March 17 Update

Well,
I wouldn't exactly say miles of smiles yet. 4-hours in the rain this past Saturday put me in the hurt box on Sunday. I managed to spend most of the day celebrating the BWE birthday with family. It suddenly became a good recovery day when I could eat ice cream cake and get to feed my nephew some oooewy gooey substance on a very small spoon, instead of being out riding on such a gloomy Sunday.

Training is coming along, speed is coming I think. Certainly putting in the time, but just having a more challenging time this year balancing life, work and training. It's been interesting this year, coming back from such a hard season of cyclocross and getting back to the road bike. I am just amazed to realize and think about the fact I literally hung up my road bike early August and spent the remainder of the year on my cross bike and mountain bike. I might have had one or two rides on it. Even today, the braking on my road bike still freaks me out a little, since I am not quite used to that again.

Local Road racing series is just around the corner, not sure how I feel about that yet. Paying money to race 50 miles is mildly-minimally exciting, compared to riding 50 miles on my new mountain bike at this point. But who knows, I might get a bur up my saddle and see where I compare, a year later with the youngsters.

My new Specialized mountain bike, new mtb race wheels, carbon bar is all here and has been for some time. I am waiting on the shop to build up the bike for 'warranty' brand issues. I understand, they don't get paid on Co. time, to put team bikes together and must get it done as time permits - customers first. But hey, I just want to fondle the bike and drool over it in my own house - you know? I think I have all the other bits figured out. There is not one Specialized carbon MTB crankset to be had in the US, until they get more in stock in April. So, that will be part of the plan I guess after Cohutta. I am going 2 x 10! Yes, I am a weight weenie. At my age, I don't mind paying for it.

Next Wed at this very time I will be in Asheville, North Carolina, getting my riding on for the 5th year in a row with some good old friends and some new good friends. I think it will be a smaller party of 11/12 this year. A good number and much easier to keep track of than 20 or 24! I have 5 great routes planned (Wed-Sunday) and think the weather will be way way better than last year. A trip to Lake Lure is planned, which should be beautiful, stunning and hard.

My website of the Year Award: http://ridewithgps.com


and a video to stimulate your senses: