True Road Biking

Summary Data
Total Time (h:m:s)	2:23:46	3:23 pace
Moving Time (h:m:s)	2:13:29	3:09 pace
Distance (mi )	42.32
Moving Speed (mph)	19.0 avg.	25.0 max.
Elevation Gain (ft)	+1,810 / -1,810
Avg. Heart Rate	140 bpm	Zone 3.6
Temperature (°F)	78.8°F avg.	78.8°F high
Wind Speed ( mph)	E 11.5 avg.	E 13.8 max.

Start Time: 10:54:53 AM (CDT)
Odometer: 1115.31
Google Earth Map

Although the way I ride 'trails' (Chicago's Lakefront, the Indiana Rails-to-Trails, St. Marks) seems more like road biking than the sort of casual trail riding I would normally expect, I am (as you know) more of a trail boy than a road warrior. Chicago has that effect---the roads are so peppered with stoplights and disrespectful drivers that one actually gets less of a workout on the roads than on the trails (and the lakefront headwind is a great strength-builder). Before we arrived here, I gazed longingly Florida's Coastal Highway and toyed with the idea of riding out to Appalachicola or even the St. Joseph Peninsula. Until today, the lure and ease of the St. Mark's trail kept me tethered to the trail and off of the road.

After the morning ride, the family was busy doing yardwork and I decided I needed to see the coast---and to do that, I needed to hit the road. With no destination in particular, I just headed South and West. It ended up being almost too easy---and the ride was fantastic. For the first 30+ miles, I was passed on the road by AT MOST, one car per mile. The roads were smoothly paved and rolled along at a respectable 20 MPH for most of the first part of the ride. This part of Florida is just fantastic.

Weather Data	Average	Low	High
Temperature (°F)	78.8	78.8	78.8
Relative Humidity (%)	51.9	50.8	54.1
Wind Speed (mph)	11.5	8.1	13.8

A warm afternoon, but nearly perfect--and even a good wind to make the muscles work a little bit. Yesterday morning it was cool but so humid that I was literally wiping the moisture off of my glasses:

Weather Data	Average	Low	High
Temperature (°F)	61.4	60.8	62.6
Relative Humidity (%)	90.2	82.6	100.0
Wind Speed (mph)	0.0	0.0	0.0

All in all, I am sad to be leaving tomorrow already. Next time, we really are headed out to the St. Joseph Peninsula---although at about 100 miles from here, I will likely have to have someone come pick me up.