Feeling It

I've been putting in some nice miles and nice hours. Over 14 hours last week, that's some big numbers for a shlep like me! Now if I could just not eat and drink like a pig I might be on to something. I mean just from riding I am down over 6 pounds from where I was pre-shoulder injury. Not sure how that's happening? Must just be from mad time on the bike. Or a new disease I have or something. My luck it's a disease.

I saw these gems out on Deerfield.
Made me feel like I was in Western PA again.

Speaking of the shoulder... I still can not pull up on the bars. You know for like getting over logs, etc., It also hurts when I try to get going while in a big gear. Today a car waved me to go ahead and cross in front of them. I tried to get going, pulling up on the bars... pain shot through my shoulder, my face contorted and I'm sure I looked like I was giving a pissed off, I'm being a dick to you Mr./Mrs. Driver Person... BUT I SWEAR I WASN'T! It was just pain. Stupid pain. This needs to get fixed up soon, or I may not see singletrack for some time. More than the pain... it's more that I pull up and nothing happens. Pain? More just useless.

Deep, sandy, talc-like, gravel and head winds made things bitchy.

Today I tried to beat the freakish 85˚ heat. For the most part that worked and I got a good ride in, but about 15 miles in, on deep gravel, going into headwind, I knew I didn't have "good stuff" as the pitching coaches say. So I worked my way over to some pavement and let the tail wind push me back home. I still got 2 hours in on the bike, just not the ride I wanted. I'd like to get out tomorrow for my last pre-Barry-Roubaix ride of the week since Friday I will be on full time Dad duty with B-Man off school.

I hate when pavement needs to bail me out.
I hate me, I mean I hate pavement.

Side Note: With the tail wind I had the CX bike up to 28.5 mph on a flat. I was pushing hard to try to break 30 mph, but just ran out of gearing, legs, talent, want, etc., etc., . Surely the road bike would have broke 30 easily.

Forecast for the Barry looks iffy. Things might be dry... they might be muddy. If muddy I have the El Mariachi waiting to roll. If moderate to dry my plan is to roll the Jake. I just think overall the Jake will be faster and give me the best chance for a top 5. HA! I jest... I just wanted to see what it felt like to type that. Actually there are 247 dudes in my class. So my goal IS???.... 123rd or better. Ha! Not likely but I will be motivated by FREE Founders beer.