fixed gear ride

Sleep	8 hours
Waking HR
Body Weight
Body Fat
Breakfast	6:00 AM - smoothie
Lunch
Dinner
Workout Food	2 large bottles each w/3 scoops Perpetuem
Injuries
Therapy
Time of Day	10:00 AM
Workout Type	endurance
Weather	mid 50s, dry sky, damp ground at start, some sun by the end, light wind
Course	around Lake WA
Distance	50 miles
Time	2:48
Power
Results
Equipment	Single Speed Bike 42x18
Clothing	knit shoe covers, knee warmers,

Yesterday I had to miss the local race which was a bummer, especially in light of our fantastic results in ALL categories but hey, I was okay with that.

Today I was going to go on an early ride but it was raining! Again! I caved and watched stage 2 of the Giro d'Italia instead while I cried in my figurative beer. After getting over myself (about the time I checked the weather forecast and looked outside – both of which indicated it was getting much nicer) I decided to head out. Good call.

I was looking for something new and something that would give me a good workout in less time so hello fixed gear! No coasting was just the ticket today.

Can you say well rested? I was. And it was a blast. I decided on clockwise as that would let me finish on Lake WA Blvd which is more scenic than the Burke Gilman Trail or Lake City Way so headed north WITH TUNES; that was another plus. I mile or so up the trail I pass this buy in a yellow raincoat on an older mountain bike with slicks. He was probably doing about 18 mph and I was cruising along at 20. With my headphones in I could not hear subtle sounds but maybe one mile later I could swear I heard a squeak and knowing my bike was silent I started to look around. Glued to my rear wheel was Mr. Yellow Raincoat. Nice. It was his drivetrain that was squeaking.

I was actually a tad nervous as he was getting pretty close but I also figured he was an adult and so decided to focus my eyes on the road (or trail in this case) in front of me.

I kept up a pretty steady 20-21 mph all the way to the end of the trail and at the last crosswalk where I had to stop for a red light Mr. Yellow Raincoat pulled up next to me and said, "Thanks for the pull! I'm gonna fall back now." I managed a smile and said, "Okay." And then he proceeded to suck my wheel all the way to the base of Juanita Drive. :)

At the light he stopped to remove his raincoat and told me how impressed he was that I was doing this on a single speed. I was going to return the compliment and let him know that not everyone can sustain 20 mph on an aging mountain bike but the light turned green and he was still trying to extricate one arm fro his jacket so I rolled away. Classic a-hole move on my part. And racers wonder why people think they are stuck up...

Climbing Juanita was fun. My gear was small enough to stay seated and my shuffle was hitting all the good stuff. That smile wasn't leaving my face.

Descending Juanita was not so smooth... it's been a while since I have been on my fixed gear and I had to touch the brakes at least twice on the way down.

At the bottom I rode through the last finishers of the Kirkland Half Marathon. They had one lane of traffic coned off so it was a delight to ride up and over the hill without cars next to me. And by now there were so few walkers and runners that I pretty much had the lane to myself.

Riding through Bellevue I passed David Barton's gym with giant posters in the windows that proclaimed, "Look Better Naked." How true. After all, what do we go to the gym for anyway? If getting fitter didn't have objective, visual results would as many of us do anything physical? I'll wager the answer is a big, fat NO.

I was loving this ride! The temperature kept slowly creeping up so I got to unzip my vest and take my gloves off. And I kept riding at 20+ mph! Usually on these longer fixed gear outings I get pretty shagged and start to slow but not today. I also usually start to get a little tight in the hamstrings but that also did not bother me today. In fact, riding up Rainer and then up Lake WA Blvd I was able to maintain 21-22 mph. For me on this gear that is pretty good.

As I dropped down to Seward Park I saw barriers across Lake WA Blvd indicating that the street was closed. Crap, detour time. Not! It was the first Bicycle Sunday – YEAH. This was like the icing on the cake. Suddenly the road was car free and I was mingling with families out walking and riding. How cool is this.

Just because I was having such a fantastic afternoon I opted for Madrona and did it all in the saddle. Boom.

Yes, I am prone to hyperbole and self-aggrandizement. Isn't that what blogs are for?

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