Tweener

This is the part of winter that causes anxiety. The weather isn't really a harsh winter, yet a real spring seems ions away. With the X-C skis collecting dust and the Bianchi getting a bath the gym is welcome reprieve. I enjoy the gym. It's great cross training, base work, not to mention some fantastic results being gained in conditioning. There is so much more to great cycling than just spinning pedals. This past week with temps above 40 and roads clear of snow I ventured out for a couple of rides. Availablity of time was the biggest factor in the distance traveled. I'm pleased at how well applying the core work and trainer lessons to the road worked out. It is a never ending process pushing the envelope.

Now the preoccupation is towards where I will go to ride this year. I pound the roads around here so much that they loose their training benefits. Doing the same old same old is the fastest way to digress. I so look forward to riding in other area's. I like to attending group rides within a few hours of home to help fight complacency. I'm mapping out new routes from the chateau. I can do quite a few different loop rides south and west. Areas such as Naples, Dansville, Wethersfield (windmill farm) and Ellicottville are all feasible. The Garmin 305 really helps with this. I can download the maps into the 305 and follow along. Loop rides to these new area's will keep with the current theme of distance and challenging terrain. Randonnuering will also be a new challenge. But there is nothing like packing up and heading off to parts unknown.

One of the key issues is that Sunday is a work day for me, so I need to choose the Sunday rides carefully. There are 8 -9 out of town rides that I would like to do. Conflicts arise with at least 3. Bruce is leading a ride around Rochester, but it is on a Sunday sandwiched between a couple other Sunday rides. TOSRV is the same weekend the Randonnuer series starts, yet I may cure that by doing the 200K in Maryland on the way to Bike Florida. Unfortunately that would have me arriving a day late for Bike Florida. Then the Tour of Chautauqua is the same day as Bike Tioga. Chautauqua County offers some very challenging terrain.

Such decision's.... I guess I'll head off to the gym and work on legs today.