Seize the Day

As most of you who read these posts regularly know, I've been anticipating the upcoming cycling season since I crossed the line in the last race of LAST season. I've always maintained that "burn out" was mostly a psychological phenomenon, not a physical one. Of course, I took the requisite break in training volume in the fall and have been building it back up in a predictable fashion. I trained like a rando racer...for awhile. My half-stepping approach to preparation for the first race of the season was met with predictably mediocre results. That only served to divert my attention more fully to what really is mattering to me this year and that is road racing. The problem with that is I live in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It's a high altitude ski town, ferchrissakes! Plus, it's February. Who, in there right mind, thinks about road cycling in February in a ski town? Well, uhh, that would be me, Bob. I hang my head, guilty as charged, my ambition getting the better of me already.

This is not unusual, of course. There is a talented, psychopathic Cat 3-soon-to-be-Cat 2 in Salt Lake who is putting 15-18 hours a week on a trainer!  Duhh...WHAT?! Yeah, typical early career success as spurred another January champion. This guy is tough, though, and he just might survive the season when his mentors undoubtedly call for a mid-season break. It will be fun to watch, for sure. Ahh, the enthusiasm of youth. Been there, done that.

Anyway, I have never been one to be comfortable coming to any starting line unprepared. Racing starts early in this region so, if you have my performance anxiety disease, you do what you have to to be ready. Now, I think I've manage to adjust my March expectations a bit to allow for suboptimal performance without feeling crushed. But come late April, I want to be ready. And that means getting on the trainer in January and finding time outside when it presents itself.

If you are only a skier, those odd warming days in the middle of the winter barely go noticed. Just means you can wear the lighter puffy when you drive to the trailhead. But for a cyclist, these are rare opportunities to pull the axe off the trainer and feel the pavement pass under your wheels. During just such a spell a few weeks ago I was able to ride my single speed with 'cross tires outside for 3 hours here in town! That was crazy. Didn't even get cold toes thanks to my Christmas present this year. These little puppies are a wireless, rechargeable answer to any cold weather cyclist's biggest concern. Reading various blogs about them, it seems the performance can be variable but I have been happy thus far. I did laps up and down the Village Road which actually had a dry shoulder for the majority of it. Road cycling in Jackson in January...yeah, the JHMR skiers did not know what to make of me as the drove past.

The next day was even better. Where we live, you don't have to go too far east to find dry roads. With the formation of our new masters team, there has been a good deal of enthusiasm amongst the riders and we have looked beyond our city limits for early season ride potential. One such place is Dubois. This is a little two block town about 70 miles from here over Togwatee Pass.

On that Sunday a few weeks ago it hit nearly 50 degrees. Five of us headed over and were greeted by dry roads, no traffic and favorable winds. Like eager dogs that we are, we did 80 miles and 4.5 hours. The boyz, open roads and pleasant temps Even had a sweet tailwind blowing us back to town. Nearly as good was checking out Paya Deli and Pizza, the new Gucci pizza place over there that serves up some tasty, post-ride nourishment. Way better than any pizza for hundreds of miles!

Winter returned, of course, and the skiing has been good. I've gone back to logging some quality workouts on the trainer while planning the early season getaway to some place warm. The temps have been frigid and the combo has made the roads slick. It has not snowed for over a week. Interestingly, almost covertly, the ice has sublimated off the thoroughfares and highways and the shoulders are clear. Today, the Arctic snap lifted with the approach of another winter storm. As I left the hospital after a half day of work, the warm air instantly caught my attention and a ride was born. Carpe Diem, baby!

I suited up, threw the toasters into my winter 'cross shoes and was out the door before 4 pm. I headed north to the Moose entrance of the Park with a nice tail wind. Very pleasant. Clear enough for FebruaryThe return was almost as nice and I made a little detour on Spring Creek Road which is snow floor this time of year. Quite pleasant and I made it back to my door right a 6pm. That beats riding the trainer any day!

Not sure what this storm will leave in Dubois but we are contemplating another go over there on Sunday if things look promising. Powder skiing on Saturday and a road ride on Sunday. Now, that's why I live here. - Brian 

Comments

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