Putting away the trainer...

So is this Daylight Saving Time, or did we just get off of it? Who cares! All I know is, I rode my bike today after work.
Gregory and I only had time for 23 miles before it was dark. That's okay, I left everything on the road. Know what I mean? You cyclist do. We were not very fast, but that didn't matter, it felt good to push it. First the warm up chat, side by side through the neighborhood. Then as we swing out on to Centerville Turnpike, the traffic causes you to get single file and pick up the tempo. The rush of your senses as your heart rate jumps and cars are passing. No wind in the lungs for conversation now. Turn on to a much less traveled country road, but the cat's out of the bag. The speed will not drop until we hit the 'hood again, or my body gives up. Time to settle in to the rhythm, pull then recover. Over and over. Not at all like intervals on a trainer, I thought as I tryed desperately to grab his wheel after my pull. I found a little protection from the cross wind and grabbed a quick hit off the bottle. The Sun was fading fast, the shadows on the road longer, the temperature dropping. Nothing like a trainer ride. The pace usually gets pushed on the last long straight road before we get into traffic again, this time would be no different. Greg goes by me saying something about a lead-out. He went by me so fast, the Doppler Effect made it hard to understand. So what else could I do, but turn myself inside out to catch him. Not like any ride on the trainer I ever had. Soon we are in cool down mode, and back on speaking terms. Just in time for the Sun to slip away. We roll into the driveway, with the satisfaction of the pain. "Good ride, lets do it again soon!" Never said that when getting off the trainer.

A few pics from 09

A new years resolution?

It was nice to get off my lazy rump and ride new years day. 20 or so riders departed from Hot Tuna about 12:30. It was 43deg. and overcast, but with the right clothing, it was comfortable. Riding double file in the light traffic, and keeping a 19 to 21mph pace, enabled us to make conversation.

Everyone knows the weather is hard to predict. Everyone (yes, including me) complains about the local Weather Forecasters. I don't think you could make a good living with a title like "Weather Guesser ", or " Weather Estimator ". Somewhere in this conversation, I decided to give Weathermen (and ladies) a break.

Now, I have never been big on New Years resolutions. Yeah, you're going to lose weight, spend more time with the cat, solve world hunger... whatever you're NOT going to do, make it a resolution. However, I had a worthy idea : everyone should just give everyone a break! Being that this is doomed to fail, I decided to make it my "mission" to not be so hard on everyone.

Give the Meteorologist a break, they have nice enough hair to be on TV. Give you're parents a break, they had to raise you. Road Workers... give 'em a "brake". Give you're mechanic a break, you're car is a piece of junk. The waiter that didn't come back to refill the Tea for 15 minutes, that cigarette break kept them from urinating in said Tea. The moron that cut me off on the way home, I smiled and waved (with all 5 fingers) as I zoomed by with Flowmasters blaring. See, I could have run him into the jersey wall, but a break was issued. I felt good knowing that I didn't cause property damage or bodily harm.

Hopefully you can all join me this year in my generous break giving. Maybe I will be the recipient of a gracious gift of breakage. Realise that its a 2 way street, its not all about who has the highest gross vehicle weight, or the most airbags. Have a satisfying new year!
P.S. : My wife says I should give her a break too. I knew this resolution thing would crash and burn.

My first movie!

http://http//www.xtranormal.com/watch/5744103/
Click the link above to view a short movie I made!

My first Cyclocross race!

Line up.

Not sure where I placed. It doesn't matter, I had fun!