A beautiful November afternoon

Current Seasonal Total: 2,058.1

As I now peruse the various long-range weather forecasts, I feel confident in saying that today will be my final ride of 2010 in which I was able to wear cycling shorts and jersey. To be honest, I did augment my wardrobe with arm warmers, but it was a borderline situation; I could easily have not worn them and still completed the ride, albeit a bit less comfortably.

On this Monday, I took the day off, primarily to have service done on my Honda del Sol, but also to plan a reconnaissance mission to the Apple Store at Woodfield during this four-hour servicing. I returned home around 2 o'clock, and by 2:22, I was pushing off for my afternoon ride . . . with sunny skies, temperatures in the mid-60s (16 degrees above normal), and light southerly breezes. With our return to Standard Time having occurred the day before, I knew I didn't have a long time to ride, but I was sure that I wanted to make the most of this abnormally beautiful November afternoon.

The ride was nothing special (20.5 miles), but the fact that I could ride wearing only cycling jersey, cycling shorts, and arm warmers fueled my already high level of enthusiasm. I rode along familiar routes in Bartlett, Hanover Park, Schaumburg, and Roselle. I made no stops, since I far more desired extra cycling minutes than a sweet concoction at Starbucks. [Plus, I was caffeinated enough from two earlier cups of coffee].

Maybe it was the warm air, or the aftermath of a most enjoyable morning spent at the Apple Store, but whatever the reason, I felt stronger than I had in awhile. This surprised me a bit, since I am typically a little weaker -- not stronger -- on the day following a longer ride. Not on this day, mate! Pumping the pedals at an average speed of over 14 mph, it was my fastest ride in 7 weeks.

When I returned home at 4 o'clock, I chanced upon the early evening weather segment on TV, which foretold a significant cool-down in the middle of next week. This Sunday, I noticed, could possibly be my last ride of 2010. If it is, I will mourn the end of the season, but I will simultaneously be celebrating a season that I will always remember.