B-G to Marymoor team ride

It's taken me 3 weeks to figure out that our team rides this time of year are not particularly lengthy. Tis the season to "take it easy." In this time I've also fallen victim to "I don't know how long we're riding so I'll drive to the start because I don't want to do 80 miles since I don't know where we're going and I'd have to ride home." But after last week's 20 mile route it sunk in that I don't have to worry about 80 mile rides and that I'm more worried about driving to our rides than doing some extra distance. One should not drive a car to go ride a bike. I'm always the person to sneer at the SUVs pulling into Sound Mind & Body, glaring at the lazy bastards driving to the gym when they should have pulled their bike out of the garage and saved themselves a fancy gym membership. Down at Leshi I'm always dismayed by the number of riders whose cars fill the parking lots and line Lake Washington Blvd when they could have simply ridden. I do not want to be that person.

Today's ride was starting a the Log Boom park on the Burke and going over to Marymoor so I got a huge bee in my bonnet to ride the whole way from home. Granted, this route isn't something new, it's just that I haven't put in these kinds of miles since before I got sick and I'm leery of pushing myself too hard too soon. But I felt absolutely dandy after the Ride for the Pies, and the bee in my bonnet was buzzing all night long.

So off I went this morning in the wee hours when all smart people were still bundled in flannel sheets and the coffee pot had yet to perk. I packed my jacket pockets with almonds, ginger, Lara bars sans Nutella (so sad), and an extra water bottle of juice. In about 70 minutes I met the other girls at the Log Boom parking lot. I stuffed some almonds and ginger in my mouth, and finished off my first water bottle. If there's one thing these girls will harp you about, it's drinking water - one bottle or more an hour. After meets and greets we set off for the other side of the lake.

It was a speedy trip over there and rather tricky navigating the serpentine trail through Bothell while in a paceline with wet leaves and walkers and joggers all about. So much for zoning out. The Sammamish Trail was easier to negotiate and we worked on butting in front of each other to squeeze into the paceline. Once over at Marymoor we waved hello to the track. It was remarkably clear of goose poop and mud thanks to a month of pressure washing from the storms. The sun popped out and felt amazingly good after a week of wet dreary conditions. On the way back we had a nice tail wind to the north which made for an even speedier trip back. These girls are feeling fast and I can imagine how exhilarating it's going to be racing with them in a few months.

Once back at the parking lot, some girls left for other afternoon appointments, but some chose to ride south on the trail to get in some extra miles. Stuffing the last of my ginger and almonds in my belly and sucking down the 3rd water bottle, I was happy to have an escort back home because these last 10-15 miles solo on the Burke always suck major ass. I figured I could draft as much as possible too, but as it turned out I led most of the way. We stopped about 8 miles from home so they could turn around and head back to their cars. I rode back still feeling good and high on how many long days plus regular commuting days I've managed to put in this week. Big thanks to my body for doing such a good job. Rest and leftover pie is coming your way.