Again, it's been a while. Still no home internet, but I should be getting it again soon. This post is brought to you by Panera, where I'm listening to this 60-ish year old couple on their first date/meeting. I bet they met on the internet. It's actually quite amusing. Yep, he is on the phone now and just said he is with someone he met on match.com. Aww. Hmm, oh and I got new glasses since I last wrote. See?
Anyway, so I was supposed to go on a 50 mile ride today, but I sort of overslept. I woke up aroun 7:30am and was supposed to meet up with the group at 8am in Chicago, so that obviously wasn't happening. It's okay, though, because I managed to get a haircut and come here and check up on my internet stuff. I have felt pretty guilty all day.
Yesterday I rode about 42 miles with Ed, Chris, and Frank. We rode from downtown up through Evanston, and then to Highland Park. . . and back. It was okay. From the time I woke up yesterday I wasn't really "feeling it." I just wanted to roll back over in bed--maybe that's why I didn't get up this morning. Yesterday's winds were terrible. We had headwinds and some crosswinds going both ways. I think there were all of 7 seconds of tailwinds. I had to fight for every mile. Poor Ed was in the back riding with me the whole time. I feel kind of bad to make him go so slowly, but I appreciate him doing it.
I fell again yesterday. I had an unexpected stop and couldn't get my right foot disengaged from the pedal. Fell right over again. Got a decent scrape on the outside right calf, pedal imprint on the inside right calf, nasty bruise on the inside left calf, and just about sliced the tip of my left ring finger off (no idea how that one happened--I must have cut it on the brake lever?).
Last Sunday I rode 48 miles! It was supposed to be 52, but we ended up taking a wrong turn which apparently turned out to be a shortcut. That time it was from downtown to the Botanic Gardens and back. I had a much easier time with that ride than the one yesterday, even though yesterday's was shorter. I guess it was because the trail was nicer last weekend and the weather was beautiful. Yesterday was just cold and windy. On the way back, again Ed was with me--thanks Ed! We had several pit stops, including the one in the picture. . . yeah, McDonalds. I always forget to take pictures of the folks I'm riding with.
So, I sent out some follow-up letters this week, still asking for donations. I'm at $1,445 as of today including the couple I know of that just haven't posted yet. That still puts me $1,055 short of the minimum, but I'm hoping that all the folks who said earlier that they'd donate once it gets closer still remember to donate. If not, I'll just have to come up with it myself.
Oh, and last weekend on the way back on the 48 mile ride, Ed had my try riding in my "big gear" in the front, and while I was pretty scared of it at first (I'd been riding the middle one) it turned out to work much better. I've been using it ever since. I've done a few rides in the week, but nothing long and not much to report there. Next Sunday is 86 miles! Luckly, we will have a sag wagon just for me (okay, not just for me, but I may have to take advantage of it). I'm really looking forward to it because it will probably be the closest simulation to a day on the ride that I'll have before it actually gets here.
Anyway, I guess that's about it. I'll write again after that 86 miler next weekend! Happy riding!