Nice and Easy

After an eight mile run yesterday, I was looking for a nice, easy ride out to the country and back.  I wanted to go for an easy spin that would help work out the kinks and make it easier to not look gimpy when I walked.  I resolved to keep my heart rate down as low as possible and just take a leisurely ride.  Mission accomplished.

I also was hoping to stop an incessant clicking noise coming from the Trek’s crank through the liberal application of WD-40.  Other than a flat tire, I can not think of anything more annoying than a repetitive noise coming from your bike.  This one had been plaguing me for a few weeks.  Again, mission accomplished.

I went on one of my favorite routes, a 33 mile trip that takes me onto Carriage Ford and Hazelwood roads.  I stopped at one of my favorite sites, a small house with dozens of lawn statues in the yard.  The owner even has a few bicycles displayed.  Very interesting.  The private property notices take away from the effect, in my opinion.  Apparently, the owner has had a bit of a problem with thieves.  That’s unfortunate because little slices of Americana like this should be allowed to flourish.  This sort of display would not be possible where I live.  The offender would be hauled in front of the Home Owners’ Association Tribunal and given an appropriate number of lashes for such a grievous violation of the HOA Bylaws.

Across the street from this house was a bull.  He was enjoying a midday meal of grass, which I suspect is actually an “all day meal.”  You don’t see many bulls around here and you can tell he is valuable because his owner has branded him.  Bull #360 of the Circle H Ranch wasn’t terribly interested in me, no matter what ridiculous noises I made, so I gave up trying to get him to look at me.  In the top left corner of the bull picture is an odd-looking house, about 20 times the size of the one mentioned earlier.  There are plenty of “McMansions” around here, but this one has an odd appearance to it – at least it does to me.

As you can see from the pictures, the day was hardly ideal.  I contended with drizzle much of the ride, but it never was so bad that road spray became an issue.  When I returned home, I plugged my Garmin into my computer and was pleasantly surprised to see my average heart rate was a paltry 125, which is solidly in Heart Zone 2 for me.  I don’t recall ever having a heart rate so low and frankly didn’t think it was possible for me to keep it below Zone 3.  I should know better than to underestimate my ability to NOT do work.  I was pleased to reach a new “low” and I think it’s exactly the sort of recovery ride I was looking for.