Out like a Lion.

Again I had the day off.  Another cancelling customer.  While I played on the internet machine, drank smoothies, and did the menial tasks of a man who suddendly has 8 free hours.......I repeatedly thought 'I should be out riding!' .  No .  No riding. I race tonight.  The first Mid Week Criterium race of the season.  As the time progressed towards the scheduled 7-something start time the winds grew more angry.  The light rain turned to sleet and the sky got dark.  (the sky was angry today my friends.......like an old man sending back soup at a deli).

I drove rather than ride to the course in anticipation of its cancellation.  There is Fagan and crew standing beneath the tent.  They tell me I don't want to race.  I agree.  That said, I sort of do want to race.  I want to see how long I can hold up in this chill.  It was 3 degrees.  Raining.  Sleeting.  Windy.  Maybe 12 men showed up in total.  Some left.  Some stayed in their cars.  I think 7 raced.  I was one of those fools.  I lasted 3 or 4 laps.  The cold was ripping through my cotton-like shoe covers to the point my toe nails were lifting off.  My legs felt like they were 70lbs heavier than before I started.  I noticed that Andy and Krys were still watching from Andy's mini-van.  The temptation was too great.  I received a warm reception and warm towel.  Nary a word about how I pulled out.  What a team!!!   Regardless, they stopped the race maybe 20 minutes later.  No one complained.  This weather is insane.

Good Friday we race again.  It'll be tougher than last Sunday.  But so will we.

Belgian Style Abbey Ale: Inspired by the authentic Trappist breweries, these strong (usually 6-9%abv) , fruity, malty beers are a welcome addition to any party , drinking session or as reward for several long pulls after a 80km training ride.  Try and Affligem Blond or Leffe Brune.  

Rock Soldiers

What a weekend.  Or what a week to be more precise.
Wednesday :Milton ride
Thursday: Worked all day, all night.
Friday  :Worked all day , all night
Saturday: Worked all morning.  Rain and sleet all day-no riding.
Sunday: get up at 5:00 to drive up to Calabogie Speedway to race at 11:15.
Summation: Little sleep, and no riding before a big race leaves me feeling not ready.

.                                  Got all my stuff laid out.  Nothing missing except my legs.

It only took me 6 tries to get a decent pic of these guys.......

The drive up to Calabogie was a little unzipped.  It would go from sunny to rain and sleet with no notice.  I prayed to the gods of Meteorology that Calabogie would be spared the onslaught that my windshield was currently enduring.  I have to admit, I wasn't there in time to see the Master B womens race or the Master 3 race.  But Ann got a 3'd and Phil and Dave got 6th and  32nd respectively .  Awesome results especially considering it was their first races.

We took our spots at the line.  The track was dry.  It was windy as hell, but dry.  I'll take wind over wet.  But only just.  We all took off and the 4 of us (Andy, Marco, Emilio, and me) all went to the front.  Stayed there for the whole race.  We knew we had a job, and goddamit!!!!!! we were going to do it.  control the race he says????  Hells yeah we did.  Marco chased down several attacks and was the real bruiser of the pack.  Emilio too.  I never knew Emilio was that strong.  Andy , being the strongest of us went off and a few attacks but got reeled back in.  On the 2'nd or 3'd last lap he got away with a strong Ottawa guy ( I think he won it last year) and we slowed things down and let them open a large gap.  After a while several guys were yelling that a chase had to begin, and that we were not going to help...................but they couldn't get their shit together  which left andy and Ottawa boy to sprint it out.  It the best race I have had.  At least on the enjoyment scale, rather than the results scale.

ENTER: ONTARIO CYCLING ASSOCIATION


Andy beats the guy in the sprint to the line by 2 or more bike lengths, but is told (mistakenly) that they have 1 more lap.  Collectively they pull off another lap whereby Andy loses this sprint.  How the hell can the race officials screw up on the last lap and let the leaders do another lap and not the rest of the pack.  We all did 15 laps, the leaders have to do 1 additional lap?   Come on...................

