It was a little warmer on Thursday for the long levee ride, but I went out pretty well bundled up anyway. I had done another Spin class Wednesday night and was still feeling it, mostly in my back and quads, as I made the little climb up to the top of the levee. The group was a bit small, 
but as often happens this time of year, we picked up a few additional riders by the time we got to the bridge. Although the pace on the way out wasn't exactly one for the record books, it was nonetheless pretty brisk. I knew we'd have more of a headwind on the way back, so I was trying not to overcook my legs before the turnaround. Midway through the ride back the group split and I ended up sharing a good amount of work with a handful of riders. The legs felt pretty good thanks to my conservative tactics on the outbound part of the ride.
Friday morning was much warmer with a pre-dawn temperature close to 60° F., but the sky looked a bit overcast and the air was thick with Gluf of Mexico moisture, so I went with knee and arm-warmers and added a light vest at the last minute. When I got up to the bike path I was surprised to see how many people there were. Of course it's all relative, since the turnout on Friday is sometimes limited to myself. Today, though, we had maybe six.
I was glad I'd actually gotten out of bed for this one, because for a while I was definitely considering taking a rest day today. I guess what finally tipped the balance was the fact that I wouldn't' be able to ride at all on Saturday since I'd be driving up to Brookhaven to give an Official's clinic and hopefully get together with some of the area race promoters. There was a light breeze coming out of the south and you could tell it was going to get warmer rather quickly once the sun came up. The group today rode a really smooth and controlled paceline with everybody taking these really long steady pulls at 21-23 mph. In essence, a really nice Friday ride. By the time we were back around the pump hill the temperature was nearly perfect, the wind was at our backs, and I was wishing I could spend another hour on the bike. Then, just as I started to peel off to ride down the ramp onto River Road I heard a train whistle and knew I'd never make it, so I stayed up on the levee and rode down to the Corps of Engineers building instead. By then the train was long gone.
As I rode back home down Pine Street I noticed the variety of Mardi Gras flags that were flying in front of many of the homes. With Fat Tuesday just a month away, on February 24, people are already gearing up,
although it will be a few weeks yet before most of the parades roll. Endymion will be back on it's traditional Mid-City route this year with Kid Rock as Grand Marshal, and Bacchus (In Vino Veritas!) rolls the next day as usual, although if they've announced who the King will be, I must have missed it. What I really miss, though is the Mistic Krewe of Comus parade. They still have their ball, of course, and if I knew who the King would be this year I wouldn't tell you. That would just be wrong. I'd provide a link to their website, but if they have one, you know it's a secret! I always liked their official proclamation when they had to cancel their festivities because of a little conflict that was brewing at the time:
but as often happens this time of year, we picked up a few additional riders by the time we got to the bridge. Although the pace on the way out wasn't exactly one for the record books, it was nonetheless pretty brisk. I knew we'd have more of a headwind on the way back, so I was trying not to overcook my legs before the turnaround. Midway through the ride back the group split and I ended up sharing a good amount of work with a handful of riders. The legs felt pretty good thanks to my conservative tactics on the outbound part of the ride.Friday morning was much warmer with a pre-dawn temperature close to 60° F., but the sky looked a bit overcast and the air was thick with Gluf of Mexico moisture, so I went with knee and arm-warmers and added a light vest at the last minute. When I got up to the bike path I was surprised to see how many people there were. Of course it's all relative, since the turnout on Friday is sometimes limited to myself. Today, though, we had maybe six.
I was glad I'd actually gotten out of bed for this one, because for a while I was definitely considering taking a rest day today. I guess what finally tipped the balance was the fact that I wouldn't' be able to ride at all on Saturday since I'd be driving up to Brookhaven to give an Official's clinic and hopefully get together with some of the area race promoters. There was a light breeze coming out of the south and you could tell it was going to get warmer rather quickly once the sun came up. The group today rode a really smooth and controlled paceline with everybody taking these really long steady pulls at 21-23 mph. In essence, a really nice Friday ride. By the time we were back around the pump hill the temperature was nearly perfect, the wind was at our backs, and I was wishing I could spend another hour on the bike. Then, just as I started to peel off to ride down the ramp onto River Road I heard a train whistle and knew I'd never make it, so I stayed up on the levee and rode down to the Corps of Engineers building instead. By then the train was long gone.As I rode back home down Pine Street I noticed the variety of Mardi Gras flags that were flying in front of many of the homes. With Fat Tuesday just a month away, on February 24, people are already gearing up,
although it will be a few weeks yet before most of the parades roll. Endymion will be back on it's traditional Mid-City route this year with Kid Rock as Grand Marshal, and Bacchus (In Vino Veritas!) rolls the next day as usual, although if they've announced who the King will be, I must have missed it. What I really miss, though is the Mistic Krewe of Comus parade. They still have their ball, of course, and if I knew who the King would be this year I wouldn't tell you. That would just be wrong. I'd provide a link to their website, but if they have one, you know it's a secret! I always liked their official proclamation when they had to cancel their festivities because of a little conflict that was brewing at the time:
Damn, people really used to know how to write.To Ye Mistick Krewe –
GREETINGS!
WHEREAS, War has cast its gloom over our happy homes and care usurped the place where joy is wont to hold its sway. Now, therefore, do I deeply sympathizing with the general anxiety, deem it proper to withhold your Annual Festival in this goodly Crescent City and by this proclamation do command no assemblage of the
-MISTICK KREWE-
Given under my hand this, the 1st day of March A.D. 1862.
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