I realized something this morning while I was riding my bike. There is little else that feels as independent and freeing as being on my bike. Perfect feeling for this holiday. The happiness that my heart and soul feels when I'm pedaling and logging miles is almost indescribable and is emotionally overwhelming at times. I know I've written in the past about the humbling experience that comes on a bike when there's no one else to push you to your limit - but it's more than that. Whenever I mount my bike and take off, there is a sense of calm that comes over me. It's as if my Ridley is just telling me to be the engine and she will take care of everything else. Of course I have an agenda when I ride: to get faster, handle the bike better, obtain greater fitness over the course of many miles, etc. But it's the emotional "letting go" of EVERYTHING else in my life that truly is the greatest benefit of getting on a bike.
No matter what kind of day I'm having, getting on my bike helps me forget the real world for awhile. To me, it's my sanity check. Open road, open mind, open heart. I'm just ME. On a bike. Experiencing life in a completely different, and AWESOME, way.
So, you can imagine how happy I was when I finished my ride this morning (here's the proof):
I had actually planned to ride last night on a new route south of town but the weather stopped me in my tracks. A storm blew up so quick and brought lots of lightening, lost power and some pretty good downfall of rain. I moved to Plan B last night (I almost ALWAYS have a plan b) and spent time reading a new cycling book (more on that later).
This morning I drove south on 69 Hwy to 175th St in the Overland Park/Olathe area. My coach had advised that this would be a good road to ride. Last night during some downtime, I pulled up the area and read some posts by other cyclists that confirmed this stretch of road being good for riding. It's a fairly flat road that doesn't have a lot of elevation gain. Triathletes love this road for practice. There's a nice shoulder for cyclists to ride on. Traffic was pretty steady this morning but I felt safe on the shoulder. Except for one idiot driver, I never had a problem with traffic.
I truly believe in this:
I believe that cyclists and drivers BOTH share the responsibility EQUALLY to watch out for each other. I've gotten pretty good at being able to tell when a car is approaching me from behind. Of course, on group rides, someone is usually yelling "car back" which is helpful (and also annoying at times) but when you're alone, you have to learn to do it for yourself. Cars will usually move to the left of the road, if they are able and no traffic is oncoming from the opposite direction, and go around the rider. To me, that's enough. I DO NOT NEED YOU TO HONK AT ME FROM BEHIND (scaring the ever living shit out of me) to let me know that you are back there. When that happens, it causes me to freak out just a little and lose my concentration. That's when mistakes can and will happen. Luckily, nothing happened but it did unnerve me just a little because the driver really was an idiot. He honked and then sped up around me like he was trying to pass me in a NASCAR race.
There is nothing special to report about my ride this morning - no QoM (because there were no hills) and no crashes or trouble with my bike. Just a fantastic, gorgeous morning to log 11 miles. There were a TON of riders out this morning which made me smile. Each and every one of them gave me a slight nod or wave as I was riding. This is a community of people (for the most part) that truly value each other and will go out of their way to make you feel welcome and encouraged.
Here's the data:
One last thing about my ride this morning. I'm starting to realize that I am getting faster. I log more miles in quicker time. This is inspiring and also a push to start riding for longer periods of time. It will all come in time but I'm encouraged each time I see that my time to finish is decreasing and my speed is inching up with each ride. 10.8 miles in 44:48 today. I will take it!
Onto more exciting talk: Stage 4 and 5 of the TDF. SQUEE!!!
Stage 4 was a TTT (Team Time Trial) for the TDF. A pretty short, simple race in Nice. Only 25 km. I love watching team time trials. (I HATE their aerodynamic helmets though - SO ugly). So, what is a TTT?
A team time trial (TTT) is a road-based bicycle race in which teams of cyclists race against the clock.
Teams start at equal intervals, usually two, three or four minutes apart. Starting sequences will usually be based on individuals' times in previous events, but in TTTs conducted as part of a multi-stage road race the highest ranked teams will normally start later. Later starters have the advantage of knowing what times they need to beat (and this also makes the event more interesting to spectators).
Unlike individual time trials where competitors are not permitted to 'draft' (ride in the slipstream) behind each other, in team time trials, riders in each team employ this as their main tactic, each member taking a turn at the front while team-mates 'sit in' behind. After their turn, the lead rider will swing over, allowing the next rider to take the lead, while the leader goes to the back of the team.
The final "time" for the team is not recorded until the 5th rider for the team crosses the finish line. Usually teams start with all of their members and the bottom 4 will drop back at some point, leaving the fastest to complete the trial. They're really fun to watch because the team is only as good as that 5th rider.
These were the results of the top 10 teams at the TTT:
- 1. Orica-GreenEdge, in 25:56
- 2. Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at :01
- 3. Sky, at :03
- 4. Saxo-Tinkoff, at :09
- 5. Lotto-Belisol, at :17
- 6. Garmin-Sharp, at :17
- 7. Movistar, at :19
- 8. Lampre-Merida, at :25
- 9. BMC Racing, at :26
- 10. Katusha, at :28
Look at that! The Australian team did well AGAIN! Their winning time allowed Gerrans to keep the yellow jersey for yet another day. They are really seeing success in this early part of the Tour de France, although I think the last two weeks are really going to see some drama and shaking up of the GC (General Classification). We haven't seen mountain stages yet, where the climbers will start to shine. Notice that my man, Chris Froome, hasn't won a stage yet? Just wait. His time is going to come in the third week I think. He won't make his "real" move until then. If he's going to win the TDF, week 3 is where he will do it.
