My friend Phil and I had an enjoyable training ride yesterday. We departed from Arlington Bowie High School at 9:12, by which time it was warm and sunny. The wind was light, though it picked up later. Phil and I caught up on the news of each other's lives as we pedaled. Sometimes we rode side by side (when the roadway permitted) and sometimes we rode single file. The traffic in south Arlington gets worse with each passing year. I've decided to move the starting point of my training rides from Bowie High School to Mansfield Timberview High School. This will cut out four miles of traffic on each end. I will make up for it by adding a loop out in the country. I know that "progress" is inevitable, but I rue the loss of natural places in south Arlington and Mansfield. Every time I ride out there, I see new development.
This was my eighth consecutive weekend of riding. I feel prepared for the rallies, which begin next Saturday in Lancaster (south of Dallas). Phil and I came upon dozens of cyclists as we neared the town of Venus. Many of them were stopped at a gas station/convenience store, so we pulled in to chat. Some of the riders were in the midst of riding 103 miles. It made me feel like a slacker, since Phil and I were doing only 63. Everything is relative!
When we reached Highway 287, some 35 miles into the ride, we got a tailwind for the first time. It was wonderful. We cruised along at 20 miles per hour almost effortlessly. Had the road surface not been rough, we could have gone faster. The ride over Joe Pool Lake was nice, as always. It won't be long before people are swimming, skiing, and sailing. Did you know that there is only one natural lake in Texas? All the others, and there are many, are the result of damming rivers.
My average speed for the day (for 63.21 miles) was 16.13 miles per hour. I pedaled 15.72 miles the first hour, 14.01 the second (stiff headwind), and 16.76 the third. I averaged 18.22 miles per hour for the final 55:03 of the ride. My maximum speed was 33.4 miles per hour. I burned 3,450 calories. My average heart rate was 93 and my maximum 136. (Both are low, which suggests that I didn't work very hard.) The official high temperature at DFW Airport yesterday was 85º Fahrenheit. I know that some of you consider that hot, but to Phil and me, it was perfect. Both of us like the heat.
I hope you're having a nice weekend.
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 