Day 297 : 9th February 2011 Cycling

Wow! What a ride!!! =)

Sure feels good to be back riding after a long break.

I think I am going to enjoy riding a lot more from now on. =D

***

Last update on the elbow... In case I kena complained for being long-winded. =D

The elbow has yet to recover. Pain is occasionally felt.
But it is not as annoying, so no worries. =)

***
Woke up with barely 3.5 hours of sleep.
I really hate waking up in the middle of the night...

As usual, I hesitate to step out of the door.
But I am excited about today's ride too...

Encountered a police car along Ang Mo Kio Ave 8.
The police car slowed down...
I am guessing that they are hesitating...
Finally they turned on their blue and red flashing lights and stopped after the traffic junction.
Both police officers got down from the car, but neither one of them stopped me, so I just rode ahead.

Reached Longhouse with time to spare.
Turned off the tail light immediately.
Will have to use the tail light sparsely...

Rode at the rear of the group.
The group is getting too huge... I dare not risk a fall...
Was surprised to see Ivan just ahead of me.
Found out he is doing his recovery ride today. Cool!

Rode up Prata Hill in big crank...
The feeling is surreal...

Up Sembawang Hills...
The heartrate did not go into overdrive!!!
Wow!

The huge difference that I experience is that every pedal stroke is converted into raw energy...
On C-One, some of the energy are wasted...

Up Mandai slope, I was huffing and puffing away, but again I feel that the heart rate is in a respectable range.
Gosh... what a huge difference a carbon bike makes...

I started to realise that my right hand is numb.
I can not feel the gear/brake shifter!
Try to move my fingers, but it is of no use...

No wonder I rely so much on the left brake so often...
Borne out of habit... =(

Reached Mandai Shell and the group has already left.
Rode with Ivan for most of the route.
I am able to stay with Ivan on flats, but we keep getting separated on slopes.

Tried shifting my right hand and the whole bike wobble!
Gave Ivan a huge scare. Sorry, mate!

Up came Hume Ave...
Again, I conquer it with relative ease. =)(As compared to C-One)

After Ivan break away at Bukit Timah, I rode with another FOTR rider till Sin Ming.

Riding up Lornie Flyover is normal, but what surprised me is that the recovery at the top took shorter than before.

Gosh... I feel like I cheated for the entire route today...
I won't never be able to feel this way riding C-One...

It feel strange at times, as I dun feel the cold aluminium resting on my inner thighs during stops.
Dun think I will miss the feeling though. =D

Stopped at my usual McD break before proceeding home.