So I added a random quote feature to the blog site, and curiously, this is the first one I saw when logging in to write this post.

"To be a cyclist is to be a student of pain….. at cycling's core lies pain, hard and bitter as the pit inside a juicy peach. It doesn't matter if you're sprinting for an Olympic medal, a town sign, a trailhead, or the rest stop with the homemade brownies. If you never confront pain, you're missing the essence of the sport. Without pain, there's no adversity. Without adversity, no challenge. Without challenge, no improvement. No improvement, no sense of accomplishment and no deep-down joy. Might as well be playing Tiddly-Winks."

Read more on CFC Day 1…

Finished.

Sore as hell.

CFC: It hurts. It sucks. Weather was horrible (day 1 at least).

I loved it.

Read more on CFC Quickie…

It occurred to me on Friday that TT can mean two things:

1. Temper Tantrum
2. Time Trial

It occurred to me because to some degree I/we had both on the same day. I guess anytime you take off the front or do a group route solo it could be due to some aggravation or flare up. Basically it's a matter turning a bad a situation into a good workout.

Read more on TT Double Entendre…

As you may well have noticed, I have added a feature to the blog that throws out a random cycling related quote.

Some are from literature, some are from famous (or infamous) cyclists, some are from our own beloved cadre of local riders.

Read more on Cycling Quotes…

10 miles home in the dark, damp and drizzle. The temp was a balmy 51°. If anything, my only mistake was wearing shorts instead of tights or leg warmers. I also worked two hours later than planned, hence the dark.

Read more on 20 more just like today…

…gonna come down for quite a while. I’d keep [riding].

Phone conversation #1 – downtown Troy:

“Hello?”
“Hey”
“Do you want me to come get you?”
“What does the radar look like?”
“All sorts of green, yellow and red”
“How wide is the cell?”
“All the way to Muncie. Do you want a ride?”
“Nah.. there’s quite a bit of lightning, but it looks like if I get further west it’ll ease up”
“Okaaaaay…” [meaning: you're nuts and you should let me come get you]

Read more on I don’t think the hard stuff’s……

Today through Tuesday I will be off the bike, much needed rest(?)

I put the question mark after 'rest' because Cindy and I are off to Clifty Falls State Park for an anniversary trip. We have not been there in many years, but if I remember correctly, it is a lot like the Hocking Hills area, so hiking there involves some farily steep grades, and/or many stairs. We shall see.

Read more on 3 days off / thoughts…

Pretty much was going to be one of those days where it rains from morning 'til night.

Read more on 20 more wet ones…

Today definitely goes in the 'it doesn't rain on Fred's Ride' list.

It rained all morning. It rained in the afternoon. It was raining at 4 pm. At 5 pm, I stood at the front door of my office building in Troy and debated for at least 5-10 minutes about whether to ride from there or just drive to Process. Either way, I was riding the ride, but did I really want 20 more miles? The brisk south wind sealed the deal.

Read more on Stole one!…

As I'm riding down 25A this morning, a car passes by me in the right lane. Not unusual, most cars move over to the left, but some don't, or can't if both lanes are full. This one is a hair closer than I'd prefer, but still not a big deal.

Read more on Risks…

For some reason my quads and calves were extremely sore today. Last night while I was trying to sleep I woke up a couple of times in pain, calves in particular. Either that 'moderate' ride Wednesday really wasn't, or the Highlander caught up with me. Maybe a combination of the two?

Read more on 39:19…

What? You mean it isn't December 31?

That's weird… 'cause my odometer says:

7500!

        :podiumbabe:

Read more on HAPPY NEW YEAR!…