Toes. Who Needs Them??

Weather.com said it was 27 degrees today and that it "felt" like it was 17. Too bad they can't say it's 27 degrees, feels like 17 and like -0 when moving at 19 mph along side of an ice cold river. Maybe it's good they didn't say that or I would have bagged this a.m.'s Rail Trail Assault.

A good Friday turned into a "bad" Friday when Wifey and I had a heinous fight to end the night. Grrr. What-a-ya-gonna-do? Even when you love someone you can still say/do stupid things and be an idiot. I am an idiot (but you know that).

So between the cold and the bad Wifey/Me "mojo", I really didn't have a lot of desire to do anything but just lay in bed for the next 48 hours. BUT, that would have really been wimping out. So I drug, my ass out of bed, talked shit out with Wifey, fueled up, made 2 to 6 visits to the dumper and got ALLLLLLL the shit together that it takes to ride in 20 degree weather.

I was opting for the rail trail to avoid the higher speeds and the flesh blackening wind chill that a road ride may cause. AND because with my belaclava on I really could not stuff my skull into a helmet. So I did my first helmetless ride of any kind in the past 12 years today. I figured there would be only about a 1% chance that I could f*ck up anything on the rail trail, and with those odds if I wrecked on the rail trail and smashed my skull, it was just MEANT to be.

Rolled the rail trail for about 2:20 or so. Got about 37ish miles in. I was cold about 75% of the time and REALLY cold about 25% of the time. BBBBBBBBBUT I was outside, not on the trainer and even if most of the views were of leafless trees, a stank river and abandoned (or should be abandoned) homes, it was worth it.

By the end my Heed had ice floating in it and my Perpetuem was like a vomit flavored Mr. Misty. My toes were cold, my fingers were cold, my face was wind burned, etc., etc., BUT it was STILL worth it.

I was able to roll with iPodious which was locked and loaded to play the new Raveonettes, some Live Morrissey and Live Radiohead. The rail trail is pretty much the ONLY place besides the trainer that I'll ride with an iPod. Any other time I think it takes away from the beauty of hearing the tires hum, the gears shift and the overall beauty of being outside on my bike. BUT for me the rail trail is only one step above the trainer for taxing the mind, so iPodious was a welcome ride partner.

Damn that hot shower felt good when I got home. Wifey and B-Man were napping, so I took advantage of that time by watching the recently NetFlicked "The Smiths, Under Review". It wasn't bad and it was cool to put some faces with the names of producers, sound engineers, etc., but it didn't really tell me too much I didn't already know. The best part was when I think it was Tony Wilson says (I'm paraphrasing) "people go on and on, about what they could have been had they stayed together. They put out 5 perfect albums that you have in your collection. Isn't that enough?" Very true T.W..

Back to cycling. My man Yancy sent me this link yesterday about Team Slipstream. Good read. I had always been a fan of David Millar and was just sick when he got busted doping. BUT he's back in my good graces, 'cause I think he TRULY believes in Slipstream and the baffling (to many pros I'm sure) concept of racing at the Pro Tour level and doing it CLEAN.
I do have to ask though... David, WHAT THE F*CK ARE YOU WEARING??" Dear God man! Maybe just go with some tights, or leg warmer. This is a look that I hope does NOT catch on.

Oh well, time to relax, cook up some Mexican grub, have a few beers and hopefully fight some crime later.

Later