Kangatopia

*Updated*

The recap is late, but my effort is pure. Believe me.

Over the last five six days, I’ve ridden 132.3 155.9 miles on my bike. This is a pretty great accomplishment for me – if I may scruff up the top of my own head – and not just because I somehow managed to find the time.

On Day 1 (25 miles) I started too late, and thus arrived home late, and thus the kids were late getting to bed. So, that was kind of bad.

On Day 2 the kids stayed with their grandfather while Shep and I rode together. It was a Friday so the kids getting to bed late wasn’t so much of a concern – and as it turned out, they opted to spend the night with their grandfather so it turned into a childless night anyway. This ride I did something kinda stupid, but still kinda gutsy. I was keeping a pretty good pace when a car pulled out of a parking lot and essentially cut me off. So, I did what I imagine other cyclists do when they’re feeling invincible; I veered to the left, passed the car and rode 22mph for about a mile until I turned off to start the second half of the ride. The speed limit in this area is 20mph, so while I was technically speeding – I was doing my part to help the driver of the car behind me observe the legal limits. When I got home, I stretched my leg in a funny way which inspired an incredibly painful cramp in my thigh. God Holy Christ, that hurt.

On Day 3 Shep and I got up after a late night of hanging out at a bar with his best friend, Bob, and some of their hockey buddies, and attempted another 25 mile ride. We were both exhausted. (Shep played hockey the night before while I was at home trying to massage that mammoth cramp out of my leg.) We struggled to complete 22 miles before we gave up and went home to make lunch for my dad and kids.

Day 4 was a much better ride. I put in 35 miles, but felt I could do more. I was a little concerned about over-extending my muscles, so I called it a day after the third lap of the lake.

(The route we generally ride starts with three miles of trail to a lake that is popular with cyclists, walkers, joggers and roller bladders. The loop around the lake is about 9 miles – 9.2 specifically, I believe.)

Day 5 (last night) completed the stretch – though if it stops raining today, I am planning on one more ride this evening and will rest tomorrow. Thunderstorms were in the forecast so I raced home after work, changed quickly while Shep (God bless a man who will do this for his girlfriend or whatever I am) got the bike ready. The rain didn’t start until I had almost completed the second lap, and once the sprinkles started I increased my speed to an average of about 20mph. Not getting caught in the rain and lightning on a metal bike with skinny tires is an incredibly strong motivator.

What surprises me is that I am only tired today not because I’ve been cycling more than usual, but because I stayed up late last night watching episodes from the first season of Veronica Mars, a show I have come to adore. I am fairly certain that I will be able to ride again tonight if the weather allows, just as I am certain that I really need to rest soon or I might cause myself some damage.

Shep did not ride with me last night because he was playing hockey, and the kids were with their dad. So, after the ride, I took the car out to fill it up with gas and stopped at the grocery store to buy some red grapes. (Frozen red grapes are a tasty post-ride snack.) I was tired coming home, and hungry because I hadn’t yet eaten, so my driving was a little erratic and sloppy. Just as I turned in to my driveway, a police car’s lights started flashing behind me. My first thought was that he was pulling me over on suspicion of a DUI. It was slightly embarrassing – given that we were stopped in front of my neighbor’s house and I was envisioning an impending drunk test. He told me that he pulled me over because when I left the grocery store parking lot, I failed to stop before I made a right turn at a red light. “Oh, wow”, I replied. He let me off with a warning, and I promised to follow the rules better next time.

*Update:  Day 6 (tonight), I rode 23.6 miles and now I am very, very tired.  My back is killing me.  My head hurts.  I’m kind of grumpy.  Still, it was a great ride.