i was aiming for a 25-ish mile bike ride today. seemed like the thing to do as it’s the friday before a holiday and i took a day of rest yesterday (no biking at all, if you can believe that, although i thought about it). so when my 13 mile marker showed up on my bike computer and i still felt good and i had some more time to kill, i kept going to the manhattan beach pier. that’s right, kids, i biked from home to the manhattan beach pier. and back. and not just back. back in a headwind that i knew was there but was ignoring as i was flying south and feeling great. i knew i was going to experience 10-20 mph winds today, but i just couldn’t resist extending my trip when i could *see* the pier so clearly. it’s *so* close.
i had enough water (just) and i brought ample snacks, but i knew i was in trouble when i stopped in marina del rey on my return trip to have an apple and a bar and i was stiff after sitting for only a few moments. luckily, the bike path wasn’t as crowded as i had expected for a holiday friday, so i was less vexed by crazy tourists thinking they are the only ones on the path (oh, i can’t just stop suddenly in front of you and fiddle with my camera?). i made it home, popped 2 advil, stretched, ate, and am continuing to stretch every hour. the sunset is beautiful, it’s even windier now than it was earlier today, and my morning ride leaves me with absolutely no regrets. my muscles feel otherwise, but i’m ignoring them.
southbound: 15.78 miles / 1.10.13 hours / 13.4 mph avg spd (13.4!!!)
total: 31.57 miles / 2.33.17 hours / 12.3 mph avg spd (better than usual despite my fatigue, the wind, and walking my bike more to stretch my legs a bit and give my a** a break. i just can’t keep myself from trying to one-up myself. which is why i both should have and should not have become a professional athlete in an individual sport.) n.b., i was still at 13 mph avg spd at marina del rey. i tried really, really, really, really hard to bike at a more leisurely pace from MDR to home. trying to maintain a 13.4 mph avg spd northbound is so not a good idea.