The Friday Test

I've pedaled into cycling doldrums. It's not that I don't want to ride. It's not that I don't enjoy the break either. Physically, consistently riding 200+ miles a week is challenging. So instead, my Strava meter to the right as of today (Tuesday Oct 1st), I've ridden zip, zero, nada. Yes, I'm whining..please pass me the cheese.


On the flip side I'm regaining normalcy. Sleep, other priorities, but the emptiness of not riding burns deep. It's just not something that you lose overnight. And the cruel duality of cycling is that although you miss it, it doesn't miss you. Physical gains made during training have an expiration date. A week off for recovery? Ok, you are still good. Add another half week or so of new priorities? Well, your legs get fresh, but your aerobic capacity drops. So where am I?

I can tell you where I'm not. I'm not on my saddle. I'm also not on the ferry. I'm not ready for it yet. I used to ride the ferry in and simply take a nap on it...on both ways. I'm not there yet. I'll just stare out the window looking at The Sleeping Lady or Paradise Dr. mocking me as I sit on the boat wondering why my work pants are as tight around the waist as my cycling tights.

Friday is test day, however. Fridays are my "century commute" days. My version is to ride 60 miles before work, and then 40 home. The morning is a non issue. I just go to bed early, and wake up early and ride my route of choice to work. It's the return flight home that's taxing on the brain. I have all the hills counted, and all the difficult spots ingrained...but really, it's the last 3 miles before home that get me every time. At that point I'm just done, exhausted. Tempted to cash in my chips and call the wife for a ride home. Yes, honey, I know..I'm only 3 miles away...can do that with my eyes closed...yes, I know..the kids have friends over....,no my tire isn't flat, yes I raced people in the morning too, yep you should have seen the sunrise from Mt Tam this morning, uh huh, 5,0000 feet morning, yes, yes dropped some friends on way home, yep, I know, I do this to myself, what's that? well yeah of course this is fun!

Here's to Friday.