Back to the Roads

I hit the roads with the team tonight after nearly a week off from any hard riding. It was pretty brisk out there! Mat and Russ took a flyer from the group before we got to Frierson and the rest of the ride consisted of chasing them. As Russ said, it was nothing but little nuclear bombs being dropped out there and I believe him. The hardest part for me was after we passed through Frierson, Arnold (who's incredibly fast on a bike for a 62-year-old....I'm serious, he's fast) and I slept a moment and let a huge gap open up between us the main group...we spent the next couple of miles chasing back on....more than a few times the two of us wanted to give up. It was like we had the group in our grasp but couldn't close it, very frustrating and very tiring. I hate going 28 mph in a training ride and not close a gap in that section of the ride. But we did finally hook on and we sat in the next couple of miles to regain our lungs. Then, before we got to the I-49 overpass, four others took off...because they could...and the rest of us worked the next 5-6 miles chasing them down. We finally caught them on a large hill on Linwood but it was killing us to do it. I led a charge over the other side of the hill to catch the remnants of that group. Then the rest of the way on Linwood was just cranking it out to see who'd heave a lung first...I tried to win that contest but couldn't do it. There are times it's pure agony to push that bike as hard as I do but then it's also pure joy many times. It's fun in it's own punishing way and I do enjoy the experience every time, no matter how much it hurts or if I get dropped and left behind. I guess it's elegant and spiritual to me.

Jonnene had her own hard ride, too, and was complimented on how well and steady she rode. I already knew that but it's always nice to get an unsolicited compliment. Her group wasn't exactly just touring around...they were putting on their own speed clinic despite the wind that was blowing around out there tonight. I was impressed with what I heard. They spent a good chunk of time hovering around the 22-23 mph mark on the way back and that's not bad at all.

Actually started doing some work today. I forgot that it can be fun (sometimes) to be busy and accomplishing things. Had lunch with Dad. He and my step-mom are going to Arizona to visit his sister and he's looking forward to it greatly. I rarely see him so excited to make a trip...he really enjoys it out there and loves the area. I know he'd move there if he could.