Success! 2nd Guessing, The Giro, & Dreams

Success!

I was able to ride tonight completely pain free!! Hell friggin' yeah!! I planned to ride tonight no matter what. I needed to do something to loosen my back and muscles up. Through the early a.m. the back was how it's sorta been the past 24 hours. Ok when sitting or standing, but the PROCESS of doing either felt stiff and a tad painful. I noticed through the day that getting up and down out of my office chair no longer bothered me. Hmmm, it just might be getting better!

By 5 p.m. I was feeling 94% better and I was DEFINITELY going to ride. I hit my normal 30 mile post work road loop and tried to keep it in the small ring a lot up front to avoid taxing the lower back too much. I knew the first test would be at the top of first gradual climb where the grade would require me to stand. How would my back and core muscles react to the process? It passed with flying colors! I was thrilled!

It took a good 10 miles to stop thinking about the back and just enjoy riding. The sun was FINALLY shining after what has seemed like 20 straight days of rain. Temps were chilly for May, (in the high 50s) but no rain for a change was freaking great!

2nd Guessing...

Of course I went through those moments where I convinced myself that I could race Saturday, but eventually I suppressed those thoughts. I think I could do the race no prob. But what if the traveling takes it's toll on all the progress I made with my back? What if it starts to spasm after I drove 5 hours and spent over $100 in gas to get there? What if I f*ck up my goals for Big Bear by trying to push things too soon? I think it's best just to treat the beginning of this week like it was a rest week and go back to my normal routine 3 weeks out from a Solo 24. And stop 2nd guessing myself.

Giro

I think I may have come to realize that of the grand tours, I like the Giro d'Italia WAY more than the Tour de France. The whole Italian cycling atmosphere just speaks to me way more than that of The Tour. I only wish we could see more of it here in the States.

The Giro will be having some killer mountain stages coming up soon. I really hope to see some of that action. I mean they still had snow on the roads just a few weeks ago! Some of the gradients will be reaching over 20%! CAN YOU IMAGINE??

I've have been enjoying cruising the net, reading cyclingnews.com, Pez, VeloNews, etc., Until Americans tire of televised Ultimate Fighting, Poker, Dancing With The Stars and a billion other stupid "reality" shows I will be destined to READ about the Pros doing the sport that I love. And pilfer what video I can off the Net.

Dreams

Last night I had a dream that I was going to do a CX race with Rich B. I was going to race on a Chili Con Crosso (which I do not own). I pre rode the snowy, muddy course and felt good about it. We prepped for the race in my sister's bed room in the house I grew up in. I was set to leave for the race. But Rich says "Where are you going? The race doesn't start until 3:45!" I say "3:45?? Forget about that! Who came up with that time?? Forget it!" I mean I just went OFF about the 3:45 start time and how my day was ruined. Strange stuff.

I also had a dream that I was all geeked up because The Soiled Chamois was linked on the web site of fem German XC racer Sabine Spitz. I have NNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOO idea why I was dreaming that.

I might need to cut back on the late night snacks or something!

Off work tomorrow. I was supposed to be traveling to the race, but I might just sit and yell orders to the guys siding my house. Yeah, that will go over big. On second thought maybe I'll go for a ride!

Later.