Ow

I caught a cold somehow, and spent yesterday pretty miserable. But I took it easy, and slept well, so we’ll see how today goes. I’m going to try to nap even more today.

I noticed in VeloNews this morning that a company named “American Beef” will take over from Saunier Duval as the title sponsor for the Scott cycling team. Weirdly, it is NOT the Cattleman’s Beef Association of “It’s what’s for dinner fame.” Rather, American Beef is from Chihuahua, Mexico.

Anyway. Watching the final TT this morning for the Tour de France. Thus far, Cadel Evans is kinda stinking it up, but my man from Garmin-Chipotle, Christian Vande Velde, is flying.

In fact, it looks like Garmin-Chipotle placed two riders in the top 5, with Vande Velde and David Millar.

Anyway, there was an excellent article in the print edition of the newest Bicycling Magazine about Garmin-Chipotle, especially about how with their aggressive anti-doping stance that they will likely win a little less — that they will be merely okay. And the spin that Jonathan Vaughters put on it was brilliant:

To agree not to dope, to agree to never let that enter the context of teh team is to agree to fail sometimes. To agree to let your fans down sometimes is to agree to the fallibility of the human body.” He said the wins — honest wins — would be that much sweeter, the celebrations that much richer when you truly knew the “preciousness of winning.”

After a somewhat miserable week of exercise owing to the fact that I had to spend three days in Beaverton, this next week holds more promise.

Since I’ve put on so much weight and hill-climbing is destroying my knees and back, I went ahead and bought a new cogset with a 12-27 cluster. That 27-tooth cog looks like a damn frisbee back there, but whatever; I am not a proud man. (I’m waiting for my in-laws to get up from their nap so I can go test the new gears.) The cogs mean the next time Paul wants to go tackle the west hills, I’ll be able to walk the next day, presuming that I don’t have a heart attack.

I also moved my HRM back to my summer bike (oh glorious summer!). Actually, it was more moving the speedometer over. So I’m hoping to try a little more exercise book-keeping (remember these workouts?), like time and distance and effort.

Which might be more interesting if I were training for something. But… I’m not.

I’m at a bit of a crossroads and I don’t know what to do. I’m kinda in this zone where I got a little burnt on all of the training. More specifically, other than Paul who I see approximately every 19 months, none of my friends are particularly athletic. And so I really struggle to go out by myself because, after a while, it’s super-boring.

And the other excuses are that I’m a little bored riding up here and I don’t really have the time to dedicate like I used to. And so I was thinking maybe I’d attempt a triathlon comeback (the idea being that running and swimming can be done over lunch). Or maybe even focus on skiing for fall and winter, just to take a break from things. That way, I could do a lot at the gym (core and legs), then have fun winter weekends up on the mountain.

I also just got a decent bonus at work, and was considering using it on a cycling/triathlon coach. In a way, that might help with the boredom thing (learning new things, having someone push me), and it might be a good way to meet other riders.

OK, time to go wake up the in-laws. This is getting ridiculous…

Looking back on it, predicting a recovery day for today seemed a little fool-hardy. Especially since I can’t turn down a new dad with limited rides who invites me out.

And in hindsight, suggesting Kelley Point — a long slog on the best days — on a windy, 90 degree day maybe wasn’t too bright either.

I am pretty sure we both bonked. And that was before his six mile uphill ride home and my ten mile commute back to my refrigerator.

Everything hurts. Tomorrow MUST be a rest day.

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Rode for two hours Sunday, including going up Rocky Butte and Mt Tabor. Going up Tabor was awesome. I met up with some random guy, and instead of getting killed going uphill, I actually led him up.

Today, I went to the gym. Did lunges and leg-presses. Pretty good stuff.

Anyway. We’ll see how long I can keep it up. It seems in the past, something at work or at home has always screwed things up.

Tomorrow, I’ll bike in slowly. “Recovery day.”

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