Heaven and Hell

Base miles is what I need! Riding the trainer and going to the gym are great in the winter months, but there is no substitute for a good fitness base. Not ready to turn up the intensity too much too soon, Gregory and I decide to do a easy but longer ride. Turns out its hard to do a easy ride when the wind is blowing 20 mph!
Leaving the house around 9:15 the temperature was already around 50. It was not long before the arm warmers and knee warmers had to come off. Some how Greg rode with his arm and knee warmers on all day, what a freak! We decided to go see the cows. Winding our way around Saint Brides Prison, then past Northwest River Park, we were able to catch a tailwind a lot of the way. I called these "free miles" when it seemed like there was no wind, but 25 mph was effortless. This was the "heaven" part of the ride. Knowing there would be hell to pay on the way back, we headed to Creeds. Homie Greg pulled up the Pungo Ferry Bridge at 20 mph. What a freak! Pulled into the store at Creeds for some Gatorade and a Powerbar. Greg comes out with a Snickers, 2 Slim Jim's, and a Coke! What a freak! Not staying long, we head back for the bridge. Freaky Greg drops me really hard on the bridge, and I work hard to catch back up. This the real start to the head winds. "The wind is my friend!" Super-Rick is fond of saying.
It seems as though we have mostly head and cross winds on the way back. Take it easy base miles was the theme, but you have to work in those winds. Any less effort and we would have been going backwards. Finally pull in the driveway with 55 miles in 3 hours ride time.
The ride was layed back and fun. We talked, and joked, and enjoyed ourselves. Riding with 1 other person is alot different than a big group. Its alot easier to hide from the wind in a big pack, and you might not pull at all. Today, we tried to split the pulls up 50/50.