Spring Has Sprung

We're off to a week of very spring-like weather.  Sunday's mild temps drove people outdoors in throngs.  Kensington had hundreds and hundreds of people out enjoying the great weather.  Not that we've had much of a winter this year but when temps climb to 66F + early in March you'll see a lot of people outdoors enjoying nature. While the trees won't leaf out for a few weeks yet and grass hasn't greened there are signs everywhere it's about to burst.  With spring rains coming and warm temps it won't be long till it's looking vibrant.

While I don't even want to say it, this is Michigan and we are likely to see snow yet into April, I woudn't like it but I also wouldn't doubt it will happen.  Spring she is fickle.

Riding the trainer indoors this winter has helped me to stay conditioned to riding.  After a couple of hour long rides in the last week outdoors I am not experiencing the normal first rides of the season ouchies.  My legs muscles are feeling good, I'm not sore in the saddle and most importantly I do feel stronger.  Hills and inclines that were quite challenging last year are proving to be less difficult than I remember them.  I had expected to lose some core strength because I was not cross training in the winter, but this does not seem to be the case.  Three major differences on a trainer compared to outdoor riding are that you don't have to use core muscles to hold yourself upright with balance on the trainer like you do outdoors.  The other is the terrain and the elements.  Indoors there are no hills or wind to cope with.  However you never have to stop at street lights or slow down for pedestrians either, so your time on the trainer is different.

I'm looking forward to building up to some much longer rides this year.