Letter to the Editor

I wrote a letter to the editor at Bicycling magazine. Here is my note:

A few months ago I read the article "Peak Twice" by Michael Frank. I laughed when he suggested to take a week off the bike to have a stronger second season. Two weeks ago when I was out on a long Saturday ride and my legs were dead, Mike's words rang in my ears - take the week off. I did just that. I went to water polo games, soccer games, watched some football, and did almost nothing with the bike except apologize to the bike as it hung on the wall in the garage. When I got back on the bike tonight for the first time in 10 days, I felt excited just like a spring ride after a long, indoor winter but with the beauty of fall colors. Thanks Mike for the tip.

Maybe I'll get the free tools - then again, maybe not.

Zero and Water Polo

As I sat and rode my 65 miles last Saturday through the cold and the rain, my legs where heavy and not responsive. I usually get out and hit it hard for the first 90minutes, really pushing the pace. Then I take a 15-20 minutes lesser intensity break and then go back at it again for another 90. The was no pop in the legs. I just rode. My mind went back to an article I read in Bicycling Magazine a few months ago about taking a midseason break to restart motivation and fitness. I shrugged it off and kept going.

On Monday, I had planned on getting back on the bike. I get a call from Christine asking about my plans after work. Cassie had a game. I decided to heed the article's advice and take a week off. I went to Cassie's game and watched her team win. I went to her game again on Wednesday night and watched them win again. Christine and I traveled to Modesto and have enjoyed watching her compete and play in the Western States Invitational. Special thanks to my parents for watching the boys as we have been out of town. Supporting Cassie is important to us and being in Modesto is part of that support process. While we were here, we took advantage of being in Cali - like the sun and the food.
Nothing like a Double/Double with cheese animal style, side of fries, and a strawberry shake!

As I got up on Saturday, I could feel the body start to get that desire back, that need to ride. The week off the bike has proven to be a good thing mentally and physically plus I got to watch my daughter compete. It is all good. On Monday, I start getting ready for TdTucson in earnest.

Joy in Suffering

Would you ride if there were no hills?

A few days ago, my boss and I were talking about cycling in the area and how we appreciated the variety of routes that the area provided - rolling hills, steep short climbs, long climbs, flats, and all this in a wide variety of weather. He asked me if I'd continue to ride if there were no hills. He stated that when he moved to Ohio, he stopped because there were no hills and cycling became just pedaling with little challenge. I told him that I didn't know, there is a joy in suffering that comes from sitting on a long climb. There is something almost spiritual about sitting on a long climb. There is a peace and calm that comes when you start to suffer and know that it won't be over anytime soon.

Usually my mind begins to wander at first, thinking such things as - you've got to be serious, are you a moron, why do you punish yourself in this way, didn't we come up this hill a few days ago, you'r going to suffer bad today, can we only go halfway up, can we go at half pace this time - as if the mind is going through the various stages of grief until it realizes that the body is not relenting. The rhythm of the pedals calms down the thoughts and the mind gets focused. At some point, it all goes silent in the control room. All I hear then is the deep rythmic breathing, the turning of the pedals, the chain running against the cogs, the tires rolling against the pavement - I realize that it is me, the bike, and the road - Peace!

Would I stop riding if there were no hills? If I could find something challenging to movtivate me to get on the bike - sure I would continue to ride but I'd have to spend the time and the miles on the bike to find the hills. There is a joy in the suffering.

40 in 41

The weather is turning. Last Saturday was 60's, I got up today to ride before Conference and it was 41 degrees - this is OMG cold! Even so, I got on the bike and rode 40, making it 6 1/2 hours on the bike for the week and on track for getting ready for TdT in November.

I rode on a road today that I had not been on before. I found it on the Bicycling website. I had ridden by the road many times and a few times wondered where it went but never put my wheels on it. I had limited time so I figured to try it out since it fit in with my schedule. It was about a 4 mile loop off of the 240 and ties back in with Laughlin road. It is a nice climb for the first 2 1/2 miles. On the climb, I saw three raccoons scurring up the side of the road and then across it. Further up the road I saw several small groups of deer, nibling on leaves before jumping into the trees as I approached. As I crested the top of the climb, I looked to my left and was overcome with the beauty of the scene below. Here I was climbing through this tree lined road creating a tunnel, the leaves in varying colors of green, yellow, and orange. At the top, it opened up so that I could see the valley floor, covered in brilliant white low clouds as the sun was sending rays through breaks in the higher clouds. These rays highlighting greener sides of the hills with the higher clouds painted with blues, reds, pinks, and whites. Magnificent!

As I rode down the hill, I began to feel my legs as I started to get cold. I forgot that at about 1 1/2, the cold starts to creep in and the legs start to become uncooperative. This was the case today as I pushed through the cold the last 45 minutes. Although my body was physically growing colder, my soul and heart was warmed by the beauty I beheld. Even now, several hours later, it continues to warm. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to be there.