Todays riding conditions’ forecast:
I rode in the 7% chance of precipitation at 7am as there was a misty-drizzle combo when I left home, but it dissipated after 15 minutes or so. I was comfy as temps hovered in the high 60s and winds were calm. The super fun part of this morning’s ride was the different route I took (the result of Jim’s and my exploratory ride yesterday) and shaved a good 10 minutes off of my commute. Fantastic.
A favorite landmark of my commute is riding past Chuy’s on Barton Springs Road on the corner of Barton Springs Road and Sterzig Street. I turn left on Sterzig to make my way to the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge, and I can smell Chuy’s blocks away. So yummy.
The ride home was really nice despite the winds: today they cooled me (temp was 84F/28.88C) instead of last week’s winds that fought against me, especially on the 6 climbs that make up the ride home. The skies were still cloudy - I was thankful for them as a full-sun 84F feels way hotter than a cloudy 84F.
NOTE: A shout-out to Terry Freedman for the influence his Experiments in Style has had on the way I ride, specifically the way I ride home from work. By “way” I don’t mean route, I mean mindset.
Before reading Terry’s Experiments, I was locked in number-y things: how many climbs there were, where the 1/2 way point was, what my cadence was, etc. It was how I always rode, like transversing small little compartments of pavement, until I got through all the compartments and I was finally home.
But now! Now I ride with an easy freedom because I figured if one can experiment with writing styles, one can experiment with perspective styles. What a difference it’s made to let go of the numbers, and just ride where I am in the moment. “I’m riding home” is my new train of thought. It’s life changing. Thanks, Terry.
Oh wow, I loved firstly the menu at Chuys - yup, I downloaded the pdf and there's now drool ALL over my keyboard, so THANKS 😉 - and reading about Terry's influence on your riding - that's absolutely brilliant!!!!! High fives to you both for that!!!
That is such a cool final comment!! How wonderful! Mindset / attitude is SO important. I’m thrilled by the change.