Andy : 2nd place.
Marco:9th
Emilio:18th
Trevor:20th

Master 1 race with Stan, Marc and Krys went a very similar way to the Master 2 race.  Marc and Stan  controlled, or partially controlled the front of the pack for a big portion of the race, with Krys in a break with Bruce Bird (Wheels of Bloor) and 3 other dudes whom I don't know.  Their break was strong and they were never going to get caught. The highlights of their race was that the blizzard started up again a few times during their race, and the wind was worse than in our race.  Last lap Bruce gets a flat.  Then something happens with Krys's cassette and he can't shift.  He loses the sprint.  Vic Pwu gets 25th in this, his first M1 race.  A good day for everyone from Toronto.

Krys: 4th
Marc: 10th
Stan:12th

                                               Moments after the M2 race a blizzard moved in

                                                          Dr. Booth putting the hurt on the pack

  Stanislav  before he took his gloves off.  Literally

                                          

Krys on the break. Last lap

Run to the Hills

I had the day off today.  Rode from Mississauga to Milton.  Basically took Eglinton west until (I think) Sixth Line, headed north and turned left at Derry.  Made my way over to Steeles and rode up an down the escarpment a few times.   That hill, as well as the climb up Appleby to Rattlesnake are serious climbs.  I mean, not Mt Washington, Tenerife, or Passo Dello Stelvio style but still tough if you consider most of my training is around Mississauga with not a lot of up.  The entire ride home was into a headwind with a fair amount of traffic.  I am guessing it was just over 100kms today.  No computer on that bike, so I'm guessing.

Here is the view that I did NOT see today while doing my hill intervals

Here is Vic after finishing the climb seen in the first photo

Vic races for Wheels of Bloor, and usually goes somewhere exotic for spring training

This was one of the views from atop MT. Washington.  Serious climb.

I think I did it in 1:20:43

Here is the base of Steeles Ave in Milton, doesn't look that impressive in pics but it's a steep hill

                                                              the view looking down

                                                                       The view afterwards.....

This isn't science fiction, it's real fiction!!!!

What a day today.  I can't believe I had to work indoors all day.  I definitely should have have cancelled my work today, and traded it for a hearty 120km spin.  Anyways.........tomorrows day off will remedy that error.

I ate lunch in one of Toronto's many secret underground malls.  I imagine no one actually knows how many malls are underneath the city, along The Path, and under every other huge building.  This one was at Yonge and Sheppard.  I enjoyed a delicious and fairly wholesome Extreme Pita.  That word (extreme) still really appeals to my generation.  Extreme.  Makes me feel like a real rebel.  Or at least a serious risk taker. No one ever used to use the words 'extreme', or 'random'  until like 15 yrs ago. No one ever uses 'raging' which is one of my favorites.     I also  like 'intense'.  Always seems like a cool 'go to' word for me.

                                                         Is that how you spell Heineken?

After lunch I went back to work at the Frog and Firken across the street where I was startled to see not one Belgisch Bier on their beer menu.  I understand it was an Irish Pub....but they sold crappy American beer.  Also some average Canadian beer.  So why repudiate all the delicious beverages brewed with such loving care from our friends way over in the land of bergs.  Anyways........I am heading out for a 90 minute ride down around the Lakeshore/Mississauga Rd South area.  Anyone want to join me....I do several laps around Indian Rd and that long fast road along the QEW.  It'll be extreme.

Gouden Carolous Tripel

I had a great ride today.  I didn't race the Tour of Bronte with the boys as I worked , but also the race didn't really appeal to me.  But Andy got second place!!!  NICE WORK!!!!

I practiced the new pedaling technique Krys has been trying to drill into my head.  I like it.  I wasn't previously aware that I was even doing anything wrong but after toeing in my cleats a little bit and keeping my knees inwards a bit closer to the top tube I think I can feel a bit more power transfer to pedals.  So I am going with it.

