Sun and farmland
Although it's been a long time in coming, today's ride felt great. Sun was out, the roads were clean and smooth, the legs just kept pounding out the rhythm whether it was into the wind, up a mountain, or through the canyons.
On days like this, your body accepts the pain because you've convinced it there is no choice. You keep it from thinking about quiting by feeding it with food and water. Only 60 miles into the ride does it start to consider mutiny. But the knee was quiet; maybe the Aleve was working its magic.
My favorite training fuel has been sent from home, a custom made energy bar that is about 700 calories of nuts and dried fruit crammed into a palm-sized piece of amazingness. I love these things so much that I have placed them in the freezer for longevity's sake, and ration them for only big rides. I have inherited one thing in particular from dad: when he's about to take a bite of something really tasty, his lips quiver slightly in anticipation. I do the same with these things, unwrapping the plastic with one hand while navigating a descent with the other hand. Sometimes I fumble in the excitement, dropping the bar. One time I even stopped alongside a highway to go back and pick it up (and it eat). It only bothered me slightly that there was roadkill 30 meters past the spot.
Hit up a new climb today that was badass. One lane road with clean, white lines on each side, curving through trees and up this mountain to a viewpoint of a valley of farmland: lots of great yellows and greens, but even better contrasts of dark and light from the small, puffy clouds passing overhead.
Came back to the apartment with tired legs... Sam had cooked up a bean-based patty fried with corn meal on the outside and cheese melted inside. That description doesn't quite do it justice, but in a sandwich with maayonaise, dijon, and some of the peppers from the store, it was damn good.
On days like this, your body accepts the pain because you've convinced it there is no choice. You keep it from thinking about quiting by feeding it with food and water. Only 60 miles into the ride does it start to consider mutiny. But the knee was quiet; maybe the Aleve was working its magic.
My favorite training fuel has been sent from home, a custom made energy bar that is about 700 calories of nuts and dried fruit crammed into a palm-sized piece of amazingness. I love these things so much that I have placed them in the freezer for longevity's sake, and ration them for only big rides. I have inherited one thing in particular from dad: when he's about to take a bite of something really tasty, his lips quiver slightly in anticipation. I do the same with these things, unwrapping the plastic with one hand while navigating a descent with the other hand. Sometimes I fumble in the excitement, dropping the bar. One time I even stopped alongside a highway to go back and pick it up (and it eat). It only bothered me slightly that there was roadkill 30 meters past the spot.
Hit up a new climb today that was badass. One lane road with clean, white lines on each side, curving through trees and up this mountain to a viewpoint of a valley of farmland: lots of great yellows and greens, but even better contrasts of dark and light from the small, puffy clouds passing overhead.
Came back to the apartment with tired legs... Sam had cooked up a bean-based patty fried with corn meal on the outside and cheese melted inside. That description doesn't quite do it justice, but in a sandwich with maayonaise, dijon, and some of the peppers from the store, it was damn good.
posted by Unknown at 10:59 PM
1 Comments:
ok, some questions art wanted to know before he gets there, and he's out of internet contact for the next two days:
does he have a bed?
if yes, then does he need sheets?
do you have internet at the apartment, and is it highspeed?
and one of my own questions-is anyone going to shave his head?
thank you,
Shea
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