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Today being the summer solstice and longest day of the year, I wasn't going to miss the opportunity to go out for an evening bike ride when my plans ended unexpectedly early and I was back home by 8 pm.
My initial idea was that I'd ride up to Golden Gardens Park to see the sunset, and that I'd cross into Ballard by way of the Ballard Bridge rather than going up through Magnolia to the locks. But as I got to the Ballard Bridge I decided to try using the vehicle underpass to cross 15th Ave W, which worked fine, and then continue south a bit to W Dravus Street and cross into Magnolia after all. And as I cycled up Gilman Ave W, I decided that instead of going to Golden Gardens Park, I'd just do the Magnolia loop again, but this time incorporating the bike loop in Discovery Park.
When I got to Discovery Park, I stopped to check out the map of the park, as I was still confused about the bike loop and whether the Loop Trail was supposed to be for bicycles as well. That was when, as I stepped off the pedals, my left calf reminded me that it'd been ten days since my last bike ride and informed me in no uncertain terms that I really needed to stretch my legs a bit before going out on rides with long hill climbs. I staggered as the muscles seized up, and it hurt quite a bit, but fortunately they eased up after a couple minutes and with a little careful stretching it seemed like I'd be fine to continue.
I cycled through part of Discovery Park—it turns out that bikes are only supposed to use the paved paths, which does not include the Loop Trail, and I'm still confused as to how much of an actual loop there is for bikes—and exited at the south gate. Then I couldn't resist making a side trip down Perkins Lane W, a long dead-end road along the side of the Magnolia bluffs where some obviously well-to-do people have some pretty fantastic houses, and doubling back up W Raye Street—which, although steep, wasn't as bad a climb as I'd feared—to get back to the main Magnolia loop along Magnolia Blvd W. From there, it was around the rest of the loop and back to W Dravus Street.
I'd been considering whether to cross into Ballard and take the Burke-Gilman Trail back to Fremont, as I needed to pick up some things at PCC Natural Market. So I stopped at the corner, and that was when my right calf said no, really, what were you thinking doing all those hard hill climbs without any stretching? Gahh! Once again it mercifully recovered after a couple minutes, but I was rattled enough that I just walked my bike along W Dravus Street to get back to 15th Ave W. I considered just biking home and then walking to the store (or not), but eventually decided I seemed to be okay enough to do the extra Ballard-Fremont loop and would rather go get my groceries right away than put it off.
The rest of the trip was uneventful, and my legs are okay now, but definitely still have the feeling of having been exercised. I need to do better about stretching; I actually meant to start stretching in the mornings again, but having to get up early to do full-day work at KEXP last week made me put that aside. Likewise, doing shorter rides a couple times a week should help build up my strength and endurance, I've just been too busy to get into that. Hopefully I can start in on that now.
Google Maps—14.1 miles, estimated time 1 hour 43 minutes, actual time was probably pretty close to that, not counting the stops along the way.
Maybe later this week I can do the ride to Magnuson Park, that should be easier and shorter.
My initial idea was that I'd ride up to Golden Gardens Park to see the sunset, and that I'd cross into Ballard by way of the Ballard Bridge rather than going up through Magnolia to the locks. But as I got to the Ballard Bridge I decided to try using the vehicle underpass to cross 15th Ave W, which worked fine, and then continue south a bit to W Dravus Street and cross into Magnolia after all. And as I cycled up Gilman Ave W, I decided that instead of going to Golden Gardens Park, I'd just do the Magnolia loop again, but this time incorporating the bike loop in Discovery Park.
When I got to Discovery Park, I stopped to check out the map of the park, as I was still confused about the bike loop and whether the Loop Trail was supposed to be for bicycles as well. That was when, as I stepped off the pedals, my left calf reminded me that it'd been ten days since my last bike ride and informed me in no uncertain terms that I really needed to stretch my legs a bit before going out on rides with long hill climbs. I staggered as the muscles seized up, and it hurt quite a bit, but fortunately they eased up after a couple minutes and with a little careful stretching it seemed like I'd be fine to continue.
I cycled through part of Discovery Park—it turns out that bikes are only supposed to use the paved paths, which does not include the Loop Trail, and I'm still confused as to how much of an actual loop there is for bikes—and exited at the south gate. Then I couldn't resist making a side trip down Perkins Lane W, a long dead-end road along the side of the Magnolia bluffs where some obviously well-to-do people have some pretty fantastic houses, and doubling back up W Raye Street—which, although steep, wasn't as bad a climb as I'd feared—to get back to the main Magnolia loop along Magnolia Blvd W. From there, it was around the rest of the loop and back to W Dravus Street.
I'd been considering whether to cross into Ballard and take the Burke-Gilman Trail back to Fremont, as I needed to pick up some things at PCC Natural Market. So I stopped at the corner, and that was when my right calf said no, really, what were you thinking doing all those hard hill climbs without any stretching? Gahh! Once again it mercifully recovered after a couple minutes, but I was rattled enough that I just walked my bike along W Dravus Street to get back to 15th Ave W. I considered just biking home and then walking to the store (or not), but eventually decided I seemed to be okay enough to do the extra Ballard-Fremont loop and would rather go get my groceries right away than put it off.
The rest of the trip was uneventful, and my legs are okay now, but definitely still have the feeling of having been exercised. I need to do better about stretching; I actually meant to start stretching in the mornings again, but having to get up early to do full-day work at KEXP last week made me put that aside. Likewise, doing shorter rides a couple times a week should help build up my strength and endurance, I've just been too busy to get into that. Hopefully I can start in on that now.
Google Maps—14.1 miles, estimated time 1 hour 43 minutes, actual time was probably pretty close to that, not counting the stops along the way.
Maybe later this week I can do the ride to Magnuson Park, that should be easier and shorter.
