We got REALLY chilled during our ride yesterday. We wanted to do a full work-week's worth of riding, but after the last 2 rides with less than optimal temperatures, we just weren't in the mood to ride in the cold again, even though we will have to more and more as the winter sets in.
For today, though, our solution was simple and effective: Since we have to haul the trike down a mile to the nearest paved road, we just drove it 25 MORE miles so we could ride the fabled Albuquerque Bosque Trail, where the breeze was minimal and the temperatures about 15 degrees or more warmer at 5200 feet than around home at 6800 feet elevation.
And a beautiful day indeed, it was. We went south on the Bosque Trail from Central Avenue and decided to ride the southern end of the trail, around the South Valley loop. The weather was just cool enough to be enjoyable, and the slight changes in elevation North and south on the trail are easily dealt with and non stressful.
Even though the trail is so relatively flat, it requires steady pedaling to maintain speed and was just downright enjoyable.
It was also a bit longer than we expected. I thought we might break 10 miles but we actually broke 16, and we were very satisfied with our exertion levels.
A year ago this route was almost un-rideable with pavement heaves, tree roots, cracks and potholes marring its surface most of the way south of Tingley Beach. A repair and repaving project early this year has resulted in a very nice surface and a pleasure to ride on.
When we got to the southernmost part of the loop, the trail runs somewhat parallel to Broadway, which is extremely loaded with heavy traffic including lots of tractor-trailer rigs. When we got to Rio Bravo and turned back west away from Broadway, it was a great relief to enjoy the relative silence again riding next to the Rio Grande irrigation ditches instead of the roaring highway.
My blood glucose dropped a couple times on this ride; once to 50, and each time I snarfed a 29 carb oatmeal power bar. So with a bit of crude math:
2 X 29 = 58 total carbs burned
16 miles ridden divided by 58 =
I guess I was making .28 miles per carb. More or less. Mileage is unreliable and variable and unpredictable....
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.2 Ending Voltage: 12.8
Lowest Temp 63 F Highest Temp: 73 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 16.34
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
5.6 MPH 7.1 MPH 21.2 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
2 hours 53 minutes 2 hours 17 mins 36 mins 31 secs
No comments:
Post a Comment