                                                                   that shirt rules

The sun was still up, but as usual I was alone.  Pulled off a pile of heavy duty intervals.  4 fast laps 2 recovery laps. Repeat.

I can't wait to get my new new Rotor stem and put  my new Deda Phazer bars on the Guerciotti.  Of course I will post a pile of pics.  Best bars ever.

                                                                                                                                             Pic by Atkinson

Tripel: a style of ale developed by Belgian Trappist monks, a tripel should be golden in colour , not overly fruity in flavour and 8-9% abv. Most often with a blonde label, this style perfected in the Chimay White Cap and St. Bernardus Tripel, but originated by the Westmalle Tripel.

A show of hands if you miss Chi-Chi's.

April 8th.  Friday.  End of the week.  Fridays generally equal an evening ride, a couple of Biers, and something good for dinner.  I accomplished all 3.  Rode the Mid Week course for about 70 minutes.  Mostly spinning.  Took a few of the fast corners really quickly just to make sure I was still alive.  Then Krystoph pulled around the bend heading towards me with his head down.  If Craig Fagan would have seen him with his head down like that he would have sent him home, or relegated him to back of the pack.    So I rode home with him.  As we rode down the dark streets he elaborated on some areas of my riding that are of concern to him.   We practiced the correct technique for a while and then I turned off.  As in high school I find a 1 on 1 teaching style to be a lot more effective.

                                                              Dissatisfied Blackberry user

When I ride at night, which seems to be happening more and more with amazing frequency I wonder about how many riders and racers never ride at night.  I get to enjoy almost no traffic, maybe even see the tail end of a setting sun.  Or at least the pinkish stain on the sky that I think pollution and the atmosphere combined with diminishing light can create.   Mostly I like the cool wind and the quiet.  It's the closest thing to riding  way out on a country sideroad with only your own thoughts as company for suckers like me who live in the city.
Man I miss Kitchener.  Even London.  The racing wasn't as good, but the riding was untouchable.

As for the other 2 accomplishments.................I am again enjoying a couple of Hoegardens, and I had an Organic Peanut butter and honey triple decker sandwich.   Feeling a little sassy, I decided to microwave it.  BINGO!  Another winning idea by the T-Wrecks.

Audi 5000

Epidemic, permanent disease

January and February of this year I drank maybe a 6 pack in total.  I was trying to get into shape and drop a few pounds.  I never really identified any discernible weight loss that I could attribute to the absence of beer , since I was also riding 60-90 minutes a night 5-6 nights a week.  Then I went out and rode for 8 days in Florida and had a couple beers everyday.  Still , with proper eating and riding the weight slowly declined.

I'm left feeling that unless you are pounding 5 or 6 or more  beers a night that drinking doesn't mean shit.  I have at least 1 Devil beer every night with dinner.......maybe 2.  For the advantage not drinking may give my racing, it would reduce me to  a broken man.  Beer is in my soul.  Like Metal.  Huskies.  Fighting (in the gym), and riding.

So if the time comes that I am so close to winning M1 races that a more strict diet and the total absence of alcohol would make the difference I may change the blog title to No beer, strong legs.

I have friends that don't even know what a sweet Belgian Blonde tastes like.  I can't imagine not coming home from a hard ride, or a crazy day at work and cracking a bottle and filling its respective glass, admiring it for a moment and then giving it a good home.

Tonight , I think I will reach for a long neglected Hoegarden.

I did , afterall, ride the criterium course and the Explorer loop for almost 2 hours today .  By myself.  I like how the roads seem to be salt and sand-free right now.  I am imposing my will on the fast corner after the descent.  

                                                   Looky, looky, is that Marco behind me?

Enemies fill up the pages, are they me?

It's the last day of March, and damn this cold weather.  Where is this damn global warming when you need it?
Due to work and family obligations I wasn't able to ride today as I had hoped.  It was pretty warm and would have been a great day to go out to  Milton and ride up and down the escarpment.

