Less Windy, Today

The weather-guesser on the morning news pointed out that the wind was "only" blowing a steady 25 mph, instead of the 35 to 40 mph it had clocked, yesterday.  And, the temperature at 7:30 was already in the middle 50s, predicted to climb into the mid-60s by lunch time.

So, I took that to mean I should get out on a bicycle ride.  I haven't done a lot of riding, lately, outside of riding for transportation.  So, I felt the need to get out and put some miles on.

I rode down to Kaladi Bros. and had a coffee and scone to augment the bagel and cream cheese I had eaten at the house.  I figured I was going to need some fuel, if I was going to buck the wind, all day.  Turned out to be a good plan.

I rode on down to the South Platte Trail and turned north, into the teeth of the wind, and figured that I would just ride into the wind until I was tired, then I could turn around and reap the benefit of a tail wind on the way home.

As I rode, the trail was detoured at one section, avoiding the construction of the west-bound LightRail tracks.

This is the new bridge for the commuter train.  The tracks, heading west from town, actually follow the historical route of the trolley line which made Lakewood a viable suburb of Denver, a hundred years ago.

This shot shows where the bike path ran before the construction commenced.

I continued northward, past Confluence Park, and rode toward the intersection of the South Platte Trail and The Sand Creek Greenway Trail.  I briefly contemplated taking the Sand Creek Trail to head back south, but I decided against it.  I had never been any farther north along the South Platte, so I pushed on, just to check out the trail. 

I eventually came to an intersection with the Clear Creek Trail.

I believe that the Clear Creek Trail goes to Golden.  I will have to return, at some point, and go left at this intersection, to find out.  As it was, I turned right and continued along the South Platte.

The surroundings improved as I rode north and left the industrial sections of Denver and Commerce City behind.  The river was a lot more scenic, fields and reservoirs bordered the path, and Nature seemed to be a lot more in charge.

Eventually, I rode under 104th Avenue and realized I was in Thornton.  I was also right at 25 miles into the ride, so I sat down for on a park bench, beside a pond, for a minute to check my phone, and look at the mountains.

I turned south, and headed back toward home.  I was somewhat dismayed to find that I really didn't have a tail wind for most of the ride home.  The wind was actually blowing across my path, so I had a head wind for about 80% of my ride home, as well.

Just over 50 miles at an average speed of 14 mph (dang wind!).  I got a good workout, and I rode on some trail I'd never been on (and found another trail to ride, to boot).  I consider that a good ride, any day.

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