Solo ride, second day of training for Haleiwa Metric Century

Check my stats: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/70471181

@postaday 58; #postaday2011

Garmin aside, the solo ride keeps me honest. I like riding alone. I like riding with John but sometimes I want to tell him to SHUT. UP. LOL. I’m glad he also runs. Gives him something to do without me.

Today I woke at 6:15 and decided to go for it. My friend Kari, who updated her Facebook status about Bikram yoga and how pretty the moon looked, was also getting ready for her workout. And of course, mainland friends were already indicating completions of activities. It was my turn, too.

I spotted a banana on the counter that was a day or two beyond perfection, meaning it had more sugars, which I knew I would need as Me, Myself & I hauled ass up the hills of Kamioliki and Makapu’u.

As I was zooming a little down Kaumakani Street toward Lunalilo Home Road, I saw a group of cyclists passing the intersection. John has been trying to school me on the etiquette of bicycling, who to pass, who to respect, who to blow off, and who to latch onto like a pit bull and suck wheel. I ended up passing these cyclists, all women, and I thought they might pass my weak heaving butt on the hills, but they didn’t. Still, I’m always looking in my little rear-view mirror.

Today I took a pragmatic approach to that first hill. It was hard, but somehow I was able to conserve my energy and not get that skin crawl I wrote about yesterday. I noticed yet more riders. Gobs of them. I started noticing kits and numbers. Then there was a cop as big as a wall at the intersection of Kealahou Street and Kalanianaole Highway. That’s when I realized there was some kind of ride/event for cyclists. I made my way toward Makapu’u and managed to pay for that hill, too, without croaking or choking. I updated my status on Twitter and Facebook, sent up a pic, and headed toward Diamond Head.

I got back on the bike and managed a 39.5 mph down the hill from Makapu’u. Ahead of me I saw a guy with a number on his jersey and eventually I passed him. He said something pleasant like, ‘Hey, Sister!’ and I said, “Dude! This is my backyard!” and then I had to Kick My Own Butt to drop him and get out of the saddle and work it back up Kamiloiki hill. LOL.

While waiting at the light under the H-1 viaduct to turn onto Kilauea Avenue, some guy in a green kit sneaks up between the cars and gets in front of everyone. He turns on Makaiwa like I do so we can get on Kealaolu, the road by Waialae Country Club. So here is a case of my not passing someone whose a superstar in their own mind, right? I latched onto that guy’s wheel and forced him to pull me all the way to Triangle Park. You think you’re gonna drop me after passing me? I’m gonna make you work your ass off. And I always hope that neither one of us has a coronary, heh.

I got to Diamond Head, watched the world go by, sent a pic and headed back to Hawaii Kai. Treated myself to an iced grande skinny caramel macchiato at Koko Marina Starbucks. Two bicycle dudes said they’d keep an eye on my bike while I got in line. Sweet. We love each other, we kick each others asses.

And that’s my ride today, with just a few minutes on the small wheel.