Anyways, I had a fantastic dinner.  Great fuel for a hard push around the Mid Week Crit Course.  I ride there a lot in the summer if I can't get out enough during the day.  Although the scenery doesn't change much I can't say I don't enjoy some of the benefits to riding loops in a quazi-industrial park alone at night.  There is no traffic to speak of.  The loop is fairly well lit.  When it's hot and the night time sprinklers come on to water the grass a nice cool mist fills the air around the wide bend before the slight uphill grade.  The other nice thing is that I can practice taking the one fast corner from different lines without anyone in front of or behind me.  I can even scream "whoooooooooooooh!!!!!" like Ed Veal does when I cross the line alone.

Tonight was no different. Only much colder.  It seems the city has swept the roads so my fears of pitching it around the corners were alleviated, and still no cars.  No other riders.....but still nary a car to be seen.

I have a similar day planned for tomorrow.  Work, daycare pick-up, dinner, playtime, bathtime, bedtime.  Then back to the crit course.  Taking the Guerciotti tomorrow.

                                                              Boo-to-the-yaaaa!!!!!!!!!!

What would Mario do?

Tonight was my first night riding with the new team in 2011.  Almost everyone was there.  Marco, Stan, Krys, Andy, Emilio, Joe and a couple of new guys-Phil and another I didn't actually meet.    We were riding 2 wide and what I thought was going to be an easy ride turned into a friggin' dogsled pull.  As soon as Krys and I got to the front he made us drive a punishing (to me) pace that I was barely able to hold.  Add to that the fact it was now below freezing outside and the wind was picking up.  Florida was a little nicer.

Last week when we got in from training we had a salad, maybe a beer and then a swim.   Tonight I had to wait for my frozen toes to uncurl, then shiver my way through the assembly of a hot chocolate.

I brought my camera to snap a few pics but the pace was such that if I had struggled to take it out I would have gotten dropped like lapdog.

Tomorrow I am hoping my pal David will join me for some easy paced hills in Milton.  I need to recover from last week still.  And tonight.

Freewheel Burning

Dropped the munchkin off at daycare this morning. Then went riding.  CP24 said it was about -4 degrees.  That's sort of been my ceiling for enduring the cold.  Any colder and it's just not fun or safe.  Hands don't grab brakes quickly enough and I feel if I crash my frozen bones will snap.  I pulled out my Khaybar and gave my Prince a little respite after the hard week in the south.  Can't tell which bike I like more.  Maybe the edge goes to the Khaybar since it has Campy and not Shimano

Here's what I had to wear in order to keep from freezing.

Assos spring socks.

Sidi Ergo II shoes

Assos shoe covers

Sugoi full length leg warmers

Assos Mille bibs

Assos DB short sleeve jersey

GSG insulted arm warmers

Hincapie wind vest

Champion System insulted Jacket

Merino Wool Trainer

Sugoi lobster gloves

Sugoi toque 

Vermarc cap

Rudy Project transitions glasses

Rudy Project helmet

I was sweating like a pig when I got home, but my feet were a bit frozen.  I should have worn insulated shoe covers.   

65kms in this weather earns me 1 Duvel.   I am going to bank it for tonight.

two more Stella's gentlemen?

The temp has been perfect down here.  Marc loads up on sunscreen, I don't use too much.  By 'too much' I mean not any.  Marc has the Canadian blood ......I have the South African blood.  The sun means nothing to me.  It's cancerous rays bounce off of me like raisins on an Oldsmobile.    The only bad thing is that I have  a serious farmer tan.   So it's 'shirt's on' at the beach unless I can get rid of it.

Today we did the loop from Clermont to a town called Howey-in-the-hills and then past there for a bit.  There is a pretty nice little German bakery out there with a fantastic patio in the back.  We even met other Ontarians there today.

                                                 A sideways fire hydrant?!?!  Has this world
                                                                   gone topsy-turvy?

