Noontime Bicycle Ride
I’d been a fitness slacker recently, unable to wake up early to go for a bicycle ride. Today was no exception, but I decided to get on the bike at noon. I chose a new 27 mile ride, 43.5K, that would take me out to Lake Champlain, and bring me back by the Burlington bike path, before turning back for home. I quickly found out that there was a lot more traffic at 11:30 AM than 5:30 AM. A hedge row of trees was blocking my sight of oncoming traffic, and I was forced to come to an abrupt stop, rolling over with my shoes clipped to my pedals like a turtle being flipped onto his shell. I jump up quickly and pretended that nobody saw my graceful tumble.
I proceeded onto VT 2A and was again surprised by how much traffic there was. After about 2 miles in the midst of traffic I turned off onto a side street and my ride took a turn for the better. I got on a rural road with rolling hills, it was a pleasure to be on the bike. I turned towards Lake Champlain, and road for miles past summer camps, and views of the lake and the sailboats. My route took me toward the Burlington bike path, and along routes I had run for my long runs while training for the marathon. I light mist like rain fell, and the bike path was a joy to ride, less crowded than I would have anticipated in the early afternoon.
The biggest challenge of my ride was a 1 mile hill in Burlington up Maple Street. The hill is challenging in its own right, but adding to the challenge were the 6 stop signs breaking your momentum while climbing the hill. I enjoyed the challenge, and headed for my busiest 1.5 miles on Williston Road. The road was congested with traffic, but luckily things opened up for me at the right time, allowing me to safely get in the left hand lane, and negotiate a left turn off the busy road and into suburbia. The rest of my ride was peacefully, and I completed the circuit in 1:49. Averaging nearly 15 miles, 24K an hour.
