With the most recent snow melt, and temperatures reaching the 60s in the Keweenaw, cyclists have already gathered together to ride the road. I just thought about riding, but I fully intend to begin my spring training this coming weekend.

Tomorrow and Wednesday, I am going to hit the pavement for a couple of short rides ranging from 60-90 minutes. This will be a little wake-up call for my body – a little message that hard work is coming pretty quickly. Jake (cross bike) and I will be heading down to Marquette, next weekend. I am going to visit a friend, but I’ve decided that this might be the perfect opportunity to try out the bike paths in and around town. My goal is to do quite a bit of riding – three rides ranging from three to four hours, Friday through Sunday. Wish me luck.

With what I have planned over the next three weeks, I fully expect to lose the ten pounds I gained, last fall. Not only do I wish to get back down to last year’s race weight, but I want to lose an additional ten pounds. I’ve recognized that dropping additional weight is the best way to get faster. I also expect that a new saddle will be in the works. Four hours on a bike without a super comfortable saddle can be hell.

Of course, I reserve the right to quit this little endurance cycling program and postpone it to a later date. It is possible that snow and rain are in the forecast, but I will do my best to get through it. I’m really not concerned about fitness. My leg muscles are stronger and more defined than they were at the beginning of winter, and the skate skiing I’ve been doing has been quite intense. Cardiovascularly, things are good, but there is always room for improvement.