Anyways, we did 98kms today.  Most of it was intervals, or tempo.  Lots of hills.  And pretty fast.  the roads are pretty nice out here.  No potholes.  Few cracks, but some sand on the corners.  Not a lot of Redneck F-150 driving hill-billys giving us the finger.  But still a few.  I saw my first Armadillo today, just chilling by the side of the road.  Also lots of turkey vultures.  They are huge.

The pubs are pretty cool as well.  No matter where we go the beer is cheap.  The Stellas and Blue Moons tonight were $3.00 a pint.  Food was also awesome. Kellys Irish Pub!!!!!  Boom!!!!! I never want to leave this place.

Toronto has a pile of snow right now.  It''s really going to suck if I have to get back on the trainer.  

Listen, your either gonna race or you're not gonna race!!!! I'm not gonna argue with you!!!!

Today we awoke with no power in the hotel.  The whole side of town was down.  It didn't matter much , our race didn't start until 11:30 or so.  By the time we hit the start line it was pushing 90 degrees.  Searing heat.  The sunblock we had on was on thick.

             Even a $65 a night motel has a pretty inviting looking pool....at least to Canadian's in March.

About 40 or so guys were in our category, but there were 3 main teams.  Z-Motion, Rossetelli,  and the Heineken guys .  The Z Motion guys appeared to be the strongest.  This race was supposed to be about 115 kms but everyone complained it was too long long to race in this heat.  They dropped a lap and made it about 103 kms.

The first lap started fast.  I was breathing really heavy.  I began to wish I had never told anyone that we were racing in Florida, as the trip was originally just a training trip....but slowly turned into a racing trip.  I wanted to race but I always have found I suck in early season.  Anyways,  during the second lap the pace seemed to creep up fast.  I was  in a bad  position near the back and I got totally blown out the back.  No way of catching back on.  the wind was really strong and seemed to be hitting us in every direction.   For what it's worth, I wasn't the first or the last to fall off the pack but then I turned into the waterboy for Marc.

Marc held on strong in the front 10 or so for the rest of the race it seemed.  Drank 6 bottles of water in the 2.5 hrs of the race.  When the leaders came through for the sprint finish the first 2 guys were moving really nice.  It was nice to see a sprint finish, instead of a bunch sprint.  Marc had attacked 1/3 the way through the last lap in an attempt to catch the leaders but just didn't have the time.  He got 6th, but crossed the line a good 15 seconds ahead of the main group.

                                                         There's a new Watson in town!!!!

Later we got home and looked at the power splits for each lap and compared that with my getting hammered into the ground on the second lap.  Marc's wattage hit over 1100 watts right around the same time I got dropped.  That laps average wattage (296) was 30 watts higher than any other lap.  Had I been able to suck up that 1 lap I would have been able to finish strong instead of typing this confession of loserdom.

                                             Here is an awesome restaurant we didn't go to...

Regardless, We are putting in more hard kms all week here and around Clermont, Orlando and wherever.  Also doing a club race on Wednesday.  Will post pics on Friday when I get home.

word.

I almost threw up in the Starbuck's restroom.

Thursday morning we landed in Orlando.  That airport is the worst.  The worst.  Maybe it's really just the same as most American airports though where they have to do a crazy security check 3 or 4 times and keep you waiting for hours to get back your racing bike.  C'mon, what kind of terrorist devise can I hide in a bike?  

Thursday afternoon.  70kms,  86 degrees. Strong pace.  Lots of hills.   Tons of cyclists.  1 redneck pick up truck driver gave us the finger.  Must have seen our enormous packages and become enraged with jealousy.  There are pretty good hills out here.  Everyone says Florida is flat, but it's as hilly as Ontario.  Maybe  if you leave out Milton and Collingwood it's the exact same.

                                                    That green habanero sauce was primo!

