Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
Sorry for the lack of updates. Time spent in Austin was spent well visiting with friends and family. Not only did I get to revisit the world of Austinite bums,
But I also got to visit family, best friends, old rides and old memories. Mom never lets a visit home go unnoticed. Home cooked meals every night I was home was really nice. The last night I was there she cooked something extra nice. Artichoke, crab, lemon butter, and fruit salad with homemade whipped creme....mmmmmmmmm.
The greatest Mom in the World!
It’s always nice to see the friends you never get to see anymore, and while many people change over time, these guys don’t. They're still the same good ol people they were when I left em.
Eric tried to steal some fashion from dad; I think dad pulls it off a little better.
The second to last day I was in Austin I felt I needed to do my ride. The ride to JC, it always makes me pretty happy and being Memorial Day, I knew the traffic would be low. But when I stepped out the door I wasn’t too sure if I should ride or go back to sleep.
I ended up riding and got sprinkled on for 15 mins but after that it was clear sailing and the weather got real nice like.
I hit the low water Xing and found it to be about bottom bracket deep. Knowing from experience, I knew that the bottom was slicker than shit with a thin film of algae and moss making this trip across the bridge most treacherous. I decided to go for it and made it across.
On the way back I decided to stop there again and freshen up before the hot ride back home.
After doing the Tuesday nighter and staying up all night with saying last goodbyes, it was time to make the 15hr trek back to Boulder. Dad being the great dad that he is offered to help me drive. The drive was long and pretty uneventful.
We saw weird helicopters:
A small windmill:
Big windmills (these things give me the eebbee jeebees):
Traffic:
And some cool clouds:
The next day was spent running errands and taking dad to the airport. But since I was chomping at the bit to ride the mtn bike the next morning me and Bryan Alders Bryan Alders went for a 2.5 hr ride which was a nice change of pace.
Yesterday was the Teva Mountain Bike Challenge. Coming up from 3 weeks at sea level I wasn’t expecting much out of the 8,500ft elevation Vail had to offer. During the pre ride we got hailed on, but the course was pretty fun minus the fire roads.
When race time hit I was ready to suffer. I had a good start and after about a mile trains were starting to form. I was about 50ft back from the front train of about 5 guys. I was breathing like an asthmatic but the legs were there. Right before we entered the single track I tried to pass a guy who was going pretty slow but as soon as I got alongside of him he stood up to sprint me. In doing so the moron put his handle bar right into my rip. I rode another 500 yards and had to pull over. I had the worst pain in my side ever. I thought for sure I broke a rib. I hobbled down back to the EMT's and then to the Hospital. The people at Vail hospital are the biggest pricks ever and said I couldn’t see a doctor I had to go to the ER. The Doctors there couldn’t care less about me and I ended up saving the $500 and went back. At first sharp movements hurt but now after icing it twice, its only coughing that really hurts, I’m pretty sure it’s just bruised. This whole not being able to have a good mtn bike race is really starting to get to me. I'm officially declaring war on everything that stands in my way. Hopefully the burning, raging inferno of fiery passion within me will lead me to something better than a DNF. Ok well time to go eat and whatever else I do today.
But I also got to visit family, best friends, old rides and old memories. Mom never lets a visit home go unnoticed. Home cooked meals every night I was home was really nice. The last night I was there she cooked something extra nice. Artichoke, crab, lemon butter, and fruit salad with homemade whipped creme....mmmmmmmmm.
The greatest Mom in the World!
It’s always nice to see the friends you never get to see anymore, and while many people change over time, these guys don’t. They're still the same good ol people they were when I left em.
Eric tried to steal some fashion from dad; I think dad pulls it off a little better.
The second to last day I was in Austin I felt I needed to do my ride. The ride to JC, it always makes me pretty happy and being Memorial Day, I knew the traffic would be low. But when I stepped out the door I wasn’t too sure if I should ride or go back to sleep.
I ended up riding and got sprinkled on for 15 mins but after that it was clear sailing and the weather got real nice like.
I hit the low water Xing and found it to be about bottom bracket deep. Knowing from experience, I knew that the bottom was slicker than shit with a thin film of algae and moss making this trip across the bridge most treacherous. I decided to go for it and made it across.
On the way back I decided to stop there again and freshen up before the hot ride back home.
After doing the Tuesday nighter and staying up all night with saying last goodbyes, it was time to make the 15hr trek back to Boulder. Dad being the great dad that he is offered to help me drive. The drive was long and pretty uneventful.
We saw weird helicopters:
A small windmill:
Big windmills (these things give me the eebbee jeebees):
Traffic:
And some cool clouds:
The next day was spent running errands and taking dad to the airport. But since I was chomping at the bit to ride the mtn bike the next morning me and Bryan Alders Bryan Alders went for a 2.5 hr ride which was a nice change of pace.
Yesterday was the Teva Mountain Bike Challenge. Coming up from 3 weeks at sea level I wasn’t expecting much out of the 8,500ft elevation Vail had to offer. During the pre ride we got hailed on, but the course was pretty fun minus the fire roads.
When race time hit I was ready to suffer. I had a good start and after about a mile trains were starting to form. I was about 50ft back from the front train of about 5 guys. I was breathing like an asthmatic but the legs were there. Right before we entered the single track I tried to pass a guy who was going pretty slow but as soon as I got alongside of him he stood up to sprint me. In doing so the moron put his handle bar right into my rip. I rode another 500 yards and had to pull over. I had the worst pain in my side ever. I thought for sure I broke a rib. I hobbled down back to the EMT's and then to the Hospital. The people at Vail hospital are the biggest pricks ever and said I couldn’t see a doctor I had to go to the ER. The Doctors there couldn’t care less about me and I ended up saving the $500 and went back. At first sharp movements hurt but now after icing it twice, its only coughing that really hurts, I’m pretty sure it’s just bruised. This whole not being able to have a good mtn bike race is really starting to get to me. I'm officially declaring war on everything that stands in my way. Hopefully the burning, raging inferno of fiery passion within me will lead me to something better than a DNF. Ok well time to go eat and whatever else I do today.
posted by blakeharlan at 9:12 AM
2 Comments:
buuuuuuurap. glad you're back lil'buddy.
me too! now i just have to be in a car to utah with you for 12 hours or so. I hope you dont stink as bad as martini!
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