Flashback

This blog has been sitting idle for about a year....it's simply been a matter of time more than anything else. Too much to do and not enough time, so the blog gets left behind. But riding to work yesterday made me think about it as I had a flashback....

So there I am cruising along the Potomac on the Mount Vernon Trail, North of the airport and closing in on the ramp to the 14th Street Bridge, passing various riders, runners, joggers and walkers and just enjoying the morning. A rider headed the other way sports "Bikes USA" jersey and my brain takes a big leap backward in time.

The late 90s. I'd just started graduate school to get my MBA, adding to my load of working two jobs. After a few months, I realized I needed something to break things up and my thoughts went back to one of the greatest joys of my youth - riding a bike.

One weekend I drove over to Bikes USA and looked around. I wasn't sure how serious I was about returning to riding, so I didn't want to spend a lot. I decided on a Gary Fischer Hybrid that they were touting as a "sport utility bike." The cost was, well, let's just say I probably spent more on text books for some of those grad school classes. By the time I added in the necessary accessories - helmet, pump etc, it probably exceeded a textbook bill, but not by a lot.

Out I went, onto the neighborhood trail. It isn't long 6 miles maybe, with one hill (ok, I thought it was a hill at the time). After that got a bit dull, I went across the river to the Mount Vernon Trail. Every time I went out, I admired the riders on the road bikes. I envied their smooth, seemingly effortless pedal strokes and vowed that one day I would be like that too. I knew by then that cycling would stay in my life, the passion of my youth rekindled.

My brother gave me toe clips for Christmas that year. And shortly there after I learned exactly how fast I could come out of them to save myself from a fall when I hit a patch of ice over by the powerplant. I wasn't put off by the near disaster. Instead, I started thinking about SPDs. I got those a couple months later and only fell once on the first ride due to having trouble unclipping.

I rode a supported metric century and started thinking about a road bike. 9 months after getting the hybrid, I spent time visiting half a dozen bike shops, test riding until I found the bike that spoke to me. Part of me argued it was idiotic - I was spending the cost of a class on a bicycle! But the rest of me knew it was money well spent, at least as well spent as my education. I own several road bikes these days.

I realized on that commute yesterday morning, as I cruised along the river (now on my way to the office) that I was doing it with that smooth, effortless beauty I had envied back at the beginning.

Gotta Ride

Riding today really wasn't up for discussion - it wasn't a matter of I should do it because it would be good training, nor an ought to do it because I haven't had the option of riding outside for quite a while. It was a simple matter of must do it. Riding today was an absolute must - I needed to get out, I needed to get some sun and fresh air, needed to ride my bike when it wasn't clamped into a trainer. Needed sweat to evaporate naturally instead of spilling into my eyes while the fan failed to motivate it to evaporate.

It wouldn't have mattered that I had a new bike to take out on its maiden ride. Or new shoes to test out. But I did. Also new were the team bibs and team jersey.

The route is one of my favorites and I'm still trying to figure out how to hold a TT on in. I rode hard, I rode easy, I tested out the bike in a variety of ways, I chatted with this rider and that. Shook my head at Nancy...what is that tri penchant for absurdly low cadence? And 4 layers? Today?

Late in the ride, the fact that I've been on the trainer for the last month (25-30 miles typically) started to show. Ok, so I also fubared and didn't grab my bars (those of us with tree nut and peanut allergies really have to be careful about food!) so I was probably underfed a bit and I know I didn't drink as much as I should have. Flippin' stupid rookie mistakes. But no biggie, I can just dial it back and cruise the last handful of miles at a relaxed pace. All good cause I'm out riding the bike and getting adapted to it and the SRAM shifting system (love it!).

And then the strangest thing happened. I'm riding along - the rest of 'em are still in sight - and the road wraps around a farm field. In the middle of the field there's a deer. Just standing there. It was so still at first I thought it was a practice target. But no, it was a deer. And it watched me for a little bit and then decided I was a viable target so it started running at me, constantly adjusting its course as I pedaled along. I'm thinking WTF? Before it gets to the far side of the pavement, I decide it's time to dig beyond my fatigue and dig out some pace. Maybe this deer has talked to that squirrel that bounced off my front rim last year? No collision happened, happily my upping the tempo put me ahead of the deer when it crossed the road. But damn, what was up with that?

The rest of the ride was uneventful. Blake drifted back to make sure I was ok, which of course I was, but it's nice to have someone notice when you come off the back of the group.

Hats off Benny Budd (service manager) for the build on my bike and Chris Richardson for his meticulous attention to detail in tweaking fit and cleat placement. You guys at Bike Doctor Waldorf rock!

First win of the season

I scored my first win of the season on Saturday by laying down the best time of the Cat 3/4 women in the GamJams TT Throwdown (computrainer racing). It was suggested that maybe having built the course for the competition I had a better knowledge of it that others, but really, I only rode it once after it was done. And in truth I didn't have the best of days on Saturday - too much stress from the ice moguls of the road between my house and the main road. Bottomed out, got stuck had to shovel to get unstuck. High stress. And then everything was way off schedule when I got out to HPC, so the nutrition window was exceeded, another stressor. And I really prefer racing when I'm fresh, which means first thing in the morning, before anything else has had the chance to get in the way. So I had all the excuses lined up and ready to go...and then I didn't need 'em. Not a bad place to be in February, though I guarantee you that by the time I need to peak (August) my time on that same course will be much faster.

In truth what I did was use it as training anyway. I know I can go fast, really hammer, on the flats. But I'm just not a climber...so I tackled the course with the mind set of killing everything that was an uphill - be it 0.5% or 2.6% or the big finish of 8% - and just doing my best to hold on in the flats.

It was fun and maybe next year more people will give it a try. Better than driving to NC only to have one race canceled due to snow. :-)