Got up at 5:15 a.m. Sunday and headed to Clinton with Sean and Mike. We decided to go there, rather than Rocheport, because it was closer and we'd never ridden that part of the trail before.
This was another in a long string of perfect fall days. It was cool, but short shirt-sleeve weather, when we put the wheels on the trail at 9 a.m. We didn't start right out pumping hard, mostly in deference to me. I really had my doubts about how I'd hold up, since I hadn't ridden at all for over a month and had only a 20 miler under my belt a week ago. I ended that one in minor groin pain that persisted for 3 days.
For this one I started a regime of Aleve 36 hours before the ride, and I felt very good as the ride started. Still, I could feel a little twinge in my left leg in the first five miles, even though we were taking it easy, and I worried it would get worse. I concentrated on staying in a low-effort gear and pretty soon everything felt fine.
We went out 18 miles averaging maybe 12 mph, and then picked it up on the way back, finishing with an overall speed of 13.1 mph. There was a light wind in our faces on the way back, making the whole distance feel like a gradual, but continuous, incline. My quads were burned up at the end.
I pretty much expected some groin pain from the ride, but there was none then, none after the 90-min. ride home and none hours later. Probably all due to the Aleve.
The trail was nice, 50 percent shady, but not as picturesque as the Rocheport portion. If I was in better shape and not concerned about overdoing it, the gentle hills would have been a non-factor. I love being out though, so overall it was a fantastic start to the day. We were home in time to watch the last quarter and a half of the Chiefs/Colts game.
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