hills, then mountains.

Image:  Unpleasant...post-sprint up the famous Powerline Hill just outside Lewisville, NC yesterday.  I love that one, but Mitch was not so kind as to give any respite, so I had to hammer the whole way.  I thank thee, Mitch.

Tomorrow, a small group of us is heading to the Blue Ridge Parkway for a 50ish mile ride.  I've never ridden the BRP with a crew before, so I'm anticipating a great time.

the mountains win again.

In a nutshell, the tour du life road race caught me by surprise. I know the ups and downs of the blue ridge mtns pretty well, but I'd never really raced among them.

Barry was facing the daunting Cat 5 field, while Mitch and I lined up with the Cat 4s. As mentioned on the CLM blog, we had some stiff competition. The action started quickly as a team of zebra-looking chaps assembled at the front in arrears of Mr. Boone-Roubaix winner. The parade of pain might as well have been a funeral procession for the CLM as first Mitch went backwards shortly followed by yours truly. I managed to pass two guys on the next ascent then catch two more on the long flat before Rush Branch.

On Rush Branch, I had to say goodbye to my two compatriots (thanks for the pulls, Zeb) as they climbed away from me. In the last 12 miles, it felt as if gravity had doubled. I crept up the climbs at caterpillar speeds and at length, cramps crept in.

I was passed by three guys from the race behind me in the last 5 miles, and nearly by a guy in my own field, but thankfully he faded (with my cramps) on the last climb.

12th place in the hardest road race I've done. Needless to say, I've got some work to do in the Mountain dept. Once I get my right hamstring back to reasonable functioning, I plan to do so. Perhaps a weekend ride in the mtns? I bet I can drag some CLMers with me (most are feeling animosity towards gravity at the moment).

Ok, so I just re-read this post and agree (as you're likely thinking right now) that it is boring. Don't fear, more posts of an irresistible and profound nature coming soon.

Back to the hills...

There's an omnium in Boone, NC this weekend and somehow I've been talked into doing it.  Ok, I really wanted to get back into a race after falling off the horse after Battenkill.  I didn't literally fall, just stopped training, started drinking more beer and eating fast food.  Yum.  The group rides have been fun, but I can tell that I'm easily 10% off my form from the beginning of April. 

That said, this will be fun no matter how badly I get shelled.  My CLM homie Mitch will be racing too, so plans will be to stick together and survive.  Even better, Coach and I plan to head home after the race and hit the Greek festival either that night or Sunday...again:  Yum. 

Pictures to follow on Saturday!

My Weekend

In a nutshell, since it is late and I should be in bed: 

Drove to Athens, GA late Friday night.  Crashed at hotel.  Got up early Saturday morning and practiced with the band.  Had lunch.  Went to Tasty World (a club downtown) for load in and soundcheck.  Got a slice of pizza, then played a set with the fellas (see above pic).   That rocked.  Then went one block up to watch Team Mountain Khakis race Twilight.  Unfortunately, they didn't make the break and had to chase for like, a zillion laps.  On the last lap, with 6 guys away, the field sprint was marred by a few crashes including one that took out our buddy Mark.  He's ok, but road rash ain't fun, no matter how little there is.  Had pizza with The Legend.  That was something.  Went to bed about 2am.  Got up Sunday morning, got a mocha from Jittery Joe's and hit the road back home.

Back in W-S now, and I'm considering the slim chance of becoming a full-time rock star versus the security of my current career path.  Do we really just get one shot at this life? 

Athens Twilight

Well, I got in two good rides this week but nothing very hard.  I almost feel lazy compared to the workouts I suffered through pre-Battenkill.  I can't help but wonder how much form I'm losing, or if everyone else is just getting up to Spring speed...or both.

No racing for me this weekend, but a good bit of it is on tap for my buddy Mark.  Athens Twilight is on Saturday, so we're hoofin' it down 85 to watch 'em go 'round in circles.  That last sentence had 4 apostrophes in it, only one of which was legit.  I must be getting slack in more than one aspect of my life!

Also, my old band is...you guessed it:  GETTING BACK TOGETHER FOR ONE MORE SHOW.  We just can't let it die, and for good reasons:  It's so fun, plus we aren't terrible so some people actually like to watch us bumble around on stage for 90 minutes.  The show is in Athens, and we planned it specifically to be over prior to the start of the Pro crit.  Love it. 

A week from tonight I plan to be in VA, camping prior to the Mule Hell-Roubaix ride.  We'll see how those plans pan out, but as for now it's a GO.

More pics and fun once I get back from Athens.  

Cycling and Other Things.

Beginning in December 2009, my training for the Tour of the Battenkill became an excuse to let other things go.  I would say Jill carried much of that burden by eating dinner solo a few times per week, and (somehow) surviving 3-4 hours of Saturday morning quiet time while I hauled myself all over the western Piedmont of NC.  I eschewed beer, needless physical labor, yardwork (which I do not consider needless), and sugar sodas (most of the time). 

Now that we're back, I've got some reorganizing, relaxing and catching-up to do.  For example, last night we had a few good friends over and I drank plenty of beer.  Not that I couldn't drink beer 3 weeks ago, but I would have thought about it.  Lame as that might be, it was real.  Today, we slept in, fixed a big southern breakfast and instead of strapping on the bike shoes, I put on some gloves, grabbed the shovel and got to work in the yard.  I am way behind in our plans to bring the front yard back to life, so carving out 6 hours for that today was 'make or break' in terms of getting grass seed down.  And I drank two cans of Pepsi while I did it. 

So now what?  Well, that gets me to another point:  It's time to practice something else - the guitar.  My old band is converging on Athens, GA next weekend for a show.  Not only that, we planned it such that we could play, wrap/pack-up, and get over to the Pro crit at Twilight without missing much of the action.  Why?  Our buddy Mark, who races for TMK/Jittery Joes is going to be there.  He won this race in 2007 and finished second in 2009.  Twilight likes Mark and Mark likes Twilight.  Argus likes Athens and Athens likes Argus.  Why not?

After that, I plan to keep the iron hot by hitting up Mule Hell - Roubaix in southwestern Virginia.  Not a race per say, but I know how these rides go...

After that, it's more training in June before the Piedmont Triad Omnium in July.  This is a signature Piedmont event and I'm happy to be a part of the medical team covering it.  I also plan to ride the road race, which has been kind to me in the past. 

So, we'll see how this change in priorities and eating habits effects my riding.  I think Jill might be just a little sad about losing her Saturday morning quiet time, however...

Second Wind?

Considering this.  Looks fun!

http://www.mulehell.com/