Some stats from the year 2022. Not sure I'll get in a recorded ride for December, but I'll certainly try. I've had at least one for every month so far.
I feel like I've ridden into some of my best shape since I was 40! Maybe it just feels that way since there's no pressure from racing, but I am not complaining.
... As the old saying goes, meaning that two perspectives can exist about the same set of facts and usually both prospectives (people) think that THEY are right. Will there was some of that wind today! I did a 24 mile ride to Fraser and the wind managed to blow against me for all but about a mile of it. To make it even worse the county engineer has decided to put white rock on top of the gravel. The logic there is that white rock is better able to take high volumes of tragic and require less maintenance than gravel alone. Thus saving the citizens of Boone County some money (that can be wasted elsewhere?) I cannot stand riding on white rock! It's like riding on golf balls. The rock takes you to where the rock wants you to go. There is no good line to be had. What a disaster, and on some of my oldest and best routes too.
But, speaking of the wind blowing both ways, the roads are being prepared for the heavy machinery that will be required to build a huge wind farm! It will be along and around my oldest and most trusted route. North on R Avenue and back on Q. Personally I find wind turbines fascinating. They can generate free energy and look awesome doing so. The power that will be generated by the 75+ turbines will be used to power the Facebook/Meta facility in Altoona. This place is committed to being zero emissions and is willing to put $4.5 million dollars into this project to get it done. Some people find wind farms ugly, or say that they ruin the landscape, kill birds, cause neurological issues, cause cancer (really world?) Indeed, the wind will blow, and usually both ways.
It has been a terrible spring for bike riding! The winter was better, and Spring is supposed to be the harbinger if that nice hot summer weather that I love so much? I can't believe that it has been so windy. I went on a gravel adventure through some parts of Story County, on the route for Iowa Games, and got blown off of my bike. My only crash ever on gravel. That's 15+years of crunching along without incident. I rode this route several times between January and April and it was downright got! Now it is just windy and rainy. Oh well, like last year we will probably go right to beastly hot from this misery.
