My Dark Side

Here is a fun exercise to put you in a really, really bad mood.

• Skip out of work early on Friday, drive 30 miles to 5 Mile Pass and pre-ride the ICUP course.
• Make your special pre-race dinner (spaghetti w/ cottage cheese)

• Spend time cleaning and dialing in the bike
• Wake up, force down some Oatmeal and a powerbar
• Drive 30 miles to 5 Mile Pass in the rain
  
• Pull up to the parking only to get confirmation that the race has been delayed and maybe postponed.
  
• Turn around and drive home.
  
• No ride. No race

It's one thing to not get a ride in, but it's a completely different thing to plan on racing, go through all the rituals, eat oatmeal, drive all the way out there, only to turn around and go home.

I wasn't in the best of moods on Saturday. In fact, I showed my darker side for most of the day.

Turns out. Plan B wasn't too bad. Took the kids swimming and then to Training Table for some greasy cheese fries. Rachelle did her best to cheer me up.

Racing is silly. I don't know why I get all worked up over it.

The House of a Cyclist

Drive by my house and you'll notice the fence door, detached from the fence, and laying on the ground. It's been like that since the early winter.

Come inside and you'll notice the blinds that hang over the sliding glass door to the back deck won't work. They've been like that for several months, maybe years. I'm not sure. Or the picture in our bedroom that has been on the floor propped up against the wall since Christmas.

The garage is full of clutter (although, I do make sure that we can fit both cars inside the garage). Stuff is out of place and there is junk everywhere. Except for the bikes that hang neatly on the wall racks.

Last night, we were going over our weekend plans. It went somewhat like this:

Rachelle - "What are your plans for this weekend?"
me- "Oh nothing, really.....(pause)...."But there is a MTB race that I'd like to do"
Rachelle- blink, blink....chirp, chirp
me - "But I don't have to do it. It's really not a big deal"
Rachelle - blink, blink
me - "What did you have in mind?"
Rachelle- "I'd like to spend some time taking care of our house"
me - blink, blink....chirp, chirp
Rachelle - Rambles on for 5 minutes about all the stuff that needs to fixed or put away

• Fix the fence door
• Remove blinds and replace with new curtains
• hang picture I bought for her at Christmas that is still on the floor propped up against the bedroom wall.
  
• Change hallway light bulbs
• Clean garage
• Work on yard
• Dust
• Set up a work space in bedroom
• blah....blah....blah

Why is it I can ride my bike for 10 hours straight and feel great but taking 30 minutes to fix the fence seems like an overwhelming project that I just don't have time for?

Cyclists are addicts. I'd never neglect my wife or kids (at least not intentionally) but I have no problem ignoring the house projects in favor for a ride.

Anyone know a good handy man or cleaning lady? If so, please send my way.

17 Minutes

That's how long it takes me to roll out of my garage, drop Clarks, and get to the EQ. Dropping Clarks at 6am this time of the year is cold. Try not to hit your fingers on any branches. They might shatter.

I met up with Tony and Jon for 2 hours of dirt before work. I'm always amazed that I have access to such a good network of trails from my house. Down Clarks to the EQ, Up Clarks to Jacobs, down Ghost, and up the Jeep road and home by 8AM.

I thought I would have Clarks all to myself to rip the downhill but I saw Cory and another guy coming up. Cory had been out since 5am and had his light on. I'm glad he did or I might have run him over.

I admit, riding that early in the morning, I'm always expecting to be ripped off my bike by a mountain lion. I still haven't seen one which is weird since I typically ride early in the morning or in the evenings.

After my encounter with a mountain goat, maybe I should be grateful I haven't seen any cougars yet.

5 Mile Pass this weekend. I'm still undecided but leaning towards racing. Anyone else?

Breakfast of Champions

Nothing compliments some training miles like a 20 oz bottle of Diet Coke and some little chocolate donuts.

I really should try to eat better. I'm a loser.

Brats n Bikes

RAWROD tomorrow. I'm looking forward to the road trip, the 100+ miles of dirt and the brat showdown tonight.

Dug- please leave your ambien at home.

Like a kid in a candy store

Monday- AF/Pine Hollow
Tues- Squaw Peak
Wed- Crank/Ireland loop
Thur- Sundance/Aspen Grove

The weather has been outstanding. I haven't had a normal lunch all week. Power bars and water for me.

I should probably hang a few air fresheners around my cubical. I'm pretty ripe.

The Meeting Invite

Had a lunch meeting with one of the big cheese Directors at work. He is always busy and it's hard to get time on his calendar. I had to get creative. I sent him this:

Date: Mon 4/20
Time: 11:30
Where: Parking lot
Subject: Parking lot to AF, up to Pine Hollow and back

He accepted.

We rode up to the Pine Hollow gate to check out conditions. You can go a few hundred yards past the gate until you start to see this:



Check out the view just an hour from my cubical. I still can't get over it.