There was some sadness with Stage 4, however. Ted King, with the Cannondale team, was dropped from the Tour de France after finishing 7 seconds behind the allowed finish time. SEVEN SECONDS, you guys. That's NOTHING. I was pissed. Here is a guy who has been riding with a SEPARATED SHOULDER since day 1 and you're going to cut him because of a measly 7 seconds? Other riders took to twitter and other social media to vocalize their disappointment in the Tour's decision. But, the executive committee could not be swayed.
Here is Ted King:
Bob Roll, who is a commentator for this year's TDF and who is a former cyclist (and who I ADORE) put things into perspective for me yesterday though. He said that the Tour de France is NOT fair, that it would crush dreams and bring heartache. He pointed out that Geraint Thomas finished within the allowed time while riding with a broken pelvis. And Tony Martin also finished in time, despite having a concussion, a pretty severe elbow gash and a contusion on his left lung. I'm super impressed with the level of commitment those two riders have shown these first few days. It can't be easy. There must be pain. And yet they move on. Determined.
Okay Bob, you're right. It still breaks my heart a little bit because I can imagine what's it's like to want something so bad and then have it ripped out from beneath you when all you want to do is continue on.
Stage 5 was yesterday and was a 219 km race from Cagnes-sur-Mer to Marseille. It featured 4 rated climbs and was slated to end with a sprinter's finish. I was rooting for Sagan to take this stage - and to rise in the ranks in my fantasty league - but it was not to be so. That darn Cavendish won the stage (Sagan took 3rd behind Hagen with Sky).
Dangit! I will give him some credit though. He's been riding while dealing with bronchitis which can't be easy. And, he's damn good. His victory yesterday put him within 10 victories of Eddie Merckx's record. He has plenty of time to surpass the greatest cyclist ever. I'm sure he will do it too. He's just not my favorite.
But, while Cav won, Gerrans maintained a lead so he kept the yellow jersey going into Stage 6. Here's the top 10 standings after 5 stages:
1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge 18:19:15
2 Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-GreenEdge
3 Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica-GreenEdge
4 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma-Quick Step 0:00:01
5 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quick Step
6 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling 0:00:03
7 Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling
8 Richie Porte (Aus) Sky Procycling
9 Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Saxo-Tinkoff 0:00:09
10 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Team Saxo-Tinkoff
You will all be thrilled to know that I am currently in 3rd place in my fantasy league. For a rookie, I'm doing pretty well!
Remember earlier in my blog when I said I'd talk about my new book I was reading? (I know, I know - it was a LONG time ago…when I start writing, sometimes I get carried away and can't stop!!)
Anyways, the book is called The Secret Race by Tyler Hamilton and Daniel Coyle. It's a book that goes inside the hidden world of the Tour de France. It's a book about doping, plain and simple. It came recommended by my coach who promised that I'd hate Lance Armstrong even more after reading than I did before picking it up. I started it last night after I quickly determined the rain was going to keep me from riding.
Y'all, I couldn't put it down. Talk about DRAMA. This book doesn't beat around the bush at all. The author, Coyle, spent a two year period with former cyclist (and former Armstrong teammate), Tyler Hamilton, getting the scoop of everything "behind the scenes" regarding the doping by Lance Armstrong and other cyclists (in general and on the US Postal Service cycling team). So far, it's leaving no stone left unturned and Hamilton is not holding anything back. Can you imagine what this guy kept inside all of those years until he finally decided to tell his story? Can you imagine the pain, angst, guilt, emotions, anxiety, etc that he went through? I'm so glad he decided to tell his story. I'm already 72 pages in and my heart has been racing with each turn of the page.
See? I still can't get enough of this cycling stuff. EVERY bit of cycling - the races, the riders, the drama, the emotions…I'm a damn sponge. I want to know it all. And I have so much more ground to uncover.
I did read one excerpt last night before shutting down that was very inspirational to me and I posted it to my team's private Facebook page this morning.
I got goosebumps as I read it. One word: GIVE. I know that our cycling team will succeed because I believe that the friendships that are already established already practice "the give" - both on and off the bike. And those friendships that have yet to be formed or are just beginning their formation? Well, I know that they will see success as well because the foundation has already been formed.
HOW LUCKY AM I?!?
So now that my miles have been logged? Here's my plan for the better part of this Independence Day (besides watching Stage 6 of the TDF a little later today):
Friday I am going to take a rest/recover day to prep for a pretty big ride on Saturday. Where am I going? I'm not telling just yet. I'm still working out the details - and it's pretty spontaneous and adventurous for me…but if it all comes to fruition like I think it will, my next blog post will spill all of the delicious, juicy details!
'MERICA y'all!
Happy Cycling!
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