In with the boys...

I just finished 125 miles last weekend and did a quick 16 miles on Wednesday to get my speed up. All was good 'till my gears slipped again. The bike issue is not resolved and Specialized is sending yet another replacement part. This time they want to replace the entire crank. That's not good enough for me. They need to do better.

I worked this entire season for last weekend and my time, performance and pleasure was compromised by mechanical failure. And it was compromised on the century I did a couple weeks ago. Uncool. I paid for a high level precision machine, I should have a high level precision machine, not something that needs to go back to the shop each time I ride it. This will be the third set of rings on this bike... I have no confidence in this gearset. Replacing it again is unacceptable.

End of rant.

I went out this morning a bit later than usual.
I had a 3-5 minute head start on the guys.
My gears spun a bit early on but I got my speed back up and wasn't going to let it throw the whole ride. I was pushing it faster than usual. I really wanted to be on the hill with the guys and the late start was not going to let that happen. I pushed it so well that they didn't catch up until around the S-curve. I saw them coming. Damn! I pushed up my speed some more.

The lead man... "Hey Sandie" Another one, "How "ya doing?" another "Hey" then "Sandie"... My gosh, the guys can talk!! I think I heard at least six of them acknowledge me. Wow!! What's up with that?

They did pass me, but they seemed slower than usual. Off they went on the loop and I headed for the hill.

Right at the base of the incline I felt it, and heard voices tell me that today wasn't going to be the day, that I would end up walking it, that the strain from last week's 125 was showing up now. I shut them out. I hunkered down, watched my problem areas in the gears, kept my thoughts on the rhythm and the breath and kept my eyes four or five feet ahead on the road.

Something happened while I was away last weekend... somehow, they took a whole hunk out of that hill. It was smaller!! I didn't walk it. I dammned near rocked it!! I was at the top! I had a smile as wide as the road. This feels great!

One of the guys that got a late start climbed the opposite side of the hill for punishment. We met up at the top and hovered, waiting for the pack. It seemed a real long time. The other guy commented, "Where are they?" I started to get concerned, then the first helmet... and then the pack.

I'm here. I'm ready. They start to roll. Not losing me this time. I'm in the back of the middle. I go outside. they're too far out, I'm on the yellow line. Holding it back... not yet... waiting... the first incline, a bit more speed. I catch up with the front four. The real incline. I pass three and it's me and the lead guy. I'm a bit back and start to up the speed, he responds in kind. We're going at it and I start to just edge ahead, millimeters then half an inch then I know I've got it.
I turn to him and say "This one's mine." And I turned it on.

I flew down that hill. I ate it up. Inside, I screamed triumphant. My best performance yet, and I led the pack.

They caught up quickly at the bottom.
I turned to the lead guy, this time on my left and said "The rest is yours."

As he passed, Tony said "Good work." A few other voices pass but I don't hear the words...
Suddenly, the air is somehow sweeter... I breathe it in deep. Man, this is good!
The boys are not too far out of reach, but I'm not going to be able to catch them and keep up, I let them go.

Then the rain comes.
Fine, like the burst of mist from popping the cork on a bottle of champagne. It smells sweet, it feels sweeter. I lift my face to it and drink it up.

Yea, I'm still smiling.
Later, I'll go to the shop and bring Tony a sample of one of the fuels I experimented with, the honey and protein mix. I don't use it anymore. Now I use more pure protein, I cut the honey and the carbs. He can't believe I've done my rides fueling on protein or that I have any power at all while avoiding the number one source of fuel for almost every athlete. Carbs. Sugar. Pasta. I don't touch any of them. He asks if it affects my performance. I can't answer that because I never rode when I ate carbs. I'd like him to take the challenge and see what happens if he cuts them out of his diet. I'll see if he'll give it a test.

And I'll ask the question...
I want to know that the boys didn't give that run to me.
I want to know that I took it fair and square.


Edited 9/24
When I asked him, Tony looked at me square in the eye and said, "Nobody gives anybody anything out there."
....They couldn't even get a draft off me. :-)