A Cycling Hangover

You've been there right? Had too much of a good thing, kill the alarm clock and sleep in. Only to wake up feeling achy and sore in places you didn't realize could feel sore? But then today was the day you were given the glorious hall pass. A three hour-ish window to go ride wherever. The call for a 50 miler was mine for the taking. There's no way I wasn't riding. I scrambled to get my gear on, granted minimal since we were in the high 70s today. But I was riding towards the ocean breezes, and the weather there is anyone's guess. Being a dad, I'm always over packing but today I was right. Thankfully, after I suffered up Marshall Wall I was welcomed to sun, and looming low lying clouds over highway one. Arm warmers and a vest were the perfect counter to the gloom. Without them, I'd likely have turned back. Then again I thought about turning back earlier. Just before Marshall, I came across this Ford pickup. Rusted, banged up, and just relaxing. I was feeling a bit broken up myself

, as I'm still recovering my mtb spill the other day. Battling off and on cross winds, with an occasional tail wind, I managed to hammer back as best I could back home. I made it just after 4pm. You always earn kudos from the family the closer you arrive to scheduled arrival time. But I was done. Toast. Hurt to even lift my bike up to its hook. I guess I grimaced for even my son said "uh, are you all right dad?". I brushed it off saying it's nothing a nice shower won't fix. Post shower I stumbled out, assessing myself once more, taking note of what's working what's not. One step at a time. You can do it. Must get dressed in normal clothes. And that's when it struck me. I had a cycling hangover. A combination of injury, bonk, and perhaps too many miles in a week. Yes, I said it..can it be true? The mere mention of it makes my hair stand on end. Someone should revoke my hall pass and refer me to Rule # 5.