Riding out the season

How many middle aged cyclists does it take to ride out the season?  Well, this year six of us joined up on a very chilly Sunday morning and set out along the country roads in rural upstate New York.  The 36 degree temperature was tangible to say the least for the first hour of the ride as we pedaled through an early morning fog.  After that, though, the sun began to warm our numb toes (and my numb legs!), while the reds, yellows and oranges of the maples added just the right hue to the hillsides.

Among the memorable sights were the two dozen or so windmills above Madison at the Fenner Wind Farm. Renewable energy from enormous wind generators has gradually been gaining traction in Central NY and this area is dotted with small clusters of towers atop the hills and ridges.

The day was truly a challenge for me, since I had only ridden a few rides this summer over 30 or 35 miles. Lunchtime at Quack’s Restaurant in Madison, New York was late and by 3:00, it was clear that I’d be pressed to make it back to the start before dark. I opted to take a more direct route — also phoning in for a pickup along the way. So, at the 75 mile mark I switched from cycle to car and rode out the season with less than a full century. BUT more than a metric century!

This weekend is calling for sunny, mild autumn days… hey, who knows, perhaps I’ll get a few more miles in before the Lemond is back on the hooks for the winter.