Two Wheel Blogs

I met up for the local Tuesday night ride last night and knew something special was about to happen based on the attendees.

Ryan made it back from the training camp (he is on an Olympic training team and hopes to make the cut). He rolled in and suited up, along with several other guys that seemed anxious to have some fun and take on some pain.

The ride rolled out fairly uneventfully and we tooled around for 45 minutes prior to meeting up with another group. We met the other group and even more heavy hitters joined the group (some of the older club members).

We rolled on to one of the more interesting and pretty loops that we frequent and the fun began.

I learned a new metaphor today. I went for a ride with Joe and Lynn, and they were looking for a long ride.

We decided to take a few new (to us) roads today. This proved interesting in that we lost track of time and miles. I usually ride with no concept of time or miles, but manage to keep a good feel for each based on my previous experiences with the selected route. If I am on a different route, there is usually someone around with electronics to give me an idea of time and distance once in a while...not today...Joe's electronics stopped working.

As you have probably read, Mark and I did some hill climbing yesterday. While I was not in shape to take my share of the pulling, I did feel really good and time permitting, I would have liked to ride a lot longer. Apparently we scored some TSS points, and the way I slept last night it was evident (I slept later this morning than I have in years).

I finally woke up this morning hoping to hear from G-wiz who talked of riding a century today, but the call never came. Probably for the better, because today it is hot and humid outside. Hot and humid should not bother me, but I guess I need some recovery because I just could not get the enthusiasm needed to go outside.

My version of sprinting with Campy shifters is an invigorating trip. Make no mistake, I am an average sprinter at best when compared to your typical cat 5 field...and I know it. Sometimes it is fun to fantasize and live like a kid (you know you roll into sight of a sprint sign and imagine for a moment that you are Mario, or Robbie)

Like I said, I am not a hardcore sprinter, but I can hold my own against other hacks like myself. A typical ride for me involves a fair amount of trash talk and ego fluffing, so it should come as no surprise that challenging another rider to a sprint is common place on a ride.

Photo: 

The name says it all.

For whatever reason, I have been doing a bunch of slow rides lately. Not really *that* slow, but they are a bit slower and longer than typical for me.

I have been taking more time to enjoy what riding a fine bicycle has to offer...and it is a great thing.

Instead of slamming through the gears and hammering only to hear the sounds of wind in my ears, blood pumping, and tires grinding against pavement, I am taking more time to appreciate the sound of a perfectly tuned drive train, the sounds of the nature that lies slightly beyond the roads edge, and the voices of good friends. These are the things that give me passion towards cycling right now.

Sorry, it is true. I have not had much to say lately. I refuse to drone on about my road riding that I have been doing a lot of lately. There is just not much exciting to say about what I do.

I have not had electronics on my bikes for a couple years now, so I can not really talk about distance, average speed or power. The only thing I can say is how long the ride is in minutes and hours (pretty boring).

I live in central Missouri, so I can not boast about ancient landmarks that I pass as I ride. In fact, I tend to pass the same things every week. I could talk about the historic monuments that I pass (underground railroad refuges, State Capitol, Governor's Mansion, farms, railroads, other neat stuff that is hardly legendary).