night) would only bother my riding for a day or so.