Why I love to ride

Today was a day that confirmed most of the reasons why I love to ride. Didn't start out to be that great of a day. The weather was definitely not cooperating last night and I was expecting it to be uncooperative this morning. Cash woke me at 1:00 am for who knows what, but I couldn't get back to sleep for the next 2 hours. I was then awoken at 5:00am for another Cash encounter. Pushed him aside for hopefully another 20 minutes of bliss. 45 minutes later I got up. And as usual I was late for the early ride today.

All ready feeling the effects of an unrestful night I decided to head out at the normal time and ride back with the group from the normal turnaround. I expected the roads to be wet and I would eventually get a flat. Well the roads were fairly dry and I didn't get a flat. Amazing! I made decent time up to the levee despite all the traffic this morning, just to face a nice headwind all the way out. By the time I had reached the golf course about 9 miles into the ride I was just trying to maintain 20-21. It was tough but I was glad I was out and the pollen had been knocked down from the rain last night. It felt great to take deep breaths without hacking up a lung. My nose was still runny, but that seems to be an everyday nuisance. Nothing to get my panties in a wad over, so I just kept chuggin' away.

I made it to the normal turnaround in pretty good time and there was no sign of the group. Let's keep going. Just chuggin' away at 20-21 into that headwind. Boy is this going to feel good when I turnaround. Legs are aching, heart is pounding, and my chest is hurting from breathing hard. I make it all the way to the dip, another 4 miles from the normal turn and no sign of them. Just as I am heading down the hill I see them coming. All right, I am going to get an extra 8 miles in and get towed home. Screw getting towed, I am going to play the game.

As I turnaround I drop a gear or two and begin to pick it up. Only 5 guys in the group and I make it 6. Just right for a swift paceline, and swift it was. With the tailwind and everyone working well together, I couldn't have asked for a better morning of riding. We maintained 27-30 the entire way back. Nothing like feeling strong at 30 mph and being able to hold that pace. The group was fantastic. We all took decent pulls and no one complained or wavered or disrupted the pace. I really enjoy riding in a paceline where everyone knows what they are doing and all are working together. Nothing like teamwork. Nothing like feeling your lungs burn and you keep asking for more. Nothing like your legs aching and you keep asking for more. Nothing like eating dirt from someone elses tires. Nothing like feeling the air rushing by you. Nothing like going fast. This may sound sadistic, but all in all, I think it's fun!