Today

So today I FINALLY took my bike out for a ride at Terry Hershey. About 2.5 miles into the ride, it started to pour. So then I hid myself under one of the underpasses and waited for it to let up.

It took about 10mins, but it was still too rainy to keep going. I feared the slippery pavement and a broken face. So I headed back to my car...blerg. On the way I splashed into a puddle and then my crank started making a funny sound and felt like something was grinding. I took it back to my car and cleaned it off. Rode it again and felt the same thing.

Took it home, cleaned it yet again and let it dry for about an hr, then rode it again. Same thing. So I determined it was the something in the BB, but would only do that when I put weight into the pedals. Gah. I definitely don't have the tools to take it apart to see what's inside, nor do I have the know how - thus called for a trip to Performance Bike.

After they inspected it, also determined it was a BB defect, they said we gotta keep it overnight so our head mechanic can take it apart tomorrow. BLAH. I was not happy with leaving my bike in someone else's hands. Although, I know the head mechanic and he is a dependable and cool guy. I still don't like not having my bike in my room.

So what a junky day. I finally get off my lazy ass to do some riding and break my bike enough to have to take it in to the shop. That's it. When I get back from vacation and pick up my bike, I'm gonna sign up for something and start training again. This laziness has to stop!

What Happened?

This morning I was supposed to wake up for the Katy Flatlands ride which starts out by Katy Mills at 7am. And my phone went off at the right time, I turned it off and went back to sleep. I woke up again at 630, rolled over again and fell back to sleep.

WHAT HAPPENED TO ME? I remember the days where I would ride 40 miles a weekend in the SUMMER. I'd jump out of bed when my alarm went off, eat my oatmeal, get dressed, set up my bike on the rack/in the car and drive out to my ride. I'd get in at least 2 hrs if it wasn't an organized ride and come back home at 11am sweaty and satisfied. If it was an organized ride I'd be on my bike for as long as I could possibly go probably 60 miles at the time. I'd work on my speed, eating at the right times, and staying on the bike for as long as possible.

Today...it's been 36 days since I've ridden. Since the MS 150 in April I think I've gone out maybe 4 times total? Wow. I haven't even put 300 miles on my Pinarello. I waited so long to get it and now I don't even have the motivation to ride. I feel so horrible. I've also been missing my Scott. I think I liked it better than my Pinarello...? =/ Which is not good...I feel kind of ashamed to say that.

Sorry Pinarello. You look way more amazing, but it really is all about the ride. I remember my Scott feeling lighter to move and having really quick acceleration. You did feel all the bumps in the road, but I guess I haven't spent long enough on my carbon to appreciate the dampening and how it would help my fatigue. I am kind of frazzled by the memory because my carbon is definitely way stiffer than the aluminum, so there should be better power transfer - meaning better acceleration right? I think I just need more time with my Pinarello, and I need to work on the correct position to avoid all the aches and pains I was getting. Maybe that's why I haven't been wanting to ride...I know there will be aches and pains.

Maybe I just need another goal. Last year was MS 150 and then Tour de Pink and then MS 150 again. But right now MS 150 is far enough away where I don't feel like I have to train and I haven't committed to anything in between.

I think I'm also bored with all the flat riding. I kind of miss the hills and of course that's annoying cause Houston is only flat. I could do more riding in Ithaca, but it wouldn't be on my own bike cause it would be expensive and annoying to ship.

...ok I think I'm done spilling the thoughts out of my brain. I'll figure it out. I still love cycling, there's no doubt about that, but now I need to figure out where to get the motivation to go for a ride.

30 Day Sugar Challenge

So 30 days ago my friend Chris gathered a bunch of us and challenged us to stay away from all things with sugar for 30 days. Today was the end of that 30 day challenge, and I have to say for me it was a pretty annoying burden. Every breakfast bar, energy bar, chocolate craving, dessert opportunity, etc was avoided for the past 30 days. I even had to think of condiments, like sweet and sour sauce or typical juice drinks which are loaded with sugars.

I do have to say I allowed myself organic juice, which I usually water down - 4 parts water to 1 part juice. And if I was going on the long bike ride I would have powerade mix.

Also desserts and sugar aren't a huge part of my diet in the first place, so it wasn't too drastic of a change for me. For instance I usually prefer the savory crepe to the dessert one, so avoiding dessert wasn't hard. What changed in my diet was the cutting out of breakfast bars - which usually have a lot of sugar (I didn't realize that actually), no more soda, and the addition of more fruit.

Overall I am a little better, but I think the unhappiness of it outweighed the health satisfaction. I said I don't usually eat dessert, but once every few weeks when I want one it was really frustrating that I was forbidding myself that tasty treat. Now I'll probably pick up more fruit, but I'll still have the occasional frozen custard.

I'll have to do another challenge soon. I used to do one a year, but stopped about 4 yrs ago. It's a good way to change things up and make you think about the food you put in your body.

TDF WATCH IT!

Saturday marks the start of probably one of the most exciting Tour de France races of all time. ALL TIME! There's so many GC men out on the field with legit chances of creating the unpredictable. Of course you got the in-your-face best cyclist, Contador, but behind him is Andy Schleck and then of course the one and only Lance. He announced that this is definitely going to be his last TDF so he's gonna make it count. Can't wait for it to be an all out Lance vs. Contador fight to the top of the Alps. Disappointed that there's no team time trial, but all the mountains should make for a good race. The climbs really put Contador and Schleck up at the top as favorites, but hopefully Cadel or Sastre will put up a fight. Well...maybe not Sastre but I think he's reassessed his work as a pro cyclist and will bring something more this time around.

For you first timers out there, I know there's the World Cup and Wimbledon but seriously you don't want to miss the TDF this year. Esp since we're American. After Lance drops it, we won't have any American All-Rounders. Then the only guy we'll hve to root for is Cavendish and he only cares about the green jersey. Its only on Versus, but I think you can stream it live from their website. If not try Steephill.

If you haven't already, go grab the July issue of Cycle Sport America. It's 188 pages of everything you wanted to know and didn't care about on the TDF. Great magazine; I'll have a post on cycling mags in the future.

So who's gonna win? I'm rooting for Andy. Contador will be a huge contender, but his team is weak and he'll have Vino breathing down his neck. Not sure if Lance will place this time. There was a good article in Bicycling Magazine in May (or June, I forget) about his scientific efforts to get back on top. He's also got the team that took him to 3rd last year, but I think he's been pretty selfish and conceited so I don't really want him to place. Your days in the glory light are over buddy, if it was really about Livestrong you'd actually talk about it now wouldn't you.

I'm also rooting for Team Sky and BWiggins. First British Team and got a great TT rider in Wiggins. I think he'll pull off a stage win for sure. I can definitely see Cadel winning a stage, Cavendish too...agh! There's so many factors and GC men to talk about. Lots of stages, lots of things can happen, lots of skills to consider.

20 days of the hardest race in the whole world with 200 of the best cyclists in the world! Get ready!