Ride #33 - Finish Line

A beautiful November day. 11/1/2026 dwm

The last ride of my bike season was November 1. For November, it was a remarkably nice day, sunny skies and temperatures in the mid to upper 60s.

 

Monday was the opposite, rain and threats of rain plus gray clouds as far as the eye can see. It wasn't exactly cold, but rain and dark skies are not friendly when it comes to riding bikes. 

 

This was another of the routes I've done before, a simple out and back from Verona to Lake Kegonsa State Park. Actually I turned around east of the park when the odometer hit 25.3, which was enough cushion so I wouldn't be short of 50 mile goal at the finish. 

 

Much of the ride through McFarland was still under construction as it has been the last few months. Construction has been a theme for many of the routes I like to use. I only rode around Lake Mendota once this year because installing a new water line eliminated the only practical way to ride around the northeast corner of the lake. 

 

Kegonsa State Park. 11/1/26 dwm

 The work in McFarland wasn't as inconvenient as the work by Lake Mendota, but a section of city street and its adjoining sidewalk/bike path has had places where walking was tough and riding nearly impossible. As I walked my bike over the last stretch Sunday, I just hoped it will be finished by 2027.

 

 This final trip became necessary back in August when it occurred to me it might be possible to ride 2,000 miles this year. All it would take was increasing the length of the rides and some good weather.

 

 I'm glad to say both of those things happened and I set a personal record (as far as I know) for miles on a bike. When I got home. that was it, the bike can rest now until next year.

 Tale of the Bike Computer:

 Distance: 50 miles (actual mileage 50.75)

 Ave. Speed: 16 mph

 Time in the Saddle: 3 hours, 9 minutes

 

 Bike Ride Season April 11 - November 1, 2026

 33 Rides | Total Miles: 2,000 |  Average Trip: 60 miles