I wasn't sure how this evening ride was going to be, with my left knee bothering me and my lower back still tender, plus I wasn't sure if I would get caught by rain... This weather isn't good for my joints, never had this issue in years gone by. Now when it gets a little cold with rain in the air, my joints all start to ache! Getting old is not for the weak... Oh back to the ride, it was nice to be back on the Tarmac. I decided to play it by ear, weather forecast rain was called for 8pm, I was hoping it wouldn't. If it did I would cut ride short. When it started to drizzle near the start I was thinking this ride is going to be a real short one. It stopped then started back, this was the theme for the entire ride. I kept the effort level and under control, my left knee started to feel better and my back didn't start to complain until the last 5 miles. I actually felt pretty good and strong, once I got 12 miles out, onto Monmouth Rd 5 miles of up and down hills, each hill is its own because there is no momentum from the previous downhill. The hills felt good, I am back on the flat land gearing. I need to change the gearing on the Scott Foil back and put the training wheels back on. Once I got off Monmouth Rd. I started picking up the pace and putting in more effort, with 8+ miles to go my power meter stopped working, I think the battery on the right pedal stop working. After I got home and removed the batteries I tested them and they were within the operating specs. I put them back in and checked them battery were reading as full and worked as they should. So power is showing much lower. HR is coming down slowly which is great.
The Mountain climb race that was for Saturday was cancelled due to hard rain! I did find out until I was already up there scoping out the race course and arriving at the registration area and no one was there, lol! It was a good thing. To ride down to the start would have been nearly impossible. It would have been a very difficult race from the start it was a climb with only a few short semi flat spots for the first 3 miles, it was steep looks to be a minimum of 6% winding road with a small shoulder if anything at all most of it was 2 lanes going up and we would be on road sharing the lane with cars. The last mile was on horrible narrow road that was all chipped up, bumpy, pot holes, debris and did I say narrow with steep pitches. It was a road that you'd ride a mountain or cross bike on, not a road bike! Even though the race was cancelled I was happy I made the trip up to see the race course! It is a dangerous and most challenging climb. I was just as sore and exhausted when I got home as if I did a race! I slept nearly 20 hrs...
I'm debating if I want to do the Crit Race this Sunday in PA with no speed work under my belt. I will need to decide in the next 2 days. The next TT race on Saturday 13th. What adventure these past few days! Always a new adventure to experience... Be safe out there and enjoy your ride!