194th ride of 2017 - Thursday, 12/21/2017

Total mileage for 2017: 3010.5

I have to consider it good fortune to be able to ride on the Winter Solstice in Michigan! Nevertheless, today's ride was cool (33°), gray, and gloomy, with the only redeeming meteorological feature being the blessed calm conditions. It was indescribably nice not have to battle a wind!

The picture below looks west on one of the boardwalks alongside Textile Road that I cross on my way back from the park to my home.

Carrying out a single round trip to Marsh Park again, I did the 10.1 miles in 1:17.

193rd ride of 2017 - Tuesday, 12/19/2017

Total mileage for 2017: 3010.5

Today I rode my first time outside since my ride in the snow on Saturday, December 9 that put me over 3000 miles for the year. I wanted to ride yesterday, but a very busy day combined with a daylong light rain and crossings at intersections that were still not completely cleared of snow to make me decide to let it go.

When I ran Michelle out to school a bit past 10:00 (she had an unusual schedule today), it was sunny and so warm that it felt like a spring day. I joked to her, "I may have to change out of this hoodie before I ride today"—and she strongly agreed. But then clouds moved in, so that when I rode at 12:15 in 45° very humid air, I was none too warm wearing the hoodie over a turtleneck! I think if I can ride outside tomorrow, I'll likely wear my winter coat.

Anyway, I was happy to be able to settle for a single round trip to Marsh Park, reflecting on what a gift from God it is to be able to ride outside in Michigan in mid- to late- December. I covered the 10.2 miles in 1:13, and took this picture at Marsh Park, as I prepared to head back home. A touch of snow still remains at crossings over roads, and encroaching onto the trail at times, but it was nothing I was unable to punch through.

Winter settling in

I am glad that my ride Saturday morning put me over 3000 miles for the year. Last winter I was able to ride quite a number of days, due to mild weather and a largely clear trail, but since my weekend voyage winter has arrived here with a vengeance, with pronounced cold and quite a few inches of snow. 

I am hopeful that I will get to ride a little more outside before the year is over, but I'm by no means certain of this, and do not plan to push it (or 'tempt fate') -- I'm content now with riding the stationary bike at LA Fitness until such time as it is reasonable for me to ride outside again.

As I said on Saturday, the mileage is a mild disappointment, in that I rode 3500 last year and was at one point hoping for 4000 this year. But my broken hand this summer threw a wrench into those plans ... and anyway, I am trying to convince myself, 3000 miles is not inconsiderable, and it is nothing I need to hang my head about! 😊

192nd ride of 2017 - Saturday, 12/9/2017

Total mileage for 2017: 3000.3

Today was a red-etter day for my riding in a couple of aspects. (1) I made it over 3000 miles for the year, and this is a significant achievement, despite the fact that I find it mildly disappointing in light of my 3500 miles last year, and my goal of 4000 this year (which, however, my broken hand this summer killed). (2) It was my first ever ride during a snowfall. Now, granted, it was only a very light snow—but it still feels good to have done it. I do not, however, look to make this a regular achievement this winter. 😎

It was, however, my slowest ride ever (average speed of 6.5 mph), and this was attributable to two factors. (1) With the suboptimal conditions, I deliberately refused to push for speed, instead focusing on careful and safe riding. (2) I encountered numerous patches (primarily, but not exclusively, uphills) where my tires spun and I could gain no traction. The worst such was right at the end of my ride, when, cold and exhausted, I could not ride at all up the hill from Oak Valley to our complex, and had to walk the trike up.

At any rate, I was able to ride 14.2 miles in 2:12. My MapMyRide app quite in mid-ride, so in order to measure the mileage I had to resort to my old friend, the Google Maps Pedometer, after I got home.

191st ride of 2017 - Friday, 12/8/2017

Total mileage for 2017: 2986.1

When I went out to ride at 12:15 today, brilliantly clear skies, a 26° temperature, and a nicely cooling 18 mph breeze from the southwest combined to make for a refreshing ride. 😎

Given this, I was grateful to be able to gut out a single round trip to Marsh Park, doing the 10.2 miles in 1:16.

Portions of the trail also had plenteous amounts of yesterday's light snowfall still remaining (much of it in melted, liquid, form).

Also, the cold drained my phone's battery very quickly. I set out with it fully charged, but running MapMyRide and Spotify, just as I finished and clicked to save my route information, the phone died.

This view of the trail I ride is returning home from the park, looking from where it crosses State Rd., west along Textile Rd. down to the first boardwalk that I cross.

190th ride of 2017 - Wednesday, 12/6/2017

Total mileage for 2017: 2975.9

Yesterday was extremely windy, as well as cold, so I was happy to stay home and compose, working on a commission—a former student, who is getting married next June, wants me to write a song for soprano and guitar for use in the wedding. That was a nice alternative to getting out there and battling the elements.

Today the wind is supposed to increase throughout the day, so it was a priority for me to ride early. When I began, about 8:15, it was mostly sunny. I wore my cloth fall gloves, which are much more comfortable.

But I also tucked my clumsier, heavier, warmer winter ones into my coat "just in case."

The 26° temperature and mild breeze (15 mph from the southwest) had gently encouraged me to switch gloves after a couple of miles. Those same conditions beat out of me any fleeting thoughts I had of doing two round trips to Marsh Park. So I settled for a single round trip, riding the 10.2 miles in 1:17.

189th ride of 2017 - Monday, 12/4/2017

Total mileage for 2017: 2965.7

I have been inexcusably lazy and undisciplined in regards to riding recently. I've not ridden since last Wednesday, having given the intervening days over to composing, reading, family get-togethers, and getting our Christmas letter out.

Given all this, I was glad to be able to get out at all today, even though it was once more a short ride (another single round trip to Marsh Park), on a cool, gloomy day of unrelieved gray. When I began at 11:45 it was 48°, and when I finished it was 51°. Most of the recent days I've taken off have been sunny and warmer, too.

At any rate, this gave me 10.2 miles in a slow time of 1:14.