Road Time

The time had come. I was driving my Van again. Why not ride my bike. So I got the #2 bike out, cleaned it up. Not that it was dirty. Lubed the chain. Checked the tires, added a little air. Put on 2 bottles of fluids. Climbed into the Competitive Cyclist jersey and bib riding shorts. Remembered to strap on the heart rate monitor. Helmet, gloves, glasses, phone, wallet, zipfizzes, a bottle of emergence meds. Wow you would think I was going to be gone for days. I was just going out for a short 35 mile or so, easy ride. Needed to see what it felt like to ride again. I've been off the bike since last Thursday. Seems longer, a lot longer.
It was the run out River Road South. A road that I should be bored with. I do the road all the time. It never bores me. It leads to some great roads in quiet country. Miles of country roads with very few cars and trucks. The trick was going to be if I could ride a strait line. With all the meds I now take that could be a challenge. So off I went. I hit the usual construction on River Road. I was being hipper careful. I was riding with so much extra care. I was afraid I would ride off the road if I made one small mistake. I was also riding in a about 95" gear. At a good clip but not breathing to hard. Must be the drugs. So I just went the first 15 miles like that. Moving good but not getting out of breath. Then the first steep hill showed up. The same hill I have climbed countless times. It went nice and easy. Stayed in the good zone. Did not get to out of breath. Must be the drugs. Moved on to a long set of rollers that brought the road to the game reserve. Saw a few riders going the other way. 2 family types out having fun. One rang their handle bar bell at me as I waved. Smiles all around. The next was a serious rider. He looked up at least. I was now on a long flat section that looped around the game reserve back to Liberty Hill. The way back home. Liberty is a longish climb, 5 miles or so. Fun climb. Some hard, some fast, then some hard again. After that it's rollers and small hills to the edge of Salem and home in 5 miles. The climbs were just great fun. I was doing the easy thing. Going at a middle pace. Going good. Going good all the time. Never out of breath. Must be the drugs. Found the last few hills and roads and turns that brought me back home to the Condo. I called Mary Anne to let her know everything was all right. 36 miles and I did not fall down. It must be the drugs.