"Spinning in the Rain!"

Most of the time while riding my goal is about 85-90 RPM on the pedals. Over the years I've developed the habit of spinning in this manner with the result being a fairly smooth cadence. For example, my average cadence (RPM's) over the course of today's ride was 82. This was due to a slower spin on the uphill parts of the ride. My high spin was 137 RPM which equated to about 25.5 MPH. This high spin/speed had a duration of about 25-30 seconds. Today I ramped up the spin/speed five or six times. These short bursts of energy is called interval training. For those that race, a win at the line after a long day in the saddle may come down to a sprint finish. Those riders able to ramp it at the end of the day have a shot at the "W".

Okay, so today it was cloudy and dry when leaving the house but after about twenty or so minutes, the rain came! The sane thing to do would have been to turn around and head back home. Why do that?

I decided to complete my training ride and not let the rain "dampen" my spirits. So off I went in the the steady light rain. After about thirty minutes it subsided ... but just for a few minutes! After arriving at William Pond park on the American River bike trail it began again. Since this is where I turn around and head back to Folsom I did just that rather than take a break.

Perhaps the rain was a motivating factor today as I rode faster than usual and didn't let the fact that I was soaked from head to toe bother me. At one point, my socks were so wet that it felt like my feet were in puddles as I pedaled! All I could do was laugh, and I did several times on the way home. Oh, there were other folks out there to; runners, walkers, and other cyclists. It was amazing!

By the time I got back to the Nimbus Aquatic Center the water was dripping off my head onto my glasses and I couldn't see a thing! Thank goodness the bike trail has nice yellow lines in the middle. Since the rain had become just a spritz ... I stopped for a moment and dried the glasses and continued on home.

Once home, I thought to myself that this was one of my best rides this year! Other than being drenched, I felt better than I have in a long time on the bike. Of the thirty plus miles I pedaled today approximately twenty-three miles were in the rain. You know, it just makes a guy feel young again to "spin in the rain!" Nothing like a sweet bike ride on your day off!