Time to lose
Between wolfing down road trip snacks on two back-to-back trips from Utah to Oregon, I’ve packed on a few pounds and am determined to get rid of it. In addition to the old calorie counting plan, I’ve decided to get serious about burning some calories.
But I’ve been sick for the last couple of days—waking up with fevered and sweating two nights ago and hacking up all kinds of friends with a deep cough; I was hesitant to ride today. But last night I slept pretty well and decided that, given I’d publicized my goal, I’d better make good on it—sick or not.
The plan
Breaking it down by day, I have to put in 500 calories every day between now and Saturday with a 2000 day on Thursday, which are turning into my long-ride days.
Today I mapped out a hour-ish road ride consisting of a 16 mile lollipop. I figure I burn about 600 calories an hour when I ride and if I shoot for that then I’ll be okay if my 2000 calorie Thursday plans fall a little short.
Watershed moment
It’d had been raining on and off all morning and Caren had come in soaked after her run earlier. But it wasn’t raining at the moment, so off I went. The ride was pretty uneventful as I tuned out the hill grinds with an audio book I’m listening to.
Around mile 10 a few rain drops splattered my glasses.
Mile 11 it decided to drizzle. “No matter,” I thought, “I’m almost home.”
Mile 12 the heavens opened up and it rained hard. Because the temperature was ~60° I started getting quite chilled. But I thanked my stars that I was at least doing an uphill section where I could keep my inner furnace stoked and stave off the cold.
The last two miles of downhill were absolutely brutal. The rain, if it was possible, got worse. It stung my arms through my sodden jacket and came through the vents of my helmet with such ferocity that it washed the sweat from my scalp and stung my eyes. Within seconds the rain turned to hail and pinged my cold skin into numb submission. Blinded with sweat and rain-spattered glasses, I raced down the mountain at 30 mph in an wild attempt to simply get home.
Arriving home, Caren greeted me with a towel and a warm sandwich.
As I rode down the mountain I had two thoughts: 1) I need some wool clothing and 2) this is an epic storm—to make it a worth-while story I really should be spending the night on the mountain. Alas.
Stats:
