Character Building

We’ve waited long enough here in Chicago for summer to arrive. I planned for a long ride yesterday and there was little to nothing that could stop me. We’ve had record setting rain in the last 4-6 weeks (and the mosquitoes to prove it!) and have already had to cancel several rides. So when I looked at the hourly weather forecast for the day and saw 70 degrees throughout the day with maybe one hour of storms, I was excited to be able to pack up the bike and ride.
I forgot to look at one thing. The wind prediction. Though they were calling for 14 mile per hour winds, there were definitely gusts that had to go much higher than that. I couldn’t hear anything but the wind whipping in my ears for the first half of the ride. And then the rain started. Thankfully it wasn’t a pouring rain, but one of those misty-type rains that covers your glasses and you really can’t see anything. I wanted to take them off, but it was so windy, I would for sure lose one of my contact lenses! So I pushed on, telling myself this was stupid, why the heck am I even out here?

Once I got to the halfway point, I realized – if that wind didn’t shift, it would be a sweet ride home! And that it was – my computer wasn’t calculating speed for me yesterday, but I know it was fast because I was able to get in about 25 miles in 60 minutes. Hot damn! Now that’s what you call a tailwind!

I’m happy to have pushed through it. I don’t think I’ve ever ridden in such windy conditions. Maybe Kona, but it was hot there – with only 70 degrees, rain and wind make it really chilly and cold isn’t exactly my friend. Happy to have it done. VERY HAPPY with my new ride! And now to schedule the next one….