It’s occurred to me that the miles I’ve been putting in lately aren’t doing a lot to build up my endurance, or speed, or agility on the bike. I rode regularly during December and the first week of January, knocked off while on the trip to San Francisco, but have ridden some since returning.
I’ve got a definite goal in mind: the MS 150 from Houston to Austin in April. It’ll really be 180 miles over two days, and I want to make sure I can handle two 90-mile days in a row without too much trouble.
Twenty miles for me is nothing. I ride it all the time. But I haven’t ridden many rides longer than that since October, and I haven’t really pushed myself when I do ride. I’ve heard some bikers refer to the kind of riding I’ve been doing as “junk miles.”
Clearly, I’m going to have to change my riding strategy. I’m back at work now, and the amount of time I spend in the saddle each week is going to be cut back. Once again, I’m going to have to ride with a plan.
But doggone it, I’ve sure been enjoying the rides I’ve taken over the last six weeks or so. I’m on the bike at least, and I’m feeling good at the end of each ride. It’s hard for me to call the miles I’m putting in “junk miles.” In fact, I don’t think any miles on the bike are junk miles. If I have to use a “j” word, I would call them “joyous” miles.