Return Of The Road (Like Stage 17 Baby!)

As expected last night's heavy rains washed out a chance to roll Boyce early this morning with Plum Grove Pete. It also washed out my chances to "borrow" Pete's Moots 29er for an extended period! ;) But I was able to salvage a great ride. A ROAD RIDE! And if felt damn spanky!!

Today was my 2nd road ride in a 1.5 months. That's a LONG time for me. Considering that during the spring and early summer I spend 3 to 4 days a week on the Campeon. I have to say I have not really missed it. The trails have been too good and the the lure of the mountains too strong. I've also sported a real lack of desire to be buzzed by cars, and listen to idiot motorists yell "Go Lance" or "Fag!!". But today I woke knowing what the day was going to be dealing me. Wet, muddy trails, and a family schedule that would pretty much only allow time for a road ride out at my Dad's. So I got the Campeon ready and headed out to S'dale with B-Man.

My last post Seven Springs road ride ended with me aborting the ride at mile 17 in a big pile of suck. Today was 100% different! From the time the ride started I felt great in the saddle. Cooler temps helped, as did the misty overcast weather. Gave the ride a real Spring Classics feel. And it's no secret that I dig the Spring Classics 100%. To me those races are like mountain bike races. And THAT vibe makes them WAY better!

Today was the best my legs have felt in about a month. Recovery from Seven Spring and various illnesses, must FINALLY be happening. I was most happy today with my ability to keep a nice cadence, with steady power to the pedals. I felt like Landis in Stage 17 the '06 Tour. You know before you knew he would test positive and make (more of) a mockery out of the Tour. But mental imagery is mental imagery.

I've made the Road Racing vs. Porn comparisons before, but for those who don't remember I'll refresh- Sometimes you watch old road races and even though you might be watching Landis, Hamilton or Pantani, and you KNOW they tested positive, are out of the sport (or out then back) or worse dead, you still find yourself watching in jaw dropped amazement at their performances. Pornography is the same way (for those who are into that sort of stuff, personally I never look at the stuff) folks watch in amazement at the hotness of a woman or if you're woman the shear OMG! that has to be fake!, size of a man, and totally block out that the fact that woman is most likely a total junkie or that the dude is probably rocking some serious STDs and a sweet intravenous drug problem. But it's Mental imagery all the same.

Today I was using '06 Stage 17 like it was top shelf hard core porn. I remember that (apparently) testosterone fueled breakaway and just staring in amazement at Floyd's cadence, his determination, his will to bounce back from stage 16 and win 17. That's the sort of thing that really helped me on the road today. Smooth pedaling, standing and attacking hills and generally feeling aces for 40 miles. The road has returned and it felt damn good. Yeah, sure, after the ride I had to endure that same uncomfortable post-porn viewing guilt/uneasiness that folks get. But it was worth it for a good day in the saddle.

Later.