It’s getting that I can’t go out on a weekend without getting about 70 miles these days. This morning it was 72, and I’m really not feeling any worse than last year when I’d get the occasional 100k (about 62 miles), but 50 was the typical “good, long ride” for me. I think I may be doing better, actually.
I blame it on a couple of things, and I’ve mentioned them before: having done a hundred-miler earlier this year, 70 now seems completely reasonable. Starting early (I was late this morning — didn’t get going until 0511 (more on that in a bit)) has been really helpful. I’ll be popping along and all of a sudden I’ll notice it’s 10 AM and I’ve already done about 60 miles. And lastly, losing over 25 pounds since Feb (and from up there around last season’s weight) has really been noticeable. Hills do not intimidate me in the slightest anymore, and I even did three decent climbs in the last 10 miles this morning when the Bob from last year and earlier would most certainly have rerouted to avoid them completely. Much like the hundred I did this year put a new perspective on distance, the 1,700-foot climb I did a couple of months ago probably did the same for elevation. But carrying 25 pounds less up those hills certainly makes a difference.
As for starting out late this morning, I really was at a loss for where to go. I woke up thinking “Northwest” (wind direction is probably the biggest factor in my route choices), but this morning’s wind was negligible. I thought maybe south to Cheonan, just to knock that out. It’s been a bit. Then there was a route I wanted to do to the Southeast — climbs past the Anseong area. I just wasn’t sure until pretty much the time I climbed on the bike. That slowed me down in my prep time. I spent a little extra looking at the maps to see if there was something interesting out there to inspire me. I settled on a monument just north of Suwon to the French who died during the Korean War as my deciding factor, so Northwest it would be, then I’d work my way East across the northern edge of Suwon, over to Yongin, then a turn back home past Yongin University and Yidong Reservoir.
And of course I saw some interesting stuff on the way, and the French monument was a good call because that’s where most of the interest happened. Not only did I see a protected set of three trees (first time I’d seen them numbered 9 .1 .2 .3) the real find was a village shrine with some interesting artwork on the outside (it was locked up, so I couldn’t see the statue inside). I also came across a group along the way, but they were moving and I only got the chance to chat with on near the back before they were gone.
Overall…and as usual…a great ride.
