Cooking

This is what I live in winter for. Longer days that make the snow seem less frequent and summer a bit longer. Weird thoughts up on top, too many pedal strokes, but not enough to drown out the ringing in my ears.

Clear

This is getting easier, cooperative weather, rain every afternoon and lots of Ks under the tires. Crystal clear vision, blurred only by the wind, not too cold, right now. The trail is getting super-clear, I see the trees define the singletrack, allowing it through. Perfect.

On the train

Not much better than sneaking through the woods early. Habits are hard to break, smoother than the little bit of cream in my coffee the trail let me bounce over rocks and roots, again. I feel sort of like one of those cyclists. You know the ones...who train.

Windows open

This is crystal clear, the pedals turn themselves sometimes, looking through the kaleidoscope of trees, roots, streams and moose I can see the trail. Lucky...sort of, dedicated...sometimes. Today was one of those. Mid week, rolling dirty.

Perfect

It all starts to feel better when you get a day like this, I was cold all morning until I had a mid-west sized burrito to warm me up. Ideal. Two meals make three.

OK

Decisions, I ate poorly today, that affected my race. I was ok on friday, that wasn't so bad. No another one, Mt. Evans or the Breckenridge 68, no jokes, just a longer race. Go from 7000 ft to 14,000 or from 9600 ft to 11,000 and back a few times. Whatever, we won today. That was good, almost puking on my bars two turns from the line made me feel stupid. Too much is enough.

Next Year

I listened to the steady build up of lactic acid into the already warm legs. Crystalized breakfast sitting inside achy thighs, I knew I only had one lap so it wasn't too hard mentally made it easier physically. Lots of carnage, I saw more bbq out on the trail than at the post race meal. 2.05 lap, not great but good. Next year...

Cracked

I can see it clearly now. It wasn't too hard, half of the firecracker, mine was the first half results weren't tops on the list, riding clean and rolling well. The new machine was pretty ideal. Little cush and some options under the hands. Ergons kept the blsiters to a minimum, I even got forearm pump on Rich Gulch, the first time in a year of rolling Ergon. That much climbing suited me fine, I wanted more.

Sunshine and rain

It adds up quickly, early up, out on the bike, legs were pretty gummy from yesterday's work, not feeling the love, uphill to dirt. Wet, rooty, rocky love early in morning. One hour of perfection, joy and pain, rob base would be proud. A little rain last night made sleep easy, the sounds of summer.

I wish they all were like this. Days turn the pedals effortlessly. Summer is reward for 7 months of payments into the bank. Maybe centralized global warming isn't such a bad thing.