We just got back from our first ride of the season, well pre-season perhaps, down at the Foothills Trail. This was the first time we got Oskar and Milo together in the bike trailer so I thought a quick jaunt down to the trail to get the feel for things would be in order. I packed up books, toys and bike snax for both of them.
Rose met her friend Courtney down there which worked out well since we couldn’t fit both boys with carseats, my bike and the bike trailer into one vehicle. We need a bike rack especially if we want to get Rose’s bike from her parents so she can join us on two wheels.
So once we got the big ordeal going and the boys situated and happy I took off. I didn’t really know how far I would be going since Rose and Courtney were walking and I didn’t know how long the boys would last in the back. It’s a good thing we didn’t go too long, wow, what a work out.
I mean, I know I’m just getting back in shape but it was still tough. Low speeds are kind of herky-jerky if Oskar is moving around; I can really feel him bounce the bike around. It’s kind of like in spin class when you turn up the resistance except there is never any turning down of said resistance; there’s no recovery.
I could only sustain speeds of about 14 maybe 14.5 mph. I could sprint up to 16.5 but stay that fast for maybe a few seconds. In contrast, last year before STP while I was on that trail I could stay around 18.5-20 mph for most of the 30 miles. Today I went 11 miles.
Like I said, I know it’s early in the season but man that was hard. I think this will be great strength training for me. I feel like the guy in “The Adventures of Baron von Munchausen” who had the huge ball and chain tied to him. When he needed to go super speed he just took it off and raced away. That will be me in five months of this.
I’m really excited about going out with the boys more. I’m glad they had a good time. I was also pleased to see so many people out and about on the trail in mid-January. It makes me happy to think their are more people out there like us who want to take advantage of the balmy 45 degree sunshine.