One September - One, September

I rode down to Folsom, then took the American River Trail over to the Nimbus hatchery to see the completed pedestrian/cyclist bridge on Hazel Avenue.  I like it and think it was worth all the months of inconvenience to have it as it is now.

The ride was challenging but a great one nonetheless.

The challenge was increased by the fact I ride with a standard 53/39 front chain ring combination, and last night I decided to switch  my cassette to an 11/25 from  a 12/27.  I remember thinking when I put the 12/27 on again that I would only use 27 when I absolutely had to.

But, using it only as a bail-out gear did not happen.  Instead I began to use it way too often; and as much as I would tell myself that I would do better, I never did.  So to break the habit of using a gear that I probably do not really need all that much, I took away the temptation.  I know that my performance will suffer at first, but in the long run I will be a better rider for making the change.  Man-oh-man those two extra teeth made a difference though.

I wanted to get a PR on the downhill on Auburn Folsom Rd between Indian Hill Rd and Cavitt Stallman Rd, and then afterward put no pressure on myself the rest of the trip.

Unfortunately I battled an intense headwind all the way down, and simply could not maintain the speeds I wanted.

I actually did set a PR but it was not as fast as I wanted.  I rode my heart out trying anyway, and I loved it.

After that I had a wonderful ride with just the goal of getting to Gold River and back safely and enjoy the ride, even setting a few more PRs along the way.

The standard rule that the ridiculous headwind will switch for you on the return trip held true as well.  If you and I left at the same time from opposite ends of the same route, we would both be facing opposing headwinds on both legs or our loops.  It does not matter that it is impossible to experience that - it would happen because that is the law of cycling and it trumps physics.