Week 8 around town

The best part of 'beginning again' as a cyclist is that I know the feeling when I pass a plateau, get over the hump or, if you will, find the next gear. This last week was a series of pushing the limits and really finding the edges of the performance envelope to date. Therefore I can move the performance quotient closer to the bench mark I have set as a theoretical standard that I have targeted for the ride in May and also using my made-up standard from my memory about my racing days 24 yrs ago.  Memories are all smoke and mirrors believe me.
I don't have a cycle computer to really gauge my heart rate, speed, cadence and distance but I have mapped several courses with Mapmyride.com and can approximate the mileage. This has enabled me to follow basic rule of thumb: 60 min divided by time elapsed x distance = mph using departure time and return time, crude but effective. I have no way to accurately take my heart rate but I can say for sure it's strong and steady with my rpms  around 95-105, again a rough estimation from previous training.
All the technical chatter aside I have had a blast burning the pavement, or what seemed to me as burning the pavement, and just screaming, not me the bike, as I blew through the streets of Naples. I know that the pros are at work on their bikes but I hope they are diggin the vibes as they break away, beat the other guy , ascend to the top, go through villages that have been standing since who knows when and finally just because! Like in many of the baseball movies when one guy says to the other,'we are grown men who GET to play for a living!' Yeh baby.
I guess bottom line for me is I am so happy to have re-discovered this sport and connected with it in a big way. I have tried so many other sports and hobbies but none have made me feel so connected and given so much pleasure. To others they get runners high or surfers peace or football sore-elation or whatever sport endorphins, but to me this is the sport that's pure and raw. A team sport that depends on strong individuals that can think for themselves but work as a unit with elite machinery thrown into the mix going at speeds of 35-40 mph.
Be back next week for more good stuff from the road and If I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying.