I had a huge ride planned today from home up Rollins Pass Road and back... ~70 miles on a mountain bike with significant climbing. I made it 13 miles to Rollinsville and double flatted carrying one spare (my training wheels aren't tubeless... yet). So I called my wife from the liquor store and she came and got me. As soon as I got home I switched out wheels and before I could even clip in it started to dump rain. Hard. My afternoon is already filled with responsibilities and since my routes around here are nearly all dirt roads or trail I calmly threw my bike in the corner and changed clothes... done. Who knows, maybe my guardian angel knew I would crash off a cliff on The Divide and die. I have 6 days open for long rides between now and Leadville and I feel I need every one of them to count so today was discouraging at the least.
I also went down hard again yesterday on Walker Ranch. The fall 'freshened up' almost every sore spot I already had and I (of course) also landed on the elbow that I tore the skin away from the bone. Physically I'm feeling pretty rough... but at least my mental state sucks!
13 comments:
It's not a ride until there's blood! When it rains it pours, literally. Like you said, it was probably your guardian angel doing some work to keep you safe. No matter what though, I'm sure you're fit enough to make the best of what time you have left. I'll bet you're body appreciated the extra rest it got today!
Thanks Dave. It seems when I ride it turns in to a Daniel Day Lewis movie though... There WILL be blood. I'm going to put Stans jizz in to ALL of my bike tubes tonight... if he's OK with that.
I feel my fitness is OK up to ~5:00 hours, not so confident beyond that which is where I need to go.
I really think ya need to take some time off. You're beat up pretty badly from the 50 at Leadville and I think it's a real concern. I think right now you're taking too many risks and ya have a family to be there for an all. Some times we're all so close to a situation that we lack perspective and can't see what's really happening. From my view I see a guy who is in great shape and whose commitment is off the charts but who is taking risks he shouldn't. You likely have broken ribs and a broken rib can puncture a lung. Take time off and get better. We would all hate to see something bad happen.
Have you given any thought to taking up knitting:)?
I have a feeling Stan won't mind at all:) The Dude abides...
Mike- Knitting on the bike?
Dave- Actually, Stan was all for it!?
Yeah, I have to agree with the guardian angel angle. When that much stuff starts to stack up it is time to pack it in. Besides "rest" is training (up to a point). Heal fast!
Thanks Ace. And I haven't trashed your e-mail, I'll get back to you!
Sometimes I slumber on a bed of roses
Sometimes I crash in the weeds
One day a bowl full of cherries
One night I'm suckin' on lemons and spittin' out the seeds
(RCPM)
this is that moment where you have to dig deep and answer very honestly: "have i been drunk enough lately to really be making large, over-arching statements regarding my training?"
or, maybe what i mean to say/type is: "am i still having fun?"
obviously, true fun involves a certain level of discomfort (any of my past girlfriends can attest (or protest, depending on where they fall S v. M in the ongoing S&M struggle))
...at some point, however, you've got to double check yourself. Or not. Probably not.
You're already fit. You're already sharp. You need to re-prioritize...you can't make the most of the fitness you if you're all fucked up and gushing blood.
-Señor Agujero de Culo de Santa Maria.
Anon- I appreciate the concern! You're one of a few people to have told me something along those lines. Not sure what I'm going to do yet but thank you again.
Thanks P. Sage words.
G- so true.
Lucho: Glad you're OK! I kind of aggree with the anonymous poster but not quite. I think your fitness is definitely there and I'm wondering what would happen if you kind of coast into the 100-mile mountain bike race, taking the time between now and then to heal. But, that's easy for me to say. I've been known to refuse time off regardless of how I felt. I'm of the mindset that it's good to push through the bad patches so long as doing so doesn't worsen the problem.
Wyatt
Ya Wyatt... I agree also with the anonymous poster. They're pretty much correct. But that's not what makes most of us tick. I agree that training with out exacerbating the injuries is acceptable and also key. To do that I simply have to keep the rubber on the trail! I'm definitely not going to push any trail speed from now to Pb and stick more to roads. Then on race day take the descents SUPER chill and hammer the climbs which is my strength.
Thanks again for the input!
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