Dirt century and some thoughts

Ahhhh been since last Monday that I rode a dirt metric century. I will have to ask Mr H.L. if riding the 4 previous days on pavement makes me a "roadie" again. Worked the pace, sorta was in a daze, seems deep in thoughts I was, I wasn't sure where I was at a couple of times. Sometimes I couldn't recall, did I go through such and such a place? I gave the 62 miles everything I had. I am totally wasted now, perhaps my energy stores have all been used up the last few days and this gravel grinder just finished off anything that was left.


Lance Armstrong had a bad day in the tour today. A couple of crashes. His Tour victories are over. If I was Lance, you know what I would do? I would grow a scraggly beard. dye it white, shave my head, what ever it took so people would not know I was thee Lance A. Then I would wear cut of bibs, and tennis shoes and enter local road races with my Schwinn Varsity tuned just right with top end components that you wouldn't detect. I would ask dumb questions to the local boys at the start line, and sound stupid. Let them make fun of me. Then I would kick their ass in the race. I'd love it.


Speaking of Lance, Several years ago I read his book, "It's not about the bike" I fully understand that statement now, and agree. However in the next breath I say I want to take my bicycling to a higher level, ride more miles, ride faster, ride more enthusiastically. Ride some over nighters, ride some night rides, ride more races, and it's not about the bike. The bike is just the vessel that takes me places more then the geographical. Takes me places in my mind, helps me sort out thoughts, make decisions, realize changes about myself I need to make. Makes me feel good about myself. The more I ride, the more I want to ride.

Special things heard during special times.

Sitting in hospital room 317 next to my father a couple of days ago. Dad turns to me and says "I met your mother 64 years ago in Sept, we started dating, and in December I sold my car to buy her an engagement ring." "I had to take the bus to get around but she was worth it." "I proposed Christmas day, and gave her the ring." "We married the next May." "She was so bubbly

I saw the rain coming, I didn't care, let it rain. All it meant was I was going to get wet.

I fell over in this once, three years ago, it almost never dries up. I had to back up after taking this picture to get the momentum to roll through.

Hope you took time to play a bit this weekend.
Dave