Hard Day

It was my first ride of the week today. Seemed like the perfect opportunity to burn off yesterday's extra calories, (though I managed to keep it under control). It was a group ride, an honorarium ride for a former member of the club who was diagnosed with Lukemia a few years back. He isn't doing well right now and is in hospice care. So we went out and did a ride for him today.

Unfortunately, I didn't have the legs I had even a month ago. There was a lot of climbing on this ride, and my legs are very sore tonight.

On the plus side, the weather was wonderful...high sixties to low seventies. More of the same tomorrow. And each day until mid week.

Looks like it's time to put some miles in.

Dull these days

It's too cold to ride. Well, ordinarily not, but since I'm fighting (pretty well I might add) the nasty head cold that made it's way through our home last week, I'm avoiding being sweaty outside when it's in the low 30's.

And I can't seem to motivate myself to hook up my trainer to ride indoors when it isn't raining outside.

Other things have been happening though...

I finished building up the old Trek frameset. Using some of my old parts, and some parts donated by the Beast, Kenny now has a bike most 16 year olds would kill for...OCLV Frameset, Shimano 9spd Dura Ace Shifters with Ultegra derailleurs, FSA compact crankset, an ITM Millineum stem, and a Specialized Carbon seatpost (the one that came on my Tarmac, since I'm using a lighter FSA carbon post). I put my old Spinergy Spox wheels on, since he's light enough that they'll still be stiff wheels for him. With the Speedplay X2 pedals, the bike weighs 17.5 lbs.

Now Twister has Kenny's old Trek 1000, and Brayden has Twister's old (43cm) Trek 1000.

Since we were all set, and Saturday was a nice day, I took the three boys out for a ride late Saturday afternoon. We did the greenway along Lakeshore, up the bottom half of Smyer to where the road is closed for repairs, and back again. A short 8 miles for Kenny, Twister, and me...a bit longer 8 for Brayden, who was on his first road bike ride ever. He did well, and I'm looking forward to spending more time riding with my boys. And Cathy too.

Russ and I are hoping to get out and do a short 25 or 30 on Friday, before we have to work at the Christmas Tree lot for the scouts. Kenny and Twister will ride with us, so it should be a good ride. I'm looking forward to Friday.

Up, Down, Up...

I'm speaking of the temperature.

Last Monday, it was okay, not warm, but not bitingly cold either. Tuesday it was a little colder, Wednesday, the wind appeared along with even lower temps, and by the time I left the house on Friday morning, bundled to the point I felt like the michelin man, it was just downright unpleasant.

Today, it'll be back up to near 70. Then raining and cold tomorrow. Then warm and sunny again on Wednesday.

But I'm determined to keep riding to work at least when it isn't raining. I worked too hard this last spring and summer to throw all that away by getting lazy now. If I keep pushing through, I know I'll come out in the spring faster for my efforts.

It's just more work than fun right now.

I just can't let it go...

Last night, on my commute home, I was noodling along, feeling pretty good. I had climbed up over Highland and down through English Village, through Mountain Brook Village and along the Shades Creek Greenway to Columbiana. Columbiana is the tough climb on this version of my route (Smyer is closed for repairs for the next 2.5 months), about 3/4 mile at ~8%. I had just started the climb, and thought I would just take it easy, spin up nice and slow and keep things under control.

BUT!

I was passed.

For about 2 seconds I didn't care. Then it registered...I was just passed. The thoughts spinning through my head...can I just let that go without a response? How can I call myself a rider if I don't at least try to take back what was mine?

So I shifted to a harder gear, stood up and started climbing. The gap started to shrink. Then it stabilized as the beam of my light became visible on the ground around him, and he, realizing I was coming, increased his effort as well.

Slowly I pulled up even with him and for the last 1/4 mile we traded tire-width leads until with 50 yards left I went hard and finally left him behind as I crossed the summit 15 yards in front.

Not a word was spoken between us. There was an inate understanding that this was a race to which we were the only witnesses. On the line? Nothing but the personal satisfaction of having beaten someone on a climb, and the establishment of the Alpha cyclist betwixt just the two of us.

I know that the next time we meet on that climb, he'll remember the time I beat him to the top, and he'll work harder.

So will I.