The wheels Dave, I feel them slipping away… (apologies to “2001” movie)

Heading up Kings, I was actually surprised I wasn't dropping off the pace too far, too fast. I am recovering!
Heading up Kings, I was actually surprised I wasn’t dropping off the pace too far, too fast. I am recovering!
Tuesday morning I slept through the rain, even though I did wake up to the alarm. After a night of coughing fits I just wasn’t up to it. Yesterday I got back out on the bike for the first time since Sunday’s short ride, commuting to the shop & back, mostly just to prove I wasn’t dead. Yet. But last night I actually made it all the way through without a coughing fit, giving me a sense that maybe I could actually do the full ride this morning. Truth be told, it wasn’t until clearing Huddart Park that I decided I wasn’t going to have to cut the ride short and head back down 84 after Kings, skipping the West Old LaHonda loop.

Kevin (pilot), Karen, Eric, MarkP & Andrew this morning; dry roads, but a bit cool, as low as 39 up on Skyline. Karen brought up that she’d heard they had snowplows up on Skyline on Tuesday and wondered if we’d seen them; she didn’t know that we’d all found reasons to skip the ride. At least as far as I know, nobody showed up (and yes, I’d feel badly if someone had, in the pouring rain, and I wasn’t there).

I began to become detached about 3/4 of the way through Huddart Park, but we regrouped at the upper entrance (pretty much dictated by Kevin’s need to get rid of his morning Diet Coke rental). I was able to hang on longer than I expected to after that, and generally felt not-so-bad. Even held back just a bit for Eric, and before anyone thinks that makes me the faster rider, think again; Eric rides up Kings before we meet, comes back down and then rides back up with the group!

It was interesting keeping my efforts relatively-low by intention on Skyline, and again on the west-84 descent. There were a few times I felt like I should go to the front and pick the pace up a bit, but given it was just a few days ago I’d forgotten what it must feel like to feel good, I figured I shouldn’t push too hard today.

We did have our first (I think?) bunny sighting for 2014 on West Old LaHonda, a little guy who started running up the road when he spotted us, then turned perpendicular and, instead of jetting off the road, stayed perfectly still. Wonder if that’s what rabbits do… try to stay perfectly still to avoid being noticed by prey?

Overall very happy I not only survived the ride but felt really good afterward. Sunday, probably an easy Pescadero-Tunitas loop! –Mike–






One thought on “The wheels Dave, I feel them slipping away… (apologies to “2001” movie)

  1. Hey Mike, hope you feel better in a couple of days!

    I’m coming out for a two week visit next week. Been training hard, and losing weight. Looking forward to improving my Strava times on some local climbs!

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