I started my cycling season with a bang on Sunday: a 57 mile ride in four hours' time. Lots of climbing, including the mountain on 25 in Vandiver. My endurance training this winter has paid off, because I didn't feel tired during the ride. However, I lost the sensation in my feet due to the cold and the fact that my shoes are too small and cut off circulation. After the ride, I soaked for half an hour in a very hot bath to thaw out my frozen bones.

My new pedals (Look Keo) totally ROCK. There is more power transfer involved with a larger pedal surface area.

It's been a while since I have ridden through the back roads of Alabama, and it's beautiful there. The recent rains have created raging streams nearing whitewater status. The frogs were cacophonous, and the roosters were calling "Come hither" to their harems. Oh, and there was a dead bunny in the middle of the road. And people in cars hurled epithets at us and screamed by us at (literally) 100 mph. Animals: Docile. People: Possessed by Satan.

Nevertheless, the ride was excellent because the people I rode with are great folks to ride with, and I'm not just saying that because they read my blog. :)

If one burns an average of 35 calories per mile on a bicycle, then I burned 2000 calories yesterday. For the 24 hours following the ride, I ate like I just discovered food. Oink.