Lakes to Mountains Tour

Challenges

Mon morning 4/28: Mukwonago Schools, bike shop: 9 mi, 7:15-12:30
I awoke to blue skies, and guessed that the predicted showers may stay away. By the time I finished Park View Middle School and headed to Clarendon Elementary, though, clouds filled the sky. That talk ran long when the kids had endless questions, and moments after I reached the bike shop, the rain had begun in earnest.
 
Mon afternoon: Mukwonago to Sun Prairie: 59 miles; lots of weather, 12:30-5:50
Challenging. That's the best way to describe the ride. I headed west from Rolling Hills ES into an intermitten rain,but it didn't affect my speed at first. For 35 minutes I cruised at 17.3 mph; my first hour I covered 16 miles. The second hour the relentless chill (42 degrees) and rain dropped me to 14 1/2 miles, and I finally had to stop in a C-store to warm my wet feet and change socks. The rain stopped at 2:30, replaced by a northern (arctic) wind, and I managed only 13 1/4 miles the third hour. Hour 4: a shade under 12 miles. The unceasing cold and (occasional head)wind re-directed my energy into keeping warm. Tim (who had begun riding while I hit the schools) was also ready to bag it by Sun Prairie rather than ride another 30 miles to Prairie du Sac, so we had his brother-in-law collect us.
Wisconsin may get into my record books, for having the most people stop and offer assistance. When I finished riding just past Sun Prairie, I had to wait five minutes for Tim and Larry to reach me. In the interim, a cute blonde pulled up and asked if I needed help. Even though she was far cuter than Tim's brother-in-law, I turned her down.
The next three days are forecast for much nicer weather. I've had rain on every tour, so it was nice to get it out of the way. I tell myself, that's the worst weather I'll see all trip...

posted by Glen @ 9:00 PM