Thanks Steve

Yesterday was a nice day for a family bike ride. So that's exactly what we did. I prepped Sephie's Stardust, Kenisha's Huffy and Karen's 7200 and we were off to the Union Terrace for ice cream. After a brief stop at Machinery Row to check out handlebar baskets for Sephie and Saris racks for the VW, we rolled into the Terrace. There was a light turnout in spite of the relatively warm temps. It could have been the north wind off the lake making things cool enough for a fleece. The return trip was uneventful and the four of us made it home with ice cream mustaches intact.

Today was a different ball of wax. After work I hopped on the Seven and was relatively motivated. I wandered south around Lake Monona and found myself wondering if there was a group ride at the Arb. When I rolled up there was just Steve waiting for anyone fast to show. He'd have to make due with me. Introductions were made and we headed through the Arb toward Paoli. Steve claimed to be a UW student a few points shy of getting his Category 1 upgrade. I never doubted him for a moment. He reminded me of my faster days in the 80's the way he made riding a bike look effortless. He kept me engaged in conversation while we rode side by side which made my constant 174 pulse seem not so high. As we rode down Seminole Hwy into town we saw a group of 20 heading east. I asked if he wanted to try to catch them. He told me he help me get there but he'd have to turn around to go home. So we were off at a blistering... 28 mph. I was baked. He gapped me as he rolled it up to maybe 29 and I had nothing left. Fortunately the group turned south so I pulled the plug on the effort. We shook hands and he did a U turn and vanished. I limped home at 16 mph feeling fine about my ride, but feeling old and slow. 45 miles and 500' of climbing in 3 hours. Tomorrow is another day to ride.