First outside bike rides

I got in three bike rides outside this week. First was the Idaho Cycling Enthusiasts (ICE) time trial on Sunday. A 10k course, not exactly flat enough for around here, I completed in 17:16 with very tired legs and a "I'm here to see what this is all about" approach to the day. I thought it was going to be a nice 20k ride or so. I didn't know we were going to be racing! It was a great way to see if everything is workingon the bike, though.

Then I rode a 15-miler and a 24-miler on Thursday and Friday. Thursday was sunny and 48 with little wind. Friday was 48 or so, cloudy, and really windy. I figure I'm about where I was at last July, which is good and bad. Good in that I didn't lose much over the winter, and bad in that I thought I might have made some gains compared to where I was at the end of the summer. I really can't make a comparison right now anyway because I'm wearing a jacket and pants in the cold, both of which slow me down.

Snowing today! The streets just got swept, so hopefully there isn't anymore sand going down on the streets. Going for a bit of cross-country ski this afternoon with Paul up to a yurt with friends. I'm not staying overnight, though. I just want to get out and about with Paul.

This next week is the end of the end-of-winter training push, then I get a break going into my reserve drill weekend. My volume is up alot this week, but not exactly where I want to be yet, but preparing to be there for summer.