Beer, Bikes, and Snow

Early in the 2013 season, I had many conversations with Ben about what I wanted to work on for 2013. We talked about trying new things and exploring other cycling options. I had (well, still have) anxieties about riding within close proximity of others.  I had one bad experience in a crit a few years ago that still leaves me uneasy.  So one goal was to get in with more group rides.  I eventually got the courage to try the Augusta Training Series crits and a road race.  Yes, I got dropped...but I did it.  Is it for me? Not right now but perhaps in the future. I also competed in three time trials - all in the "Eddy/non-TT" class.  I went in to these with no expectations.  I realized how difficult time trials were in the first minute of the LBI TT.  You had no one around you to gauge your speed.  You had to learn to pace yourself.  You might be lucky to have a carrot in front to chase.  While I did enjoy the time trials, I don't se...

Limestone was the last race of the MAC series...and the last race of the 2013 season for me.  Earlier in the week, the meteorologist mentioned a storm coming in for the weekend.  I reminded myself that it was too early to panic...As the week continued, Electra was promising to impact the weekend.  And possibly impact my race.  For some, it wouldn't be a big deal to miss this last race.  But for me, it was.  I was leading the MAC series and would be wearing the leader's jersey for this race.  I was also a candidate to win the entire series.  So yeah. It was a big deal to me. Thursday afternoon the realization set in that the commute out to Macungie, PA could be a nightmare.  Lance asked if I wanted to go out Saturday and stay in a hotel near the race.  I jumped on this opportunity and booked a room.  We packed the car and left Flemington Saturday just as the snow started coming down.  When we got up in the morning, everything ...

I spent the week of Thanksgiving sniffling, coughing, and eventually lost my voice.  I went to the doctor Wednesday after school to make sure that it was just a cold and nothing worse.  The doctor told me to "watch for signs" of the cold moving to my chest, but he saw nothing wrong with running the Turkey Trot or racing SCCX #2 Saturday. Saturday morning the temperatures didn't feel that bad when I left the house.  But as I crossed Route 15 on Augusta Hill Rd, the thermometer said 13 degrees.  Crap.  I don't want to race.  As I pulled into the lot, no one was out pre-riding.  Most were lingering at their car trying to stay warm.  I geared up for the worst and headed out for two laps.  The ground was frozen and I could feel every bump.  I was so bundled up that I probably looked like Randy from Christmas Story.  By the 2nd lap, I was sweating and felt like a slug. I sucked it up, sat in my car and tried to motivate by remindi...