What a quandry I’m in sometimes on my Sunday long rides. Was there ever a wind today! Stronger than the one blowing this Flag. I had it against me for most of the way out; and some of the time on the way back.

You’d think that a stiff headwind (26 mph, with stronger gusts!) would be a great time to work at pushing into the wind in order to develop better strength. For flatland dwellers, it’s a good substitute for hill work.

But should I, or shouldn’t I? There’s the long-ride quandry. My Sunday long ride is supposed to be about maintaining a steady pace. Then there’s the possibility that pushing too hard when I’m far from home will leave me so depleted that getting back home again will be a major struggle.

For all my concerns in that area, when I got that wind behind me I couldn’t resist pushing the pace; trying to get up to 25 mph again, as I did last Sunday. I made it to almost 24 mph. Time was when it was hard for me to touch 15 mph even with a tailwind, so I guess I’ve gotten somewhere!

Today I tried a new on-bike snack: FitCrunch. I found them in a store, on sale for 50 cents per bar. They’re pretty good, and are a nice change from Clif Bars!