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Longest ride yet and no numb hands!
When I was riding a lot in the past I would get some numbness in my hands. Since I started riding again it has returned with a vengeance. I ran across some advice that is 10 years old but it really works. This may not be news to you readers but here it is, scroll down to post 30:
http://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/543092-thumbs-going-dead-embarrassingly-short-rides-2.html
2. HAND-POSITION & GRIP probably makes a significant contribution as well. Don't grip the bars so tight! Gripping the hoods/bars tight is compensation for unbalanced positioning. The weight-bearing spot on your hand should be on the heel of the palm:
(The image won't post)
To really find this spot, do some push-ups and hold yourself up. Notice where the weight is... note that you do not have to grip the carpet to prevent yourself from falling over. Note that you can wiggle all your fingers. The weight-bearing spot is on an imaginary point directly where the forearm bones would extend through your palm.
Now on the bike, place your palm on the bars/hoods so that this spot is directly centered inline with the forearm bones. This spot is not directly over the bars, but rather 45-degrees behind it so that from the perspective of your shoulders looking through your arm-bones, the bars are inline with the bones.
About my morning ride, all went well. I found that I was able to spin comfortably at a 105 rpm. This is new. Last week the fastest I could spin with out losing power was <90 rpm. I did 3 uphill sprints. I'm going to have to make use of what hills we have here if I will be able to do the Outlaw ride. It has some real hills. When the wind comes up I will do into the wind sprints. I hear that worked will for Le Tour cyclists that came from the low countries like Belgium and Holland.
I had a new pain, it was in my left tricep. It's Hell getting old, but it sure beats the alternative!
Edit: I forgot to mention that this is the first ride since I glued my old Shimano shoes. I used Elmer's Stix-All. It is supposed to remain flexible. Anyway when I finished they were still together.