What A Minute

I am not apposed to wearing a little bit of pink when I ride, in fact I have a pair of pink wool socks that I love to wear, but this just crosses the line. Actually it looks like it fits inside the line........that's disturbing (but funny!!!).

I am hoping to get a gravel ride in tomorrow, mileage will depend on time restraints. I really need to ride tomorrow since I am missing spin class again, especially since I have been eating like a horse (stupid oats).

Boys And Toys

I hate to say it but I haven't been getting the miles in that I am used to, I did go out and ride the loop tonight in the 42 degree temps (it really wasn't too bad). I have been wanting to get some 6 plus hr rides in to prepare for Berryman but it just hasn't happened, I'll still ride hard but I am just not where I want to be right now fitness wise. I have been spending some time off the bike trying to help Molly since she has been ill for almost 2 months now, hopefully since the scope yesterday we can get things totally figured out and get back to our lives. I have also been getting some things ready for my other passion, deer season. My two oldest kids have shown interest in going with me and my Dad, of course I won't let them carry a gun yet but they can still go and experience the hunt. My Dad, Brother, Sister-in-law, and myself went out and worked on deer stands Sun afternoon (I really wanted to ride but I knew time was running out for stand work) and we got 9 of the 10 stands at one farm completed and ready to go. I went out and shot my rifle today and checked 3 of the 9 stands at the other farm, actually there are only 2 stands left to check since my Dad has been working on them also. I would have liked to shot more rounds today but at a little over $2 a shot it really adds up.

Great Conditioning Ride Today

I went on a 4 hr ride with Coach today but didn't have the performance that I wanted, I ended up on the edge of bonking when it was all said and done.....maybe I was over the edge. I didn't take my camelbak (bad idea) and then ended up leaving my Hammer Gel in the truck. I started off running too much tire pressure, add a few soft spots with wet tires and that made for a rough start. After letting a little air out of my rear tire I was riding better. We started at the campground and headed up to lot 17 and then took the grass service roads over to N Poosey. The grass roads were not cut super short so it took a lot of power to get thru and it isn't a short distance to get there either, the return trip was worse because we were tired and riding straight into a strong headwind. Once over at N Poosey Coach took me on a trail that I hadn't been on before, he told me there was a steep hill on it but I had no idea what I was in for. We came up over the top and my eyes got HUGE and my rear squeezed tight!!! I tried to take the outside line but saw real quick if I dropped in it would not be good so I stopped and watched Coach finish his descent. He turned around to see me at the top of the hill and yells "what are you doing?" I told him I took a bad line so he yelled "well go back and do it again". I have to admit it was very nerve racking, as I rolled up to it Coach yelled "keep your weight back". I rolled over the edge and rolled over a small rock toward the top and was committed to the ride down. I feathered the brakes but didn't let myself go too fast, it would be real easy to get out of control (and I like control). I was behind my saddle completely and my rear was hitting my back tire and I still felt like I could go over the handle bars if not careful. When I got to the bottom Coach said "Turn around and look at it" so I did and then he smiles and says "Good thing you rode it before you saw that isn't it?" It was intense, the more I ride it I hope it is no big deal, it was obvious it was no big deal to him and probably not to several of our riders but it shook me up a bit.

We went to another hill that Coach said he hadn't been able to climb for years, it was a doosey. We ended up throwing off some rocks that were momentum killers and it was easy to see what line you needed to take. Coach ended up climbing up the hard part, I only made it up about 1/3 of the way before I spun out. I tried several times but kept spinning out, it was pretty soft. I think if it was dry it is very climbable now. I walked my bike up the rocky section and then turned around and rode down, now that was fun!! We went back up all the way to the top of the service road and then rode all the way down together, now I know about more places to go and play.....if I can remember how to get there.

I'm going to feel that in the morning.

Went out and did the Monday night ride and just going thru town I could tell that the ride was going to hurt. When we hit old 190 I asked James if someone was bleeding because it was obvious Coach could taste blood. I don't know what we avg for the ride (my computer hadn't been reset) but we were hauling tail the whole way. The last climb going up Springhill toward Fair st was super painful tonight, that hill is usually tough but tonight it was brutal. I stayed with James until half way up and then he dropped me like I was standing still, and no offense to James but I don't think he sped up (I just all but stopped I think).

Rolfe was back on the bike tonight, I was good to see him again. He was suffering but he rode really well.

Missed Racing This Weekend

There was some serious cross racing this weekend in Parkville and I had to miss it, turns out I make more money working than racing.....oh wait, I don't make any money racing. I sure hate missing out on the races, the experience gained is a huge thing to miss out on. Also in my opinion, racing is the best training, you can't always put out the same effort on the practice course as you can going head to head with dozens of competitors. No one out there to cheer you on like the races, (can you wait a minute, I need to ring my cowbell). There now I feel a little bit better, okay I really don't but there will be other days for me to race. The Berryman Epic is 3 weeks from today, I still haven't done much in the way of long rides to be top notch. I am not worried about the distance (55 miles) but I hate not being at my best for a race. I guess I can't be at my best for them all, I would just like to be at my best for at least one. I am looking at the Berryman Epic more as a fun race for me, I will be competing with mostly expert level riders so I can't expect to finish high in the rankings. Kind of like racing the Lumberjack, mostly expert riders except for the PRO RIDERS, I was just glad to make it farther along this year before the pros lapped me!!

A Little Cross Practice Tonight

I went out to the Kline cross course tonight and did some laps, really only had one awesome lap, the rest were good but not great. I would rather ride with someone else so we help push each other. I did catch some air on one of the mounds, that was a blast, especially on a cross bike!! I am working on a new dismount, so far I like it much better than the step thru. I can carry more speed into the barriers and I can actually slide off my pedal into a stride, still needs some practice. I think that is one of those things that it doesn't matter how much you have done cross, you always need to practice (just like anything I guess).

Kid In A Candy Store

I felt like a kid in a candy store today, yep I went to a bike shop!!! Actually I wasn't too tempted to purchase items as I was there to get some repair work done. I thought I needed to get the brakes bled but they just needed new pads, especially the front pads (they were almost to the metal). I broke a hanger last night and evidently bent my cage on my rear derailleur also, he worked on it a bit and it is shifting much better now. Now I just need to get back out and ride some more, last night was a perfect night for riding.....hopefully we can get some more days like that soon.