I had what I think is my best ride ever home from work today. I felt fast and my time says that I was fast:
https://www.strava.com/activities/341362132
It is interesting to me, because I got three flat tires over the last two days. Last night there was a huge thunderstorm with hail. I waited inside my office, worried that I would have to ride in the mess. However, it went by very quickly and also drained very fast, so that when I rode home around 6:00, it was clear blue sky, the air smelled great, and I was making excellent time. However, near the end of my ride, I could tell there was something wrong with my tires. I checked and I had a flat in my front tire, with at least 4 goat head thorns in my tire. Goat head thorns are similar to a push pin or tack and they do exactly what you think riding over one of those would do - they are the bane of most bike riders and they grow along the Jordan River Park trail. Now, I believe that these thorns were blown out on the trail by the storm, but I also believe that when the city cuts the weeds along the trail, that thorns are spewed out on the trail as well. I believe this because they are not careful about weeds being blown onto the trail - perhaps they do some cleanup on this, but I haven't personally witnessed it.
As it turned out, I had thorns in my back tire as well, so I had to replace two tubes that night (I will attempt to patch repair them later). This morning, I decided I would avoid the Parkway, but I made a tactical error when I continued down about 2400 South, instead of turning left on Redwood Road and proceeding to 2100 South. That eventually led me to about 1400 West and the frontage road along 2100 South. I guessed (correctly) that I would have to backtrack all the way back to Redwood Road, so I made the foolish decision to go on part of the Parkway (which was right by). I got another couple thorns in the front tire within 100 yards. Fortunately, I was able to make it into work and I had bought another spare tube (something I always try to have with me for each ride).
I got it all repaired and then rode back, this time turning left on 900 West and going down to 2100 South. I felt that I was making good time here, but especially when I turned onto 2100 South. Then the song Eye of the Tiger was going through my mind and that I why I chose the posting name, and also the image. My favorite animals are cats, with Tigers being my absolute favorite. I thought about that on the way home - Leopards are also one of my favorite cats and I suppose that there are fewer Leopard fans in the world (unscientifically based on the number of Leopard sports teams vs. Tiger teams).
It was a great ride and I am very pleased with the results that I had. I also want to comment that one of the best smells in the world to me is the smell of grass and/or wheat that has been rained on. I also love the smell of freshly cut grass; I was able to smell the former on the ride into work today - heavenly.
