
Perfect circles...perfect circles...perfect circles....
This is what I say over and over in my head when I'm biking these days - in training, I try to concentrate on making "perfect circles". This means that on a single revolution in pedalling, you give equal momentum and pushdown on one leg as you do with the same mumentum of up-pull (up-pull is when your feet are clipped into your pedals, and you are pulling up the pedal). This maximizes the pedalling stroke in both legs, creating a fluid full circle of power...full perfect circles. It takes a little practice to concentrate to do it until it becomes natural. Sometimes to reinforce this - you work out on a trainer - using only one leg at a time, in 10 minute intervals - this emphasizes the use of the up-pull pedal stroke.
Work was just work - but it was Friday, people were jovial. I set out on my training ride and knew I was going to get rained on a little on the way back. Dead wrong - I got caught in a full downpour the last 30 minutes. And to make matters worse - I got a flat tire, on my rear tire. So here it is, April 1st - April Fool's Day - the last day of biking in the dark (Daylight savings time is Sunday) - It's pouring rain, dark, getting cold - and I get a flat. I'm out in the middle of nowhere. FOrtunately my headlights are detachable so I can see what I am doing. I get flats every now and then - with the amount and frequency of my training, they happen often. But i dislike it when it's cold and dark - and raining. I quickly changed the tube and pedalled on. I was soaked by the time I reached my car - even wearing rain gear. It was a nice 38 mile ride.
Tomorrow morning, I'm going to join my parents to see the Toulouse Lautrec (pronounced
too-loose-lah-trek) exhibit at the National Museum of Art - It's going to be a great exhibit, then have tapas at a place in Arlington - then head out to a long bike ride (hopefully not raining). It will be a relaxing weekend.