Here’s the scene: 45°F. The wind is smacking me in the face at 12 mph. I am layered up, clipped in, and finally back outside after a long, cold winter indoors.
This was it. My first real outdoor ride of the year. And honestly? It felt amazing.
I had 33.18 miles on the docket. I was rolling through Montgomery County with 1,486 ft of elevation. Every bit of wind did its best to humble me. It was the kind of headwind that makes even flat roads feel like climbs. Brutal — but I weirdly loved it.
The winter work paid off. I felt stronger than I expected. The legs were solid (until the very end), my breathing was in sync, and the confidence was there. New shoes and pedals? Game changers. And shoutout to the Rapha Core Winter Long Bibs + Core Long Sleeve Jersey combo for absolutely saving me from freezing. I’ll break down my new apparel haul in a future post — but just know, this kit was the real MVP today.
It wasn’t all smooth, though. About half a mile from home, the cramps kicked in. Again. Clearly, I still haven’t cracked the hydration game outdoors. But I’m learning. Slowly.
What made the ride even sweeter? Hitting a few personal records on segments I hadn’t touched in months. That’s always a dopamine boost. 💥
So yeah, the first ride of the season is in the books. Wind-whipped, slightly crampy, but a total success. The bike felt fast. I felt fit. And now that I’ve got a taste of the road again, I’m ready for more.
Spring’s coming. Let’s ride. 🌤️
BreakRoomBethesda 
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