Friday Morning.  Mid eighties.  50kms.  Also a strong pace.  Just not too long.  We had to beat feet down to south of Miami and check into our hotel and get our race numbers and timing chip.  5 hour drive.  We have a black Kia.  Great on gas, lousy A/C.  When we arrived and unloaded we went for what was intended to be a short 1 hr spin around town just to spin out the legs in prep for the next morning.  It turned into the Lycra version of "Boys in da Hood".   We rode through the total ghetto suburb of Miami.  It was total Compton.  Every car had huge chrome wheels,  every house has a  a steel fence and gate, and there were Pit-Bulls everywhere.  Not nice Ontario Pitbulls.  These looked like the Pitbulls that are the ones that sparked the breed specific ban in Ontario.  That was the scariest ride I have ever done.  We turned around after 5 or 6 kms.

Just as we couldn't find any place good to eat last year in North Carolina, it's pretty hard to find decent food here too.  There are millions of restaurants,  just nothing that bears any semblance to a healthful food option.  Sadly, we settled on Applebee's.  The Pasta dinners were pretty good.  Then today we went back and I had the steak , baked potatoes, and seasonal veggies.  Again , pretty good.  cheap too.

The beer is cheap , but pretty tasteless.

We raced the circuit race this morning.  Maybe 40 guys in our category.  most looked very fast.  Lean and fit.  Mostly, tanned as hell.  What they were telling us is that their racing season starts in right after Xmas and ends around the end of April.  So these guys are flying right now.  For me, although I have been training all winter, I have only been outside maybe 3 times in 2011.  So my goal was to just stay in the pack.  The first race was just under 1 hr.  It was pretty fast.  I hung on strong until the last lap.  I was really sucking wind, then some dolt from Z-Motion takes my line and we rub wheels really badly.  In true XC race fashion I manage to keep it upright  but that little jolt and the accompanying clicking in my front wheel sort of helped blow me out the back.  I dropped off and crossed the line alone.  Maybe second or third from last.  Disappointed and dissolutioned I rode back to the hotel with Marc, barely talking.  Marc got around 15th place or so.     About 4 hrs later we had to return for the Time Trial.  Not my forte at all.  Other than I feel that I paced myself well, there is not a lot to say about a time trial.  I think I did well.  I was at least happy with my effort.  Marc was also happy with his.  Although we haven't seen the official results yet.

Tomorrow we go back for the road race.  115 kms, and its going to be near 90 degrees.  Marc overheard some local racers complaining to the officials about the race .  They want it shortened because of the heat.  Hoping to do a bit better tomorrow.   Will post race results afterwards.

Going for dinner in Key Largo tomorrow night.   Booyaa!!!!!!!

Honey!!!!! Where's the stuff I stole from that Apiarist?!?!?!?

 

No seriously though.  I have always kind of considered myself a bit of a sandwich aficionado.  If I find a good sandwich place, I like to frequent it.  I enjoy the meat sandwich.  Oh man, there's nothing like a good turkey breast sammy, or baked chicken sammy to accompany a delicious bier. Recently though I have re-discovered a very old favorite.   One that my little brother lived on until he was 15.  Arguably one of natures finest kitchen creations.  The Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwich.  Hells yeah, You may have thought I was going to say something mental like Tuna Salad or something with Mayo on it.  Screw that, I'm a purist.  I won't bastardize a helpless quick and easy meal buy adding crap like that.  I didn't get my a 60% in grade 11 foods class for nothing.  But the PB and H sandwich can be mocked several ways.  You can use shitty PB like Kraft , Skippy, Jif or some generic version that's loaded with hydrogenated fat and salt, or you can get real peanut butter.  The kind with only one ingredient.  Peanuts.  Now, if you do get the real deal, you have to refrigerate it, onacounta it has no preservatives .  I also recommend stirring it while it's room temperature, then put it in the fridge.  It's hard to stir when cold.

