The Wind Blew

Like seeing the sun after an afternoon matinee, I had to squint to see the alarm clock. Last night I stayed a little longer than I should have at the Ocho de Mayo party so I woke in horror that I had over slept and missed the group ride. The clock showed 7:00, I was going to make it on time.

Over to the dresser only to deal with a more and more pressing issue in my life, a lack of options. My dresser is pitiful, and my closet is worse. Outside of a pick up basketball game (in which I'll come dressed to impress) I simply have nothing to wear. So with minimal interest I slid open the drawer. I own two pairs of bibshorts and three jerseys. One pair of bibs is acceptable and the other is wearing thin to the point that people have commented. The good pair was in the basement in the hamper, the thinning pair was right in the drawer. I was only thinking of myself when I slipped into them, plus I'm sure I can get one more season out of them before they are totally see through.

The top drawer didn't deliver much optimism either. Three jerseys looked back at me, like they always do; my tried and true Seven jersey from 2003 with the capital letter font, my sick but too small Pez Cycling News jersey, and a full zip Velo News jersey that is simply unattractive. As you might imagine I reach for the Seven jersey more often than not. Blue was calling my name though so this time I grabbed the Pez jersey and I was out the door.

Outside I was greeted by a fierce, bone chilling wind, but with all of my dilly dallying I had wasted precious time off the clock so I got in the car and headed to the Ride Studio. I checked the temperature on the way, 40 degreees. It could be brisk.

The wind was so strong that it blew my 4007 lb. car over a lane on one memorable gust. With a full water bottle, my bike and I weigh about 165 pounds. Would I be blown over? Time would tell.

Waiting at the Studio were Sutts, Neil, Dan, and a new guy in town from Philly named Brett. Sutts finished up his coffee and we were off. Same loop as the last two times with the new ending Dan introduced us to last week.

Smarter riders than me, each had arm warmers, leg warmers, gloves, hats, etc. Me? I had a wind breaker and shoe covers, amateur. Before leaving Lexington Center my gloveless hands were numb and my nose was running but that didn't stop the wind from blowing. I brought the camera to document the ride as usual, but my hands just wouldn't function and it was safer to keep both hands on the bars anyway.

I was riding a Seven Diamas SL as the Ride Studio had one in my size, equipped with an old pair of Mavic Ksyrium SL's. Over the past three years I have ridden nothing but deep dish rims (it's a tough life) so it was a serendipitous occasion to be riding a pair of low profile rims on the windiest day of the year. Or so I thought. It turns out I was getting blown all over the road. This was the kind of wind that I can't beat; it punished me all morning long. Dan was nice enough to set the pace and wait as I dragged behind. I was so slow I didn't get to chat as much as normal and have no stories to share because of it.

When the ride came to a close, I was utterly exhausted and couldn't get home for a warm nap fast enough.

Up next will be some thoughts ont he Diamas SL. Thanks again to the ride participants for coming each week. I promise to bring warm weather next week.

KB