Something Anna Nalick once said...

We are as tough as we are fragile....
I made it out on Saturday meeting up with a bunch of people going out for a 75 miler+. I planned on doing 50 to 60 miles of it. The route is hilly and grinds you down. It was nice seeing so many out and nicer to have them ask after me...

We set out and right off the bat I slip my chain. One after another each rider passing asked if I was okay taking my nod as a signal to keep going on ahead. I would have it no other way. I don't ask anyone to wait for me. I'll do the work to catch up or ride alone. The way it is for me...

Five weeks ago I would have sat in pushed the lever and worked for as long as I needed and caught at least some of them somwhere along the route. My head and my heart were right there but my lungs still need conditioning. It goes fast, aerobic capacity. In fact you begin to lose benefit within 48 hours of last activity. It had been roughly 720 hours since any significant aerobic activity for me so do THAT math.

I labored to catch up but hung my head down over the bars too many times gasping for air...

Breathe...Just Breathe...

I took the hills full out, standing while gripping the drops white knuckled and weaving the bike in a sprint action to get over the hills fast enough to not have to worry about sucking air. Then used the downhill to recover while I breathed deep and full refueling the spent blood cells.

Having a limit imposed on how long I can maintain LTHR again just beats you down physically and mentally. But we are a tough bunch, cyclists...endurance athletes.

Breathe... Just Breathe... We'll get there.

I did 50 miles and felt good afterwards. Good for having decided to get out and push, good for hitting the hills and good for doing the 50.

Memorial Day I went out for another big ride going South to Englewood via 9W this time. The hills proved to be just so tough as I am just so far back on my aerobic capacity. I know it will come but still... We are as tough as we are fragile...

I went out with my friend Hoech who is a rocket and much faster than I at my best but still when he takes off I take off and charge hard to catch him despite little hope of doing so. Its the attempt that fuels me. But I just didn't have the legs or the air...

I am without a doubt by nature and nurture an impetuous rider/racer. I have a hard time holding back and prefer to go than be smart and lay in. So when the line of Team Organic riders went past me, a bright green freight train busting through the air I immediately took off to catch onto their wheel.

Breath..Just Breathe... I repeated that to myself as I watched them recede into the distance. That beat me down a bit.

Turning home I was blessed with that which a road rider dreams of when he's wrapped up tight in his blanket at night; A steady tailwind lasting for miles. That helped me hammer for a good distance lifting my spirits back up.

I saw Hoech here and there on the ride, couldn't blame him for constantly going off ahead and would have felt bad had he held back to stay with me... I pushed as much as I could and felt good about the ride afterwards.

Our bodies are fragile...

Jim061 is out of intensive care after having a van use him for a speed bump and he swears he'll be out riding in a couple months. That's tough!

Billie Holiday sang that "Into each life a little rain must fall". My friend Joe had the skies open up on him and his family over the last few years and he could not ride for a good long time. He is going back out on his bike today for the first time in a very long period. He's lost alot over the last few years, things that go beyond riding a bike, things that become lost forever except here in our hearts and minds and memories. He called me today after a long absence and it feels good to know he'll be out on those same roads again.

We are all as tough as we are fragile...

Breathe... Just Breath... (Anna Nalick)

I just registered for the CRCA Time Trial on June 8th... Breathe deep baby, the air up here is good!
Eric J