Honey. It's so often overlooked.  Who really uses honey in their adult years?  Maybe you give it to kids, or to trick your dog or a bear into eating something .  Maybe even you use it for some lemon tea if you're feeling kinda swishy.  But pour a few tablespoons of it on on a fresh peice of bread , already dosed with organic peanut butter and you have some good chow.    My new favorite honey is Presidents Choice Organic Wildflower Honey.  It's thick and doesn't pour.  You have to spread it like Marmite.  And it's nearly as good as Marmite, and doesn't ruin your breathe for the day either.

If you find some locally made million grain bread, and don't screw up with crappy honey or PB.  You have an awesome sandwich that you can take on a ride.  Who cares if it gets squished in your back pocket?  It'll taste better I bet.  Better than a damn cliff bar or an apple.  Who needs apple's anyways?  Most types suck anyways.  The Royal Gala is the only apple with a decent palmares.

I am going to have a nice little snack before bed.


Recipe:

2 or 3 slices of good bread
cover with Organic Peanut butter (crunchy or smooth)
Add honey to taste.  The more the better

Leave out the butter.  You don't want a heart attack. 

Heroic Doses

After eating not 9 but 10 suicide level chicken wings last night and drinking 6 pints of various beer I figured that today I better try to offset that damage  by having something good for me today.  The wings were as deadly hot as they were artery clogging.  Wild Wing has like 200 flavors of wings,  but only a few really hot ones.  The spicy numbers I inhaled were crazy hot, and I normally like really hot.  I administer healthy doses of Franks Extra Hot to almost everything I eat.  But my favorite hot sauce , by far, is Dave's Insanity Sauce.  Although it can also double as paint stripper, chain degreaser or clogged drain clearer. It's so hot but so tasty.  Pretty hard to find as well.   But something in those Wild Wings last night blew my socks off.  I will assume it's my lack of practice with the deep fried delicious little bastards.

Today's birthday supper was a winning design.  Salmon , with arugula and a boconcinni salad with some red vino.  Perfect blend of protein and good stuff for the growing boy.   

I rode the Mid Week crit course today.  It was nice.  The road was dry and had already met with a sweeper.  Of course I was the only one there.  Once I ran in into Rob D'Amico there in the evening.  Other than that I never see anyone out there and it's great because it's well lit, and there are zero cars.  I wish I could get some guys to come out and do a mock Wednesday or Thursday night race series.   I love racing that loop.

When I got home I struggled to open the door with my bike in hand with my helmet and shoes and a coffee and , sadly, the door slammed shut and put a nice little chip on my drive side chain stay.  Sucked ass.

Perspective

I was standing at work today and a strange rush of dull pressure came over me.  I knew what is was right away. My little boy has been sick all week.  It had to happen.  My joints hurt, my back hurts, my bones all hurt, my knuckles hurt, my hair even hurts.  Less in the spot where it's thinning, but for two reasons I became bummed out.
1) It's my birthday this weekend and I have plans to go to Kitchener, hang out with some pals and teach a lesson  to a few cold Belgians.
2) I am scheduled to race in Florida next week.

I really didn't want to have to use an excuse for doing poorly next week.  If I can't ride this week, or at least can't ride hard, that is just going to compound this light week.  I worked several nights this week and wasn't able to train everyday.  So yeah, I was a little pissed the second  I felt the flu-like symptoms hit me with their triangle choke accuracy.

Then we watched the BBC news on the computer.  We saw all the death, and destruction in Japan.  We all watched the video clips in horror,  equally happy that we're not there as we were sympathetic to the people who are living in that chaos.    We have nothing to complain about here in Canada.  It's rained for the last few days.....who cares?   Beer prices are expected to rise by 33% in the next few months?.....pish posh.  Gas is at an all-time high?  Whoopie-Dee Look at Me!!!!   I am still going to Florida.  Still racing.  May not do as well as I thought I would have 12 hrs ago.  Maybe tomorrow I will wake up and feel much better.  Not sure.  Not that worried either.  My family is warm and safe.  I have 2 jobs that I like.  I have several awesome bikes that are waiting to be hammered on .  When I feel more like my normal lucky self.