Phew...what a weekend!

Wow...what can I say?  One of the nice things about living in Texas is that you can never really count of the weather to act appropriate for the season!  Take this weekend for example, we are just a couple of days away from December, winter is nearly upon us, and in most states that see four actual seasons, they already have had snow fall.  Not Texas!  Now I will say, that riding in the morning when it is still 44F it a bit of a challenge, especially when the sun comes out in full force and warms the air up to the low 60s.  I'm learning that the key to surviving such weather changes on a ride is layering, layering, layering.  That being said, I spend Saturday in the saddle touring some of the most beautiful neighborhoods and landmarks Dallas has to offer.  So much so, that I don't mind the hour long lunch I had, nor do I mind the brief shopping that was had at the Farmers Market!  Now I didn't just saunter around town, this route has some pretty steep hills and consistently challenging head winds to deal with, but the sheer joy it brought me was worth it!  I am looking forward to another beautiful weekend so that I can take a group out and share my experience with them!


Today, however, was a real training day for me and let me just say that although the cyclometer reads just a little over 30 miles, the winds were so strong that I feel as if I rode twice that, no, take that back, it equates to climbing the Evil Twins AND Quadbuster Hill on the same day!  I know that today, my quads and calfs are swollen and sore, but by next week, I will FEEL the results in added strength and endurance...now, if I can just get my heart rate to come down I will be set!  Until next time....

Hit by a bus or just 150 miles in the saddle?

Neither one...11/21/2010 training ride was just 48 miles, but let me tell you...it was a killer ride!  The day started off beautiful.  I could not have asked for a better fall morning...that is, until the last 15 miles or so...the winds were out of the south and reported to be 30-42 miles per hour at times...and they were IN MY FACE!!

I was exhausted, I wanted to quit, I wanted a beer like nobody's business.  But, I persevered and finished, feeling like I had rode 150 miles up hill!  My quads were blown, I could barely walk, my back is aching, but you know what, I will have so few beautiful days in the coming weeks, that I will take the beating and gladly ask for another to have the sunshine for a few more rides before winter settles in for the next few months.  Besides, how many 40 year old men do you know who are accomplishing what I am these days?  Ok...I know A LOT, but we are all ride together, so they don't count!  

Well, just 195 days until AIDS/LifeCycle 10 rides out of San Francisco!  I better get on the fundraising!  My goal, $5,000.00 this year!  Find out how you can support me at www.tofighthiv.org/goto/Rider_5628

Back in the Saddle!

Wow...I can't believe that it has actually been 6 weeks since I was in the saddle!  I have really missed my bike, my lycra gear, and my cycling buddies.  So today I decided to change that.  With my fleece lined arm and leg warmers, Cliff Bars, Elite Water, and my new Garmin 705 GPS (happy birthday to me) I set out to brave the 43 F degree weather...and no...I did not account for the wind chill, but hey, this is Texas and the weather changes every 15 minutes...well, usually, but not today!

After the the first 20 miles, I was like, "really Michael, what were you thinking?"  So I needless to say, I didn't reach my goal of 75 miles in the saddle today, but you, I'm pretty ok with that.  I worked really hard this summer, raised a lot of money for AIDS/LifeCycle 9 and Lone Star Ride Against AIDS 10, so a simple 40ish mile ride in the cold, was satisfying and when it comes down to it, just what the doctor ordered.  You see, I abhor the winter months and as long as I can wear lycra and ride my bike, no matter how many miles, I feel like I am keeping Old Jack Frost at bay.   And as a bonus, I got to try out my new GPS for the first time...and let me tell you...it is freaking amazing technology!!