I’m coming up with some grandiose plans; and let’s hope I’m not jumping the gun.
Let’s say I’m really going to do that century ride next month. It’s none too soon to plan my route; and I think it will be better to do it in shorter segments. I don’t want to get too far from a pit stop, because by April it can already be getting hot; and that means drinking more fluids than when it’s cold. We know what that can do to us!
Come Sunday, I think I’ll test part of that route. If I ride to the local park; make six circuits; and go home for a pit stop, I’ll knock off about 12.8 miles. While I’m home, I can top up my Camel-Bak.
I can replenish my ride food supply as well; and then head out for my usual pit stop 14.5 miles away. Total so far: ~25.18 miles.
Then I can ride on for about 5.5 more miles; and head back home. That should give me a total of 50 miles; or, a half-century. My longest ride so far this year was a bit over 45 miles; so extending my distance to 50 miles should be doable.
It looks like the weather will cooperate; and that’s always a good thing. Of course hours spent out there on the bike means sunblock; and before long it will be too warm for those leg warmers. That means a lot more sunblock.
We’ll see how things go for the next few weeks; and I’ll keep an eye on wind conditions! Fighting the wind all day is not fun; and can ruin my grandiose plans.