I nervously checked the weather report before I went to sleep. I checked it again when I got up to feed the cat.  I checked it half an hour later when I actually got up.  I think I was trying to convince myself that it was okay to sleep in and miss the ride because it was going to rain.

Somehow, I was able to overcome the pull of the bed and actually get myself to the meeting point. I do need rest, but I know all to well that momentum is everything in exercise.  Missing a day can easily result in missing a week.  For my cycling, I haven’t been able to make the Tuesday rides I especially joined a different group to do.  Yeah, I have legitimate excuses, but I think I could try harder.

We had a new meeting point this week because our regular meeting point was being used as the staging area for the Newmarket Pride Parade. As I passed some of the cordoned off roads and police trucks (that seems to be the new thing) I hoped that the rain would not spoil the event.

Our new meeting point was the Newmarket Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind this being the regular meeting point.  It’s about the same distance of travel for me, but the setting is a bit more serene.

Most of the Eagles have taken possession of their new kit. It looks pretty good.  I briefly had a twinge of regret over not purchasing it, but that was hardly my fault.  (Read about it here).  One of the members called me out on it–and that is why I am not in the picture.  He might have been joking, but I had to relate the whole story again and I was less than amused.

The ride itself was good. We had a tailwind to start off and we set a great pace.  I haven’t looked at the Strava data, but I am pretty sure I have some fast segments.  I felt stronger and obviously the training is paying off. As a group we held formation quite well until we turned back and faced a brutal headwind.  Just like the pros, our group splintered a bit.  However, we did slow down for each other as a Group C ride is not about dropping people.

One interesting thing is that on the way out, we made every light and rarely had to wait. It was incredible.  I attribute this to the luck of a new member named Liza.  I have no way of knowing for sure except that when I left the group to head home, I had to face the headwind by myself and I hit every single stoplight.  As for the headwind, I managed it okay, but I was absolutely spent by the time I got home I don’t even know how I have the energy to type this.