Tonight we had the weekly bike shop ride and it was one of those memorable rides you don't forget for a long time. I've been riding with a different group of guys the last few years and I miss my old bunch, so it was very cool that my best buds all showed up for this one. Lots of banter, verbal abuse and constant attacks made it like a big homecoming ride for us.
We strung out on a windy section and I was in the middle of the pace line having one of those invincible feelings thats half mental and half physical. You riders know what I mean - you're attacking and starting sprints because you can feel that for whatever combination of training, rest and the alignment of the stars your game is fully on. You're bubbling with enthusiasm and when the pace is hard for some reason you're completely relaxed and marveling at all the strained faces around you. It's wild and seems to only happen once out of 10 rides. Lance Armstrong describes these days as feeling like "you have no chain" because there's no effort.
The ride went up some beautiful hills overlooking the lake, down achingly beautiful country lanes, and through some winding canyons. At the top of a huge downhill where we were supposed to turn, I thought I was out front and then noted two riders a quarter mile up. So I gave chase thinking I had not gotten the word we were going down the hill instead. Caught them at the bottom and realized they were random riders not with our group. Aaah. Now I've got to grind up one of the notorious climbs to catch my buddies. Faster than I've ever gone up it (despite the hard riding so far), I flew up the 2 miles and caught up with them just as they were turning around.
Whipped around and they were determined not to let me hook up on the draft so they sprinted away. I gritted my teeth and watched my heart rate climb to 188 and sit there for several minutes before I finally felt the welcome wind buffeting that signals you are creeping into the back of the turbulence. Caught them. Pounded a gel and a couple mouthfuls of water and recovered, then went back to the front where I discovered I'd really given up some strength and we had a great row all the way back to the bike shop - screaming into town and through the streets like a pack of lycra-clad punks dodging around and trying to lose each other by sprinting for green lights, etc. It was one of those wild, testosterone filled rides, ya know?
Afterwards, my closest buddies and I went to the local bar for sandwiches and brews and the place was full of competitors in town for the Ironman this weekend. Just a great biking evening in every sense that rocked my world.....
DougM
We strung out on a windy section and I was in the middle of the pace line having one of those invincible feelings thats half mental and half physical. You riders know what I mean - you're attacking and starting sprints because you can feel that for whatever combination of training, rest and the alignment of the stars your game is fully on. You're bubbling with enthusiasm and when the pace is hard for some reason you're completely relaxed and marveling at all the strained faces around you. It's wild and seems to only happen once out of 10 rides. Lance Armstrong describes these days as feeling like "you have no chain" because there's no effort.
The ride went up some beautiful hills overlooking the lake, down achingly beautiful country lanes, and through some winding canyons. At the top of a huge downhill where we were supposed to turn, I thought I was out front and then noted two riders a quarter mile up. So I gave chase thinking I had not gotten the word we were going down the hill instead. Caught them at the bottom and realized they were random riders not with our group. Aaah. Now I've got to grind up one of the notorious climbs to catch my buddies. Faster than I've ever gone up it (despite the hard riding so far), I flew up the 2 miles and caught up with them just as they were turning around.
Whipped around and they were determined not to let me hook up on the draft so they sprinted away. I gritted my teeth and watched my heart rate climb to 188 and sit there for several minutes before I finally felt the welcome wind buffeting that signals you are creeping into the back of the turbulence. Caught them. Pounded a gel and a couple mouthfuls of water and recovered, then went back to the front where I discovered I'd really given up some strength and we had a great row all the way back to the bike shop - screaming into town and through the streets like a pack of lycra-clad punks dodging around and trying to lose each other by sprinting for green lights, etc. It was one of those wild, testosterone filled rides, ya know?
Afterwards, my closest buddies and I went to the local bar for sandwiches and brews and the place was full of competitors in town for the Ironman this weekend. Just a great biking evening in every sense that rocked my world.....
DougM
read IdahoDoug!
What do you do, piss yourself? 