Use your imagination

Sunrise at Downata, Idaho

When it counts, expect a flat

Pulling the road bike off of the hanger this week, led to some unfamiliar challenges - like pinch-flats. I've not been shy about ripping the shite for roads in the upper valley this year, but the hardtail is equipped for the adverse conditions and garbage - more than the Six-13. The week started with two back to back 14 hour work days with clients. Wednesday I was able to push out a 50-plus mile tempo ride without having any stops. Feeling pretty good about the effort, Tuesday was 40-pus miles with highway intervals (30-30). Again no stops until a phone call from a client 7-miles from home. Twenty minutes cooled me down enough, I was gassing it pretty hard when I hit some rough roads and pinched the back-wheel. A not so quick tube replacement and was on my way again. Another phone call from a different client one-mile from home had me stopped for another 10 minutes. The Garmin stats for when I was riding looked okay, but not where I should be in August. Out the next morning for what should have been another 50-plus mile tempo ride was cut short by another pinch-flat about 16-miles out. Rather than fight fate, I called for a bail out and went home to do hills on the hardtail. Not really where I need to be this late in the season, but I'm not giving up quite yet.

"....it's driving me nuts".

Right - the sixth-grade pirate joke. Had a follow-up with the doctor this past week. Nothing new to report, other than I'm cleared to fly - for now. We'll make some further evaluations after the race (ride) - maybe in October. But for now, there is really nothing to be concerned with, other than some sore tendons - which is just part of the drill. But then there are the things I can't control. More like, things that other people tend to control for me. Being spent like pocket-change gets a little old, but it is expected. The early part of this upcoming week is already looking like a challenge to stay on task. Whining about it does nothing but make matters worse. It really gets to a point that desire and willingness aren't enough. I have to constantly remind myself how it feels without the option to even have the ability to ride. One small mistake and I could be out of the mix without the choice to ride, or whine. Sucking it up.............

"Better Lucky than Good"

A phrase I started using some number of years ago, as I realized how lucky I have been. Let's face it, I'm far luckier than good on my best day. When I consider where things could have been, I know at times, I'm lucky to simply still be in the position to do what I do - whatever it is that I do. I'll take luck when I can. I just need to learn to fully exploit the opportunity when luck does roll my way. All that said, don't expect luck to carry the baggage if the work hasn't been put-in. Make that investment and work as though there is no luck to be had. Truth is, you can't be any luckier than work you put into a situation. The pain is only temporary. Always position yourself  as to be in a position to win.

"Honey let me introduce you to my redneck friend" Click here for J-B

Pulling for Reed! Ride HARD!