Back in business

So lately its been a series of setbacks. Very frustrating considering the transition from last season to this season was about the best I’ve ever had. Played the game of backing off to get rest, but not too much better than any prior year. I also think last season in the M123s helped in that regard.

This season after a great start and awesome power numbers for me, I came back from a small cold only to get the damn nasty flu bug a months later that wiped me out for a solid week or so. I'd been really carefull about not pusing too hard, but to no avail. Then the dreaded dustbowl allergies strike again. I’ve been diagnosed with exercise/allergy induced asthma. The asthma condition developed last year and I stubbornly pushed through it, did not go to the doc and had a miserable March/April with things starting to come around in May. This year same thing – cough from the allergies and pounding headaches. Got dropped on the team ride on Sat., hacked my guts out, puked and had to ride back solo half way around Folsom Lake with a pounding headache and pure frustration. Rode a pathetic 1.5 hours coughing my guts out on the TT set up on Sunday. Lookin’ down at my wheels you could see a yellow film – nasty! So the confidence was way down with riding and wondering if another shitty April is in store. Well at least everything else in my life is awesome right now and its just stupid bike racing. Made it to the doc on Monday and got some pharma stuff to take care of this crap. Enter the team Tuesday ride…..errr race. Not sure how things would go, but I was determined to ride hard and inflict some pain – what are friends for? Well it ended up being a strong ride for me, and definitely a boost of confidence that I needed. I did go into a cough attack halfway at the store and puked again after I went solo and made it there first. Hmm – maybe they let me hang out there……nah . This time I took advil before the ride so no headache. Then I drilled it again on the next lil climb and had some more fun riding with pure determination to not let this allergy shit get me down. Watts are almost back to where they were and a level that I like, so just need a couple more weeks of training n racin and we’re good for the A race. Peter was also kind enough to throw down some sprinty knowledge that I was clueless about and never read about, so now its time for some more practice with a few things to work on. IM BACK!

Ode to the night ride

This mornings' post got me motivated to do a little night ride and here's
a little summation of my ride on the American River Bike Trail tonight:


darkness turned bright

in the still of the night

light shining bright

the river reflecting the lights



crickets chirpin

frogs ribbetin

deer scramblin

bunnies hoppin

coyotes laughin

rattlers still hybernatin

mountain lions a hidin

gears churnin

legs burnin

breathins a laborin

home without any scrapin

Springin Forward Earlier

Almost out of winter and we've got a little treat with an early Daylight Saving change. Have no idea if we really save energy or not, but I sure as heck am looking forward to more light after work. The Nightrider's only been used once this year - pathethic considering I used to go out with it on the mtb all the time. So don't forget to change the clock on Sunday and get that patch for the PC.