189 again. I would really like to leave the 190s behind for good this time, please.

...after a few months, you forget the pain and think it'd be worth doing again.

In my particular case, I decided to make further use of my annual USAC license and enter not one, but TWO criteriums this weekend. I'm fairly certain I'm going to get killed in both of them, but they're local so at least I won't have to travel to get my ass kicked. :)

I'm not sure whether I'm looking forward to the weekend or dreading it...on the one hand, our team is well represented in both races, and they're both women's open fields (meaning all categories are in one race). So I'll be racing with/near people I know, and that will be kind of fun. Also, both courses are pretty flat, so I don't need to worry about any climbing. On the other hand, see paragraph above.

My goals in these races are the same as my goals at Pace Bend, and in every fast training ride--stay with the pack as long as I can, don't quit, don't crash, and don't be last. My sources say they won't pull anyone, so I should plan to be in for the whole hour regardless of how far out of contention I am. They also don't think I'll be that far back, which is encouraging. I'm hoping to stay with the pack for at least 2-3 laps, and then finish out the race either by myself or working with other dropped riders. We'll see.

UPDATE: It's here! It's here! Man, that was fast. The color's a little darker than I expected, but it's very pretty. Can't wait until it looks like a real bike. :)
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Yeah, so, last Friday? I bought one of these.

Not the whole bike, just the frame and fork. But when I'm done with it, it's going to look pretty much like the picture (except with different bar tape, because that light tan is icky. Maybe a red?).

Lest you think this purchase was impulsive, I started researching for the perfect utility bike about 30 seconds after selling my Pilot. It's not that I regret selling the Pilot exactly, since the carbon fork and seat-stays prevented me from setting it up as the kind of bike I wanted--racks, fenders, etc. Still, though I love Keiko with all of my heart, there are things I don't feel comfortable doing with her. Like riding in street clothes. Or locking her up in front of the grocery store. Or going less than 12 mph (unless, of course, we're climbing. Because I suck at climbing. Yes, still.)

So, sometime around September of last year, I started putting together an idea of what I wanted in my do-everything-but-race bike. After riding Rob's comfort hybrid a couple times, I knew that I did NOT want front suspension. I have no use for it, since I have no intention of going off-road and the network of bike paths I intend to use with this bike is entirely paved. I also didn't want a mountain bike, