Ever since I got back from Mexico last month, it's been windy as fuck around these parts and there seems to be no let up in sight. It's been destroying of my sinuses, but I'm luvin it. Makes me feel alive, like I'm competing against Mother Nature like some kind of modern caveman. Headwind is a nightmare in cycling. Nothing like working hard for a mere 10mph on a steep descent that should net closer to 30. It calls for a little more aerodynamics, some grunting and lots of swearing all the while keeping my heart rate in check...don't want to blow up you know. Here in California, unlike everywhere else in the US, there are no seasons. We get sunny and warm with very little wind, 360 days a year, like it or not. So it's nice and refreshing to feel the beatdown from nature from time to time. Today was one of those days. I'm a month into Fitness El Hefe, so it was time to put the legs to the test with some hill climbing to see where I'm at physically. Actually, I cheated last week and snuck in a few hill repeats after which I felt like shit for several days. But today was the real first day of climbing, maybe a couple thousand vert, all in one climb, and about 40 miles all together. Felt great to suffer a bit, felt rewarding. It's good for the head. Over the summer, those little numbers will seem more like a warmup. One of my favorite quotes of all time is from a Dutch book about a bike race, isn't that weird. Tim Krabbe says...
"The greater the suffering the greater the pleasure. That is nature's payback to riders for the homage they pay her by suffering. Velvet pillows, safari parks, sunglasses: people have become woolly mice. They still have bodies that can walk for five days and four nights through a desert of snow, without food but they accept praise for having taken a one-hour bike ride. "Good for you". Instead of expressing their gratitude for the rain by getting wet, people walk around with unbrellas. Nature is an old lady with few friends these days, and those who choose to make use of her charms, she rewards passionately."
that vid was heavy mang
ReplyDeleteol one arm here bout to get woodsy on the solo tip...hone my survival skills n shit...increase my crew-worthiness yahurd? werd.
saw 'mt st elias" last night. movie kinda sucked, but had a good scene which totally summed up the bad mojo of a crew lacking cohesion and confidence...gnarly. Past month or so being gnarly for me, I'm fully with you on the Importance of Crew. Mine is pretty dece.
You're off the hook till the Wampa gets reattached.
ReplyDeleteMy surf crew is strong, I'm the weak link in skills but not motivation.
My cycling, shred, birdy photogging, tree huggin, car camp/drinkin/smokin crew is non-existent. Gotta work on that.