A Culture Like No Other

I'm a big fan of documentaries, especially anything having to do with bikes. I've seen all the great ones, The Great Divide, Race Across the Sky, Bicycle Dreams, etc.... If none of the above are familiar, I highly suggest checking them out. These stories are full of raw emotion, grit and determination.

Last night, as I was doing my normal Tuesday evening review of the new releases, I came across this movie, To Live and Ride in LA. I was immediately intrigued, but a little weary. I'm not really familiar with this fixed gear culture or lifestyle, but it was a documentary about bikes, so I went for it.

55 minutes later I was mesmerized. This is an amazing story with incredible characters. Their passion for two wheels is immeasurable. It was not a story of endurance riding or racing, rather a look into the lives of a group in LA that enjoy the true essence of riding a bike, speed and freedom.

Along with the great characters, the soundtrack and cinematography were fantastic. Each shot or song pulled you in and pumped you up. If I would have been wearing my heart rate monitor, I'm convinced I would have been around zone 3 while watching.

While I don't encourage the road etiquette of most of these riders, I salute their bravery. By the time the movie was over, I was ready to ditch the helmet, thrown on a cycling cap and torn up jeans with pant legs rolled up and hit the city streets. But then I realized I don't own a fixed gear, I can't ride a wheelie and there is no way in hell I'm getting on the South leg of I-240 at rush hour, so I'm stuck with my spandex shorts and insulated water bottles. But it is fun to dream.

One final cool thing about these characters....They can flat haul ass.
I highly suggest checking this one out.

To Live & Ride In L.A. OFFICIAL TRAILER from TRAFIK on Vimeo.

The Practice Run

On Sunday I will be back in the "Natural" state to tackle the Lake Sylvia trail for a second time in three weeks. For those of you who read the earlier "Sylvia" post, you know how that day went, for those who don't know, it's probably best to remain that way. On this second attempt I will be attempting to ride 73 miles, I figure that should be about 8500' of climbing. If I can accomplish this task in 9 to 9.5 hours I will be a happy man.

I will be treating this run as a true Leadville set up. I will be waking up when I will be in Colorado, eating what I will eat in Colorado and hydrating and refueling in the same manner. This day will be about a lot more than just the ride, there are so many other factors that must be in place and this ride will be the test of those items. One positive, I checked the weather and it is only going to be 97 degrees, much cooler than the 107 it was last time.

"LadyKiller" will be present again for the ride. I've got the over-under set on 3.5 for the number of times we will want to strangle each other. I do appreciate him taking the time to be there with me, it's one hell of a gesture.

I've got my checklist and laid out all my items for the trip, I thought I would go over a few of them with you.

BIKE
Two weeks ago I had a Retul done on the bike and I felt 100% better on the ride, I also added a pair of Ergon grips with the climbing handles. I wasn't really sure these would help, but they were amazing.

KIT
I have made major changes in the kits since the "Technicolor Dreamcoat" photo, but lets face it, I'm still 15lbs over weight and I'm only 5'9". I was excited to recently switch to a L for XL, but the thin & tall cycling physique is still escaping me. Because I would like to take some photos for the blog on this ride I will probably wear black, take advantage of that slimming effect.

GLOVES

About three months ago I switched to full finger gloves for both the mountain bike and the road bike. I thought that when the weather really got hot that I would switch back, but I haven't. I just like the comfort and I think my hands stay cooler than with the half finger gloves.

SHOES
I've wear the DMT mbt shoe and it is incredible. They are super light and very comfortable. I also like the two soccer style spikes they have on the tip of the shoe, they come in very handy when I have to dismount and walk on a steep section. I got a lot of practice of that two weeks ago.

HYDRATION
I've got two hydration backpacks, one is a 70oz and the other is 100oz. On my last ride at Sylvia I took the 100 and it was heavy, to heavy. This time I will be packing the 70oz. I will also have two water bottles on board. Plus the 70 oz pack is very basic with regards to straps while the 100 is like a damn octopus. It took me 10 minutes to figure out witch straps went with each other.

FOOD
I will eat breakfast at 5:00 am. It will consist of instant oatmeal with honey. On the ride I will be consuming a number of different products, all honey based. The first is what I call my honey shot, it is a flask with half honey and half water, it's really good and it's straight energy. The only problem with this one is that it must be consumed early, it's pretty nasty when hot. They rest of the day I will refuel with Honey Stinger gels and waffles. My goal is to consume around 80g of carbs per hour.

EARBUDS
I forgot these on the last ride and it was brutal. There is nothing worse than hearing yourself moan in agony for 3.5 hours. I haven't decided on the playlist yet, but I'm working on that.


HEAD
I packed my head last time, but it was on crooked. It must be straight as an arrow this ride.



Check back on Sunday evening for an update on the ride. Have a great weekend.

A Girl Named Sylvia... Part 2 - The Good, The Bad & The Reality

As I said in yesterday's post, Sunday was the most difficult day I have ever had on the bike. Mentally as much as physically. My goal was to ride 60 miles, but I was pulled at 45. It wasn't my body that let me down, it was my head. When I was told "Get in the Fuckin Car", I was relieved, but that relief quickly turned to anger. I knew I had given up instead of putting my head down and fighting. The car ride back to Little Rock was awkwardly quiet. I knew the man sitting in the passenger seat, who I will refer to in this post as "LadyKiller" was disappointed and probably pissed. He had just spent 5 hours driving behind me at 8 miles per hour while I rode the trail and I gave up on him and myself. He knew it before I did, which is why he called it off. The awkward silence slowly gave away to a discussion of the days events. There were positives, only a few, and negatives, but it was not a failure. This ride was a benchmark. I now know what must be accomplished in two weeks when I go back and I certainly know what riding Leadville will require.

The Good

My body did not give up on me. It was 105 degrees while I was riding and my legs stayed strong, never cramped. Looking back today, I'm blown away that I could even complete what I did on Sunday. It's only been 3 months since I had my final cast removed. I've definitely come a long way physically. At about nine miles in, "LadyKiller" stopped me and gave me some technical advice about climbing. I was riding these early climbs in to easy of a gear, which was causing me to bounce up and down on the seat. This was, "wasted energy" he told me. "Bring it up a gear or two, find a rhythm and stick with it". This advice proved to be very useful. I immediately noticed a big difference in my climbing. It was smoother and I was able to keep myself and the bike under control, which allowed me to concentrate on my pedal stroke and the lines I was taking on the hill. Finally, if there is ever a water drinking contest, I will win...hands down. I think I will have the words "The Camel" pinstriped on my bike. I consumed seven liters of water during the forty mile ride, that has to be a record. Told you the "Good" was short, but that's okay.

The Bad

My head. I was defeated before the ride even started. I think "LadyKiller" even knew it. While we were driving to Sylvia he looked over and told me to relax. I'm still wondering as I write this how he knew. I knew going in that these would be steep climbs, I just underestimated their length. They seemed to go on forever and with each one I got more frustrated. I allowed my brain to tell my body that it wasn't possible. I allowed myself to feel defeated instead of just accepting the climbs and taking them as they came. At mile 37, I cracked. I hopped off the bike and declared I was finished. I was using every excuse possible...the heat, my leg, you name it. LadyKiller got back into the car, locked the doors, cracked the window and told me to clip my ass back onto the bike and get going. I knew he was serious and that if i didn't get back on he would have left my ass for the vultures. I got back on and continued. I finished the final three miles back to the car and mentally quit. When he announced it was time for another twenty miles I cringed. I clipped back in and took off, about 100 yards into the trail he pulled up to me and asked what was the problem? Is this guy a psychic? I think I must have answered him with my classic smart ass tone, because it was at that moment he told me "Get in the Fucking Car". He knew it would have been a waste, I knew I wasn't mentally prepared.

The Reality

I can train day after day for the next five months, but if I can't get mentally tough, it will be all for nothing. I must believe in myself and my physical ability. "LadyKiller" told me in the car ride home, "You know how to eat an elephant?, One bite at a time". I really like that quote. It made me realize that I just need to relax and not to freak out at the big picture, just settle down and take each obstacle one at a time.

To the dismay of "LadyKiller", I did get a few pics of the ride, so enjoy.

Weekend Plans

One month from now I will be on a plane headed for Colorado. Time has flown bye. Training is still going amazing and I'm feeling strong. I've also really been working hard on my nutrition the past 7 weeks and its been paying off. All of my training this past 7 weeks has been solo and it's starting to weigh on me a little. It's nice to be able to have a conversation or share the work load with a fellow rider. But I do believe having to battle the elements by myself is only making me a better rider.

This weekend I take off for a training ride in Arkansas. I will be riding a 33 mile loop called Sylvia. It has a lot of climbing and the conditions are similar to what I will face in Leadville, minus the altitude. I will be making two loops for a total of 66 miles. It should be a good test of my current fitness. Two weeks from now I will go back to do 3 laps, 99 miles. That is the big boy. I'm a little nervous, but I just need to be confident in all my training and pay attention to my heart rate data.





On a side note, there is a big change coming to this blog. I won't reveal much at this time, but I'm really excited.

Get Buckled Up

Bike Porn

Here she is....I don't have a name for her yet, but I better pick one quickly. Leadville is approaching fast and we need to develop a very special relationship.

She is light, stiff and beautiful.

Hope you enjoyed sneaking a peek....Just don't forget to clear your internet history after viewing.

Hot as Hell

The heat today is nuts. It's so much hotter here than it was in Florida. The crosswind today made this ride brutal. The heat is one thing, but today was like riding with a fan attached to my side blowing hot air for three hours.

Trouble in Paradise

******Disclaimer - Any of my readers with a foot fetish need not continue******

In 37 years I had never broken a bone, then I had my accident in January. It was a big setback, but I made it through. I've spent countless hours training since late March and my progress has been amazing. I feel the strongest physically I have felt in over a decade. With only five weeks left until Leadville, I'm very confident in both my physical and mental fitness.

I have been here in Florida with the family for five days and my training is going great. I have not missed a workout. I'm feeling stronger with each ride and the numbers from my computer are confirming my feelings. But I have just been hit with a possible set back...

I had just finished a great two hour training yesterday and come back to the house. The kids were outside playing with the water hose. I put on my swim suit and went outside to join them. Asher had control of the hose and was spraying anyone in site. Being the 37 year old stealth ninja that I am, I went for a sneak attack. At the last minute he saw me, I ran through the lounge chairs and it happened. My little toe kicked the metal frame of the chair. You know the feeling. I continued running because I didn't want the direct spray of water to the face added to the pain of my foot. The pain lasted a few minutes, I figured maybe I had just jammed it pretty good. We continued playing.

A few hours later I was getting dressed for dinner. When I went to slide on my shoe I knew I had a problem. The pain was immense. I hobbled to dinner with thoughts of numbing my pain with a few glasses of red wine. I definitely had the wine, but the pain was still present. Could this really be happening?

When I woke this morning it was not a pretty scene. My toe looked like I had gotten frost bite on Mt. Everest. Dr. Kimberly got online to give me a diagnosis. All the typical stuff...Keep it elevated, no strenuous exercise, stay off your feet, all great things for someone in my current position. The one statement that really stuck out was "6 weeks to heal". I could tell be her face she was hesitant to even read that one. I don't have six weeks...

When I texted a friend to give him the news, his response was priceless..."You better tape it up, you've got a training ride today". That was it, simple but firm. So that's what I did. I somehow squeezed my swollen left foot into my shoe and hobbled outside. I mounted the saddle and took off down the road. I was supposed to do 1:30, but I shut it down at 50 minutes, thats all I could take. I actually rode that final 1/4 mile with only my right foot.

I can't believe this happened and I'm really not sure what impact it will have on my training the next few weeks. It's crunch time and I don't have any down time available. I've got another 1:30 ride tomorrow and I'm hoping it goes better.

I said in my CA aritcle that I would not comment on my finish at Leadville only that Leadville would get 100% effort. That is still my mindset and I will not allow a broken toe stop that effort.





I did speak to a Dr. back in Memphis who is aware of my training and he told me If worse came to worse, he could just cut it off. I'm not dismissing that as a possibility.

Wednesday Training Ride

Holiday Rooaaaood!

SPECS

2 Adults
3 Kids (7, 3 & 21 months)
1 Dog
1 Bike
Cooler
Snack Bag
Movies
491 Miles.....

God Help Us!!

We made it to Tupelo before we heard our first "Are we there yet?", which I thought was pretty good. It was also in Tupelo that I discovered that the car's headphones were broken, which meant I had to listen to every Looney Tunes & Tom & Jerry that the kids were watching. The fifteen minutes that Kimberly and I tried to listen to our music turned into a full mutiny from the back of the car, so we caved. The kids got settled into their show and the ride was going remarkably well, until....

As were were about to turn onto 65 South in Birmingham it happened. "Mooommy" was all I heard, I turned my head at the exact moment the projectile vomit occurred. The car turned into complete panic, actually just Kimberly and I, as Asher was too busy with "Swamp Brothers" on the Ipad and Julia, well, she's just Julia. We immediately pulled into the first parking lot we could. I slammed on the brakes and jumped out. It was bad, really bad. Kimberly handled Turner while I ran into the restaurant to get paper towels. I forgot to mention that the parking lot we pulled into was a Popeye's chicken. Remember that scene in Lampoon's Vacation when they ask for directions in East St. Louis? It was like that. The restaurant had no paper towels in either bathroom, so we ended up cleaning the car and Turner with paper napkins. With clean clothes and a semi-clean car seat we were on our way, without "Honkey Lips" painted on the side of the family truckster. Success.

For the next 2 to 3 hours, everyone was great. We stopped for lunch, filled up with gas and continued down the road. There was one growing problem, Julia was not taking a nap. Kimberly and I both knew this was not good, and she was going to turn on us at some point. The change occurred when we reached Highway 331- Julia had been replaced by the pea soup spitting girl from the Exorcist. We spent the next 30 minutes trying to maintain sanity while she screamed bloody murder. When we hit the beautiful resort town of Florala, she fell asleep. I figured it was smooth sailing from here out, but there was one more bump in the road...

With Julia finally asleep and only 40 miles left, Asher decided he had to pee. Kimberly firmly announced to him "this car is not stopping, if you want to pee, here's a bottle". He sat quietly for a moment, then caved. He unzipped and let it fly, it was classic. I kept thinking of that scene in Dumb & Dumber. We all got a big laugh out of it, and Turner found it so funny he had to give it a whirl. Classic road trip memory.

We pulled into the beach house at 5:20, nine and a half hours after we left. The ride had its ups and downs, but I would definitely call it a success. There is still the trip home, but that will be for a later post.

With the car unpacked, it was beverage time and thankfully, the family that stayed the week before had left a six pack of Stella in the fridge. I felt like I had won the lottery. By 6:30 we were on the porch enjoying the view.



It was an early night, but we were all glad to be settled in and ready for a great week.

My vacation has not put my training on the back burner. I had arranged an off day for Saturday, but Sunday morning I was back at it. I really love riding down here in Florida, the scenery is fantastic and Highway 98 is great to ride on, nice bike lanes and minimal stop light. I suited up and hit the road for my first ride.



My schedule only called for an 1:30 minute ride, so it was a nice way to start the week.



I can't think of a better view to end a training ride.



Monday was an off day. We spent the morning down at the beach playing. Asher loves the water, Turner...not so much. Julia loves just sitting in the sand and playing with her water buckets. After beach time, Kimberly and I packed up the kids and did some shopping and had lunch.



That night, the whole family drove down to Seaside for dinner. I've been very good lately about my nutrition, but it was an off day and I just couldn't resist.




This morning was another beautiful day. I passed on the donuts from Charlie's donut truck in Alys Beach and ate my wheat bread with Justin's Hazelnut Butter. By 9:00 am I was on the road for another ride.



So far...So good.

Now for a Post Script...
Checking the blog stats today, I noticed I have surpassed 3,000 page views. So to thank all of you for reading, here is a gift in return. Blue Suede Shoes- courtesy of Big Daddy. Enjoy...

Untitled from Larkin Grisanti on Vimeo.

What The??????

5 Stages of Dying....Ever heard of it? Good, neither had I. The reason I bring it up is because I was recently told by a two-time finisher of the Leadville 100 that I would be experiencing these 5 stages at least three times during my ride. Pain...sure, Exhaustion...obviously, Lack of air...no question, but 5 stages of dying??? I rushed right home to read exactly what the hell these 5 items were.

1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

I sat quietly staring at the monitor, reading each one over and over. It made sense, I could put an example with each one. It didn't scare me, it just reminded me what I was in for on August 13th. It also reminded me of the level of mental toughness that will be required. Will I want to quit?...yes, Will I suffer?...yes, Will I unclip from my bike and have an emotional episode?...absolutely, but I know these things going in, I'm not approaching this ride blind. My mind will be tested as much as my fitness and I'm preparing everyday for that.

Denial
This one makes perfect sense. The same person who told me about the 5 stages also told me I would not be getting a buckle this year, and to focus on next year. What??? Don't want to believe it, I have to have a chance....right?

Anger
This one could come in all shapes and sizes. I could have a mechanical issue, I might have to get off and walk earlier than I would like or I could get 25 miles in and realize my legs aren't having a pleasant day.

Bargaining
This is where crazy starts to take over. You're all alone at 11,500 feet elevation and you're talking to yourself- pleading, making deals with your own body. We've all been there, asking for just one more mile or 30 more minutes.

Depression
This one scares me the most. This is your game changer. Can you fight through the mental breakdown and clear your head? I see only two ways out of this one, quit or kick your mind's ass.

Acceptance
When this stage kicks in, an outcome will be known. No matter what that outcome is, I believe this stage will provide a sense of peace, because to get to stage 5, you have had to battle 1-4, and that is an accomplishment in itself...

Round 1 over...2 two go.

It's been a little while since I posted, training has really ramped up. But I'm back now and I look forward to sharing the trials and tribulations of the next 59 days.

My fitness is the best it has been since I wore tightie whities and as of this morning I was 200lbs. I haven't seen that number in 10 years. I also crossed the '1000 miles ridden' mark since recovering from my surgery. I feel good, physically and mentally.

I want to say thanks to "Dirty Bird" for all your help, it means a lot and I appreciate it immensely.

Past Two Days

Good riding the past two days. The ride yesterday was a solo ride. This morning's ride was with the Friday group from the Peddler ride. Douche and I did it on our mountain bikes, it was one hell of a workout.

Beauty in Motion

Watch this video when you have a moment to yourself. The scenery, stories, music and emotion are amazing. This is cycling.

Rapha Continental – The Movie from RAPHA on Vimeo.

Favorite Number

I was cleaning out my gear bag getting ready for tomorrow's ride and found my number from the crit race Wednesday night. This has now become my new favorite number.

Final Crit Race - Daily Timeline

5:00 a.m. Woke up / hit snooze

5:07 a.m. Woke up again

5:20 a.m. Dressed & out the door

5:28 a.m. Arrive @ Give Yoga studio

5:32 a.m. Realize my yoga partner is not coming, It's me & one other student

6:05 a.m. This downward dog to warrior pose is kicking my ass

6:30 a.m. Saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatnam - Yoga ends

6:35 a.m. It takes all my will power, but I don't stop for my after yoga Gibson's
donuts.

7:15 a.m. Help make breakfast & school lunch

7:30 a.m. Eldest child out the door

8:30 a.m. Head to work

1:30 p.m. Decide to go buy new tennis shoes

3:15 p.m. Pick up eldest from school

3:35 p.m. Eat a turkey sandwich from Vanelli's Deli, skip the chips, wheat bread

3:45 p.m. Drop eldest at tutor. Sit in car & watch Treme on Ipad (Great Show)

4:20 p.m. Tutor over

4:30 p.m. Drop eldest at home, throw on bib & T-shirt, load gear bag & bike

5:05 p.m. Arrive at Tiger Lane

5:18 p.m. Registered

5:25 p.m. Dressed, tire pressure set, ready to warm up

5:35 p.m. Legs feeling good, nerves....not so much

5:42 p.m. All riders at the line, I'm positioned on the third row

5:45 p.m. 3.2.1. Go

5:46 p.m. I make it through the first corner, sitting mid pack

5:50 p.m. Red Ant attacks, big acceleration. (thanks Farmer) I grind hard & am
able to hold the wheel in front of me. Drop avoided.

5:52 p.m. Rider down entering the concourse

5:55 p.m. Pace settles / still sitting mid pack. Feeling good

5:59 p.m. 5 laps left board comes out, I'm still in it

6:02 p.m. 3 laps left, we enter the first turn, big crash. Peleton gets split.
I hammer again and close the gap on the front 7-8 riders. Heart rate
spikes.

6:04 p.m. 1 lap left board comes out. I'm sitting top 10, not out riding solo.
I crack a smile.

6:06 p.m. I enter the final corner, get into the drops & out of the saddle. This
was my first opportunity to sprint to the line. Felt great. I cross the
finish line.

6:10 p.m. I ride to my car & change clothes. I want to do the Carlton dance, but
I keep it cool, like I've done this before.

I hung around and watched the Cat 4's and the Cat 1,2,3's

7:45 p.m. Arrive at Young Avenue Deli - Let the cold beers begin.

8:30 p.m. Get handed a celebratory shot of Jagermeister. Seemed cool at the time,
not so cool the next morning. (Thanks FOIL w/ DI2)

9:00 p.m. Someone in the group orders Pimento Cheese Fries, Unbelievable!

9:30 p.m. A friend and I walk across the Street for sushi at Doe and a PBR. I
would regret this also in the morning.

10:25 p.m. Back home

10:28 p.m. OUT!

Monday Training Ride

Getting My Feet Right

This past week was the second in a series of 3 local crit races. I was really looking forward to this race after my first ended shortly after it started. You see, some guy decided to make his bike as wide as a semi and took out two other racers. I happened to be right behind the riders that went down and I had to lock up the brakes not to end up back here...



Now I must admit, the "Amigo" (that's really the cart's name) was pretty cool. I have never gotten as much attention by the ladies at Kroger as I did in that baby, but I still don't want to be back there.

Once I got around the crash and got rolling again the peleton was gone. I spent the next 15 minutes riding solo. I was angry, but not disappointed, I told myself to ride it out and chalk it up to bad luck. I loaded the bike up and vowed to have a stronger result next time.

Over the next few weeks I continued my training, I was feeling stronger with every ride. I also began to think about what I could do different for the next race, you know, have a strategy. I came across a photo of myself from the first race and realized immediately my first problem. Let me share...



I needed a new kit. I look like Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I'm sporting more colors than a swatch wall at your local Home Depot. I also realized that even though I've lost a lot of weight, I still need the XL jersey. That 1000 Island is still kickin my ass. So, I got online and ordered a brand new kit, size XL. I felt faster already. I also didn't look like I was smuggling grapefruits across the border.

For about a year, Kimberly has joked with me about going to get a pedicure. I always gave a typical Bid Daddy " Yeah Yeah Buddy" (Big Daddy is my dad & that is his response to everything) response and went about my day. But this past Saturday it clicked in my head, healthy feet must be faster feet. I hopped in the car and headed to Magic Nails. I jumped into the massage chair next to my wife and got settled in. After a quick scan of the room I realized I was in unchartered waters. The room was full of middle aged women texting and reading US Weekly, the room also seemed to get quiet, like I had interrupted a group 'my husband is a no good SOB' session. The young lady came over and it was my turn, I was nervous, as this photo shows...



The first thing she did was place my feet in a foot bath. She began to fill it with water, hot water, my damn dawgs were on fire, but I'm a man and I could take it, okay, I took it for like two minutes. Depressing Pedicure Moment 1: I had to ask for cooler water.



Once the water got to a manageable temperature, it felt great. I was really enjoying myself. I got my nails clipped, my cuticles somethinged and a really good foot massage. But then she asked a scary question. "Do you want the razor?" I looked over at my wife and she just began to laugh. I hesitantly shook my head up and down. The next thing I knew, she was shaving the bottom of my feet like a block of Parmesan cheese. Skin was falling to the floor like it was snowing. I was amazed. That bring us to Depressing Pedicure Moment 2: she announced to the entire store that when she was done, I would probably need a new shoe size. Nice. I buried my face in my US Weekly, I mean Sports Illustrated, and cringed. After another massage with some blue tingly jelly I was done. My feet felt great. Another wave of fast came over me.

Race Day. I spent the night before getting everything in order. I cleaned my bike, lubed the chain and filled my water bottles with my new favorite sports drink. If you have not tried the Gu Blueberry Pomegrante drink mix, run to your local bike shop and pick it up, it's great. I ate a good breakfast and lunch. I was ready. I got to the course early and signed in. They gave me number 266. I got dressed and headed to take some warm up laps...



Everything was feeling good. They announced 5 minutes till start. I rode over to the family for some last minute good luck. I took my position on the line and got focused. In the first race I lined up in the back, didn't work out very well. So this time I lined up on the second row. I just wanted to get off the line and through the first corner closer to the front. The started yelled "Go" and we were off. Ten yards into the start I knew I was in trouble. I went from top 10 to almost last place immediately. Where the hell was everyone going so fast, we just started? I pulled back up to the pack and tried to get into a rhythm. I held this position for all of 2 1/2 laps. They were gone, just like race one, only this time I had no excuse for being dropped other than my lack of speed.

I spent the next 15 minutes riding solo again. This time I was pissed. Being the guy people clap for because you are sticking with it is not fun. The same guy did it every lap, I wanted to tell him to shove his clap up his ass, but I was out of breath. Once again I put my head down and stuck with it. The whole time thinking how could this happen, I have a proper fitting kit and healthy feet. As I crossed the finish line my kids were there cheering me on, I think they thought I might have won since there was no one else around. I took a cool down lap to compose myself and then rode back to the finish and unclipped.

Race 2 - not good. But there is one race left on May 18th, and one more chance to stay with the group. My plan this time is not to over-think it, just let it happen. But now I gotta go, I'm late for my pedicure.

Congratulations

In my post "Win one for the Gipper", I spoke about a message that I received saying that my story and blog were inspiring. That message was from a young lady who has also overcome injuries and was training for her first marathon. Reading those words meant a lot to me and like I said earlier, I think about them daily and will carry them with me to Colorado.

Since receiving that comment I have been following her blog and I knew that this past weekend was her marathon so I was anxious to know the results. I'm proud to say that she finished her marathon and goal in just over four hours. After reading her post I sent her a message letting her know that now she was the inspiring one. If you want to read her story, check out bethbwilson.blogspot.com



I hope Beth's story will inspire others to get out there and accomplish that goal they have always wanted to achieve. Go out there and Get Buckled Up.

Congratulations Beth, what an amazing accomplishment.

Getting Technical

Combine a long holiday weekend with one helmet cam and The Douche, and this is what you get. Enjoy.

Greenline Etiquette for Dummies

In 2008 & 2009, Bicycling Magazine ranked Memphis as one of the three worst cities in America for cycling. This ranking should come as no surprise to anyone who has ever ridden our streets. Much of the pavement within the loop is crap & drivers still act shocked when they see someone on a bike. We are way behind the times, but progress is being made. The most recognizable being the Memphis Greenline. This project has taken unused railroad tracks and created a paved recreational area for our citizens.Mayor AC Wharton and the local government have collaborated in a public-private partnership to make this recreational facility possible. This is a major leap in the right direction. I applaud those involved.



Now let's get to the meat of the post. The Greenline pisses me off, not the Greenline itself, but many of the people using it. Now to be transparent, I don't typically ride the Greenline, but I have been on it 1/2 dozen times & it's the same every time.



I don't know who this clown is, I just found this picture on Google Images, but it represents my frustration perfectly. Is talking on your phone really necessary while your exercising? Every time I have been on the Greenline there are people walking or biking while talking on their phone, stupid! If you don't have 30 minutes to put your phone down, stay home. Reminder, for it really to be called exercise, you need to elevate your heart rate. I rank these people right up there with those who talk on the phone while using the restroom. Put your phone down, pay attention to your surroundings and enjoy your 30 minutes of freedom.



Let me start by saying I like dogs. We actually have a new puppy joining our family on Sunday, his name will be "Mojo". I think it's great people take their dogs on walks with them, but does "Fido" really need an 18' leash? It's like the roles are reversed and the dogs are taking their owners on walks. I see these dogs every time, running from one side of the path to the other. Why is it annoying?? Because I have to slow down to make sure I don't take out "Fido" as I ride by. On a side-note, If you dog weighs more than your child, don't let the child walk it.



These are called street lanes, they designate the flow of traffic. Notice also that there is no designation for a center lane. The picture below must be posted in an area that I have never seen, because it is how many of the people walk and ride on the Greenline.



I realize you might just be out for a joyride, but stay in the proper lane. These are typically the people that scare me the most, I never know what direction they will jolt when I yell that I'm passing them.

One major trend that I've noticed is the lack of helmets being worn by cyclists. Just because your not going 15-20 mph doesn't mean your shouldn't wear one. There are a lot of people on the path and a simple accident could happen at any time. Be safe and always throw on a helmet, Moms & Dads, you especially. Set a good example for your kids.

The Greenline is a great facility for our city and I do believe it has brought many people off the couch and outside. I hope it continues to grow and that more people will take advantage of it, I just ask that everyone pay attention and be considerate of others that are using it.

Initiation Day

stoked (st kt). adj. Slang. 1. Exhilarated or excited

This word is just plain cool. It's the Fonzy of the English langauge. I don't remember the exact moment I first heard it, but I'm sure it was while I was watching the X-Games. Since that time, I've tried to find a way to incorporate it into my vocabulary, but I've had no luck. You see, this word is like an outlaw biker handshake or a prison tat, you can't just throw it around in everyday conversation, it must be earned. Let me give you an example. "I was stoked that we sold 10 lasagnas tonight" or "I'm stoked about that Buffalo Mozzarella we're serving," it just doesn't work. To use this word in a conversation, you must be referring to an experience or event that can cause bodily harm. It's the only acceptable way. For at least 10 years, I have been carrying this word with me like a repressed memory screaming to come to life. Well, last night, I was initiated. I got my prison tat and I was stoked about it.

As I pulled into the parking lot at the Memphis Fairgrounds, the hair on the back of my neck stood at attention. There were riders unloading their bikes while others were sitting on their tailgates putting their kits on. I found a parking spot and killed the engine. As I sat in silence, feelings of excitement and horror rushed through my body. I gave myself a final pep talk and stepped out of the car. I walked to the registration tent, signed in, got my race number and went back to get ready. I dressed, pulled my bike off the rack, clipped in and headed towards the course. This was it... my first crit race.

I had no expectations going into this event. I just wanted to ride with the pack for as long as I could, and if I got dropped it was okay. I would use this race as a benchmark for the second and third of the three-race series. The course was a seven-tenths of a mile loop, and we would be racing 30 minutes + 3 laps. I would be riding in the Cat 5 (beginner) group. I pulled onto the course to take some warm up laps and hit my first obstacle, the wind. You ever see that scene in Twister when the cows fly across the road? It was like that. The finish line straight, which was probably .4 of the .7 was dead into the wind and it was murder. I rode three warm-up laps and went back to the staging area. It wasn't until the announcer said "Cat 5 to the line" did I get nervous. I pulled into position and grabbed a drink. When I looked down at my computer my heart rate was climbing and I knew I had to relax. I looked over my shoulder and there they were, the family. The boys were waving and yelling "hello" to their old dad and it was cool. I looked at the other riders and spectators on the side of the road, just taking it all in. It was at that moment that it hit me- I was competing in a bike race, and I was proud. The race official gave us our final instructions and counted us down, 3, 2, 1...

When the pack pulled off, my heart rate immediately climbed back up - not from effort, but from excitement. We made our first corner and the speed began to ramp up, not bad, but it ramped. I was sitting mid pack, just holding my line. The last thing I wanted was to make a mistake and take somebody out or crash. When we reached the short section of the track that was tailwind, the boys upfront took full advantage. They were hauling ass. We came out of this section and into a left hand turn. Here, the crosswind was brutal and you had to really hold your bike. So far so good. When we hit the headwind for the first time the pace of the group slowed dramatically, like a yellow flag at a NASCAR race. Tucked into the middle of the pack, I wasn't really affected. As we closed upon the finish line I looked to my right, and there were my boys - cheering. I couldn't help but smile. One lap down. We rode this pace for another three laps. I was feeling really good at this point that I'd be able to hang with the group until the finish. Then I hit my second obstacle.

As we were approaching the entrance into the tailwind section of the course I moved up a few positions. I knew the guys up front were going to hit the accelerator and I didn't want to be towards the back. I put my head down for a second and hit the pedals hard, then I heard it. I looked up and saw the rider in front of me veer dead right into another rider, and as the two of them came down, they took out a third. The three of them went straight to the pavement. I slammed on my brakes and my heart skipped a beat - or two. I came to a complete stop. This couldn't have happened at a worse spot on the course, and the main pack never slowed. I clipped back in and went as hard as I could. I knew if I didn't catch the group my day would be over. I was beginning to catch them when we hit the straightaway. The wind hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew at that moment my ride was over. When I came past the family this time there was no smile. But my boys still called out to me. One more lap around and I was cooked. I just couldn't stand the wind anymore, so I pulled off. I tried to tell myself it was okay, but then I thought about the boys. What would they think when I didn't ride by? I pulled back on and kept riding, for them and for me. I didn't want to go home knowing I quit. I rode the final two laps and came across the finish line. My dad was standing just beyond it, and gave me that look of "good job for fighting it out."

As I rode around on my cool-down lap my mind was racing. I was both happy for finishing and disappointed because the crash took me out of the group. I wondered how long I could have hung on had it not happened. I rode over to my family and Kimberly and the boys congratulated me, telling me how proud they were. I realized at that moment that I had accomplished something. I'm a 37 year old restauranteur and I have grit. I may have been in the back, but I was there til the end. My boys didn't understand where I finished, they just knew that I finished, and that was the important thing.

Next Wednesday night I'll get another chance to see how I can compete, and I'm stoked about it.