2021 mileage: 1934.1
This is my birthday. At one point, I had hoped to ride 64 miles today for my 64 years ... but it became clear quite some time ago that that wasn't going to happen. For one thing, the longest ride I have ever done so far is 50 miles. And, on top of that, our persistent cold so far in 2021 has meant that today was only the fifth outdoor ride I've been able to do, so my stamina is badly lacking.
I set off, though, at 12:30, in glorious weather (48° sunshine) for what would have been a substantial ride ... my 20-mile round trip to Baker Rd. But I was stymied in that plan, too, getting a flat tire in front of Pioneer High School on my way home. I took Uber home, and will go back to get the trike this evening so I can fix it in our garage tomorrow. I thought later (after I had already contacted Uber) that, given the weather, I should have just told myself to "man up" and change it right there, but I ended up taking the easy way out today. At some point, though, I am going to have to change one out away from home.
This alteration in my plans meant that I rode 17.2 miles in 2:05. I was very grateful for the weather, too ... my birthday always brings a wide range of possibilities here in southern Michigan. A little over a decade ago, shortly before I had to stop running (due to arthritis) I did 5 miles in jaw-dropping 72° sunshine. But, on my 16th birthday, the state was hit by "the great St. Patrick's Day blizzard," and at Devils Lake, where I grew up (about an hour southwest of Ann Arbor), we got over a foot of snow.
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