Cooked, Fried, Smoked, etc., etc., etc.,..

Damn, it was hot like the devil's taint tonight. Yikes! I hit the road for 33+ miles and nearly 2 hours. I really pushed my legs and lungs tonight too. On few hills I did some intervals, going ballz out and was in aneorobic hell, breathing so deep my ribs hurt, quads burning and spit flying all over me. In a word it rocked but I'm toast now. Might just spin easy tomorrow, take Friday off and then get some easy miles in over the weekend.

Put up a new post about road riding over on my Bikeman.com version of the Soiled Chamois. Here's an excerpt:

Motorists fall in to 4 categories...

THOSE WHO FEAR YOU:
These are usually older drivers or real young drivers. They're unsure if you know what you are doing and trail behind you at a snails pace and refuse to pass, even though you're hugging the white line and motioning for them to pass. This can be frustrating and I try to always give them an indication that it's all cool to pass or I just go ahead and slow to a near stand still to let them get by. They're usually nervous about you and think they're doing the right thing. It's frustrating, but at not as bad as...

THOSE WHO HATE YOU: (AKA- Ass Holes):
These folks are the ones who believe that you in NO way belong on the road, and no matter how much room you give them to get their 8 mile per gallon, Dubya stickered SUV to their McHousing Plan®, they still feel the need to blow their horn and scream something about getting off the hell off the road or something which questions your sexual preference because you're on a bike.

If they're REALLY pissed, you might even have them attempt to run you off the road (happened only once thankfully) throw a Big Gulp at you (happened to KoKo) or pull in front of you and gun it on the shoulder so as to shoot rocks back at you (ah, the love)

These folks used to REALLY get to me, they still do sometimes, but these people are NEVER going to change and since a 170 lb. shaved legged cyclist on a road bike has no real chance against a 5 ton SUV, I try to keep my mouth shut, smile, and wave.

More than anything I usually end up feeling sorry for these folks. What makes them so angry with cyclists? Is is that they see my riding as freedom they may not have the chance to enjoy? Do they see a level of fitness that they don't have and it makes them angry with themselves and in turn the take it out on me to make themselves feel better? Maybe they would feel better if I jsut wore a sign on my back that says "RELAX, YOU MAKE MORE MONEY THAN ME".

THE MULTI TASKERS:
These are folks that are drinking coffee, lighting a cigarette, changing a CD, and talking on their cell phone ALL at the same time. The "Multi Tasker" is the one you hope is NOT coming up behind you. At least you know the"Ass Holes" see you since they're shouting something at you and flipping you the bird.

THE GOOD FOLK:
Of course the are also a ton of great folks out there that will shout encouragement, give a wave, or at the very least just respect my right to ride my bike on the roads and give me a little room.

Kids are great too. Nothing like screaming down hill at 35 or 40 mph, looking over and seeing the jaw dropped face of a little kid in the back seat, or seeing them smiling and waving at you.

I try to keep to the farm roads and back roads as much as possible. Cruising an old farm road on a summer evening, with the day's stress behind you is a great way to unwind and get a little zen time in. Plus knowing that big miles on the road bike are going to help make those incredible days on the trail or race course that much better is good motivation to chamois up and hit the road.

I always try to give the cars the right of way. I look at myself as a visitor on the road and respect the fact the roads are built for cars, go fast and can cause a world of hurt, BUT since I'm allowed to ride on them if I follow the rules, they will have to deal with me. I only ask for them some respect in return. I hope someday motorists in the U.S. will respect and admire cyclist the way they do in many European countries, but until then you just gotta be careful out there.

That's it.

Later