In preparation for . . .

My last two rides -- 14 miles last Saturday and 20.2 miles this evening -- bring my seasonal total to 167.8 miles. But more importantly, these rides are preparing my body for the day when warm weather will return and this prolonged rainy pattern that we've endured so far this spring will finally end. I eagerly await the day when warm temperatures and dry trails will finally allow me to plan routes that are longer, more interesting, and encompass a variety of landscapes and terrains. Poor weather has so far limited my routing to paved trails and local roads. [I'm not a big fan of mud!] Last year, it wasn't until the latter half of May that our weather improved. It looks like history may repeat itself again this year.

My immediate goal is to be ready for the May 24th "Bike the Drive" and the June 6th "Trek 100." "Bike the Drive" will be 30 miles, assuming I complete both the north leg and south leg of the ride, as I did in 2008. Perhaps I will even go a little bit extra if time permits, as I was able to do last year. Only time will tell.

I'm more concerned about the 36 miles that I plan to ride in the "Trek 100," which starts at Trek's world headquarters in Waterloo, Wisconsin. Whereas "Bike the Drive" is quite flat, the "Trek 100" route likely consists rolling hills that could prove more challenging.

Perhaps all those windy rides served a purpose after all!