Spring Training?

Somewhere around 20 below on a early March morning does not make me even want to get out of bed. There has to me a thaw in the near future. In fact, they (weather-guessers) are calling for 40's and rain this week. It would be nice to get the sand and salt off the roads for a March of outside riding. I will need to get some base miles in before the family takes a vacation. I say this because the last time I went on vacation I gained about a pound per day. Hard to believe I know. Must be something to do with alcohol, food and inactivity.

My lights returned to me last week as UKE put in a good showing at the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo. Nice times in the duo category. I missed being there.... The importance of an early spring trip to ride a bike in warmer climates is often overlooked. Not only is it an event to train for, it also sparks the desire to ride afterwards. I will have to dig deep.

As I write this I realize it must seem like I complain quite a bit. Although I use the trainer quite frequently, it is easy to get cabin fever. Northern Wisconsin is brutal and I think that is the real problem. A road ride at zero degrees gets even colder at 20 mph. The face, hands and feet won't make it that far with the gear I have. Plus, the roads are no place to be filled with ice, snow and sand. Being confined is reason to complain apparently.

I have friends that live a few hours south in Southern Wisconsin and they can ride outside quite often. Example: We just got 8 inches of snow while Madison received thunderstorms that washed the roads. When we have temps in the 20's, they are often in the 40's. That is the difference between riding outside and using the trainer. The social aspect is also lost when you sit on a trainer. There are no breakaways; there is no drafting. You also cannot ride frozen singletrack because here it is covered in snow. I wish I was a x-country skier, but it was made clear this winter that I am not.

Maybe I can take my bike with me on Vacation....