Glorious Day

All went well on my frozen day ride. I was out at noon. It turned out to be the perfect time to start out on a frozen day ride. The roads in the morning were white with frost. Ice where there was water. Dicey at best to do the hours and get the miles.
First thing I saw before I was even out of our community area was a huge patch of solid white across the street in a shaded up hill area. Tip toe all the way, on the bike of course. Than to the stop sign that starts to the main roads. Another ture believer goes by. It's a good day to go out. After Thanksgiving ride. There are more of us out there. It was a slow day. Way down in the 65% power day. Easy on the breathing and everything else to. Almost seems wrong to go so slow. It's not though. When I got to the first of many hills I had lots of energy in the legs. It was easy to climb. I still kept it at an easy pace, stay out of the red zone. It was climbing, and the heart rate went up and got to the place it needed to for the hills. I felt great, never got out of the small chain ring. Never got out of the saddle. If you think of my bike having 20 gears. I was in first to tenth. Nice winter training day. It was 36 degrees and rising in the sun. The shadows were still frozen and white. I would ride the car tire slots in the road where it was still frozen. There were few cars, but, those few, had cleared the way. All went so well for my frozen ride.
When I got home, my new warm up is not to go to the bath and showers.I strip down out of the riding gear and put on warm a warm set of pants, shirts, fleece jacket, and a pull over cap. I have found a slower warm up vs a hot bath works better for me all around and especially my out of control Trigeminal nerve. So, very warm outfit to warm up slow. I look like I'm dressed to go outdoors. It works for me. Then I get the news. No sooner than I had started to change into my warm stuff. Mary Anne told me that Noah and his Little Rock crew had a bad run in with a huge male deer on the road. Noah is a national collegiate champion and is a category one rider I have had the pleasure to get to know and also ride with. Well Noah hit this deer head on in the road, full set of antlers and all. Then the crew had no choice but to slam into Noah from behind. It was a mess. Sounds like lots of blood, road rash, and one rider was out for the count, for it sounds like 20 mins. That's bad! What joy to hear everyone was on there feet and Noah had not been gored. These guys ride fast and aggressive all the time. I think I even know what roads they were on. The same roads I had the pleasure to ride with Noah and the crew in April this year. Also the bikes sound like they got trashed beyond use. The one Noah was riding was a loaner from his buds at Competitive Cyclist. Trashed, and was a $7,000. bike. Bikes can be replaced. I'm glad everyone was standing after a bit. Man you got to earn your luck. These guys were lucky.
So why do I bring this up. No more than 5 day ago, maybe less. I had a run in with a male deer 3 feet or less in front of my front wheel. I mean, Out of the brush almost on top of me, out of control, full of fear. This deer was at full speed, running for it's life as hunting season is in high gear. Just looking for a safe place to get away from the guns. Well my good luck was, I was going up a climb and was in a slow gear. Wow it was a scary moment. If I was on the flats doing full speed or coming down the hill, I would have been stomped and trashed. I just thank my stars. Odd, my run in with a deer and boom, Noah has a run in. To bad for Noah and crew though. All though it sounds like luck held out for them. Road rash heals. Fast healing Noah, and all your crew. The photo is the best Noah Singer shot I could steal from his blog.