Heads in the Clouds, Tires in the Dirt

 Livin' La Vida Buñuelo (the donut life) at the Mothership.

So we made it out to our first destination of the Colorado Couch Tour. It's about donut-thirty and JD and I have some trails to get to shreddin'. I think H. and Benjamin have pedicure and massages lined up. Pshh... whatever. 

We've been invited to a Bar-BQ in our honor tonight, an invite to the infamous Moots lunchtime ride, and hopefully I'll get a chance to pre-ride the course before Wednesday night's Town Challenge Howlin' Howelsen XC race. It's been a while since I've raced at 7000', should be interesting. Either way, Steamboat Springs sure knows how to make a guy feel welcomed.

Urbantrack Adventuring

Our friend Rob recently got the release to ride from his doctor. After a long, and continuing, physical issue that has kept him off the bike and on the couch watching American Idol and reading The Hunger Games, we decided to check his man card. We met up before work Saturday to get a little urbantrack riding in since he still can't ride long or too hard just yet. What better way to get back on the bike than a little early morning adventure riding?

Horsing around.

We met up and saw some of the Red Pony team off on their long, hot road rides, then headed off into downtown Franktown to seek what adventures lay ahead for us. Luckily, for being such a small town, there are a lot of avenues open for adventure and we were quickly off the grid and into the urban jungle.

"hope" discovered.

Other than his test ride upon completion of the bike build, I believe this is the first time Rob has been out on his new Moots MX RSL. Although not a rip roaring singletrack adventure for its maiden voyage, I don't think a better, more unique, exploratory break-in ride could have been had.

Although our breakfast plans got cut short due to time running out before the doors were to open for work, we managed to accomplish all the other goals of the ride. It definitely had a huge impact on my attitude the rest of the day. Can't wait until next Saturday.

Hobby Farming

Training Planned

 

It is funny how from year to year things change and plans have to adapt to accommodate the changes. I kinda admire those racers who can keep to the same schedules seemingly year after year, day after day, race after race.

 Life has changed to where getting out to ride for 6 or more hours isn't really feasible anymore. Too many chores and responsibilities taking up more and more time for me at the moment this year. No worries. It'll all change again next year. For now I have adapted my plans to make the most of what I do have: mornings and evenings.

With 200 miles of Kanza coming up soon, I've not gotten a ride longer than 68 miles in. So to replicate a long day in the saddle, I get up extra early a few days a week and head out for some laps on the mountain bike. I then get a full 10 hours of working on my feet into my legs (no chairs and desks here). Then, just when it feels easier to just chill out and have a beer or head home and collapse on the couch, I suit back up and head out in hopes to hang with the fast cats on their road bikes. 

Towards the end of the week, the days at work get insane. So in between back to back long days of no lunch and not hydrating at all, I head out for a night on the town with some friends to cut loose.

Which only goes on to hurt me more when work is finally finished and the doors finally locked. Famished, grumpy, and very dehydrated I head home and collapse after the long week, only to wake up early Sunday and force my not wanting to ride butt out for a solo 50 miler. Keeping the bike pointed away from home the first 6 miles is a real struggle.

I'm tired.
My legs hurt.
The tank is empty.
There are myriad chores needing tending to at the farm.
I don't feel like riding.
The wind sucks.
These damn hills suck.
My legs hurt.
The tank is empty.
I'm tired.

It's hard, but I force myself on, not only on, but up. I force myself to change my attitude. That's the best simulation for miles 150+ at Kanza that I have available to me at the moment. The wanting to throw in the towel but need to keep moving despite seemingly endless reasons to quit feeling. I call it my mental toughness training.

That plan still leaves me horribly low in weekly hours and miles on the bike, but I'm trying hard not to fret about it and adopted the "any time on the bike is time on the bike" theory to training. So to take advantage of a brief 30-40 minutes of light before dark, I'll take a fun spin out with JD. Any time on the bike is time on the bike, right? Besides it reminds me to keep it fun.

The struggle to adapt has been part of the challenge for me. Getting the balance of work, home, chores and responsibilities, as well as play to all work out can be daunting and sometimes feel overwhelming, but the past couple months I've embraced the adaptation. Will it work and deliver me to Kanza ready to compete and complete? We'll have to wait and see.