First Fischer Plumbing Team Ride

Half way through January and we got a break from the rain but lately it has been heavy fog that has kept me off the bike. Today, however, was a great winter day to ride. About 40 degrees and a few sun breaks. A great day for a road ride with my new race team. The rout was 53 miles plus another 5 miles to and from the parking lot I chose for a total of 58 miles. I am ashamed to say this was the longest ride I have done in 7 years and the pace was quick! About 40 or so riders total showed up, nearly all in a team kit. I think I was the youngest of the group but not by much. 

January began with a wet streak

The first week of January has been wet. So wet, I don't have any pictures for fear of drenching my phone. I went for 9 separate rides this week, most of the time in steady hard rain. So glad for my rain gear and neoprene gloves! I managed to put in just shy of 100 miles in for the week which will be my rough weekly target moving forward. Still getting used to this amount of volume. I will have to get used to it before I can add intensity to it. My mind thinks I should be able to do this mileage no problem but I like to ride fast so my legs get tired quickly.

Despite the winter weather, my fitness is progressing very well. I can't stand riding indoors. I would always rather ride outdoors. It is generally above freezing here so no excuses right? 

New year, new possibilities

2014 is shaping up to be a great year for a comeback. I only logged a little over 1,000 miles last year but I ramped up nicely to make this a great year for cycling. I have already logged 100 miles in the first week despite awful weather thanks to Snowhomish New Years shop ride and my new 6 mile commute to work . At this rate, I will exceed last years mileage before spring! I hope to hit at least 4,000 miles this year.

Ready for 39 degrees an pouring rain! November was quite dry but starting late December, the weather got a bit more challenging. Freezing fog and lots of rain! This month, any ride I do in light to no rain is a real treat because steady rain is becoming the norm. I'm getting used to the longer commute and my endurance on the longer weekend rides is progressing well. I still have a lot of work to do before I will be ready for a high speed century rider but I will be ready this summer. 

This is what winter riding in the NW

7AM Jan. 7th. Its hard to be motivated to ride when is wet, dark and cold out but I have to go to work and I hate to drive so off I go! The roads were covered in a thick layer of very sick frost the day before so I consider myself lucky! Managed to stay upright.

Snowhomish shop ride, spots of ice.

In other news, I am now on the Fisher Plumbing cycling team! I will be sporting my new Blue and Orange team kit very soon. They are a very large fairly in-formal team which is what I want since my work schedule can be very demanding. I can't commit to doing a ton of races or sowing up for team rides every weekend and that's ok with this team. My goal is to become a contender in the intermediate category XC mountain bike and Cyclocross. A podium finish would be sweet but more than anything I am planning having a lot of fun riding my bike fast with other people who like to do the same. So far I only know one team mate but that will change very soon. I am planning on moving down to Kirkland just north of Bellevue this March and I am looking forward to getting out of Everett ware I often feel like I am the only one out riding every day.