A Real Conditioning Ride

A reluctant conditioning ride today. Went to bed planning to go, and when I woke up I didn’t quite feel like it. Fortunately, I headed out anyway, northeast up Bush Highway.

I started out grinding against a 10mph headwind and figured to be working really hard out by Saguaro Lake. About 10 miles in, however, the wind vanished into a dead calm. As any cyclist will tell you, this defies all odds.

The desert hills around the lake were beautiful, as always. The effortless 10 mile rip southwest back down the Beeline Highway was a joy, as always.

Lunch at Euro Pizza Cafe, by the fountain in Fountain Hills. A table of patrons stopped me and chatted – they had passed me twice out by Saguaro Lake and were congratulating me on the ride. Twenty miles still to go though!

My first true conditioning ride of the year, I’d say. Conditioning for the legs, back, knees, hips, and hands. Prior to the ride, I’d raised my seat maybe 2-3 mm higher than my “standard” mark, and I think my knees liked it – they said hello but never whined much.

Moreover, I think this ride was great conditioning for my mind and soul. Gotta think humble, think infinity, go nice and easy all day, gear down. For my soul, it was a reminder what a beautiful ride is supposed to be.

49 miles unloaded and a solid workout. Still, jumping up to 75+ miles loaded is going to be interesting.