What if..

..cycling wasn't my primary form of exercise?  Instead, what if I had some other form, and cycling was just something that I did for fun, for transportation, and because I just do it.  That's an interesting thought, as you know, then it would just be riding to ride, not with another goal in mind.  Sure, I'll always burn a heckuva bunch of calories, but it mentally changes it.  

Or maybe, just maybe, I'm looking for an excuse to be more sadistic.  

Regardless, yesterday I used our renewed YMCA membership for the first time, and had some quality time with an elliptical over my lunch hour.  It was awesome.  First, I'm in a whole lot better shape than I was even earlier this year.  During my torture session, err, workout I was averaging around 260 watts output with my heart rate sticking in the 130's for the bulk of it.  When I upped the resistance to the max and pushed around 350 watts peak with a sustained of over 300, I was finally able to get it up to 160.  Earlier in the year, 150-160 was pretty much the norm, and high output torture could push me up to almost 190bpm.  At 160 my muscles were screaming for mercy and didn't have a whole lot of "bang" left in them, so I think only doing that for another couple minutes could have pushed me up higher.  Summary is, according to the little computer on the elliptical, I'm doing pretty good. 

My recovery time, by far, is greatly improved.  Before I'd kind of collapse onto the elliptical for a second, then stumble out of that section and down the stairs, and finish recovering in the locker room.  Yesterday, by the time I had started on the stairs I felt fine, absolutely fine, like I could have gone back and done another hour on the thing.  

Finally, I forgot how much a mid-day workout can benefit the mind and body.  It bled off stress, refocused my mind, and overall just kind of "reset" me.  It was, as they say, really really good. 

Still got in my 20 miles for the day, and it was good, real good.  The ride home was gorgeous, the kind of weather where you just want to find an excuse to ride, you know?  Today is going to be much of the same, very excellent news on weather.com for once.  The cold mornings are taking some adjustment, I see I'm not the only ones, but they aren't too bad.  Need some full-finger gloves for sure, though, and my fingers are getting pretty dang cold.  Also thought of really solidifying my dorkage and re-using old too big for me khakis as biking pants is appealing to my cheap side. 

Ahh fall, I feel it in the air.  I love fall and spring, not so much of a fan of winter and summer, but fall and spring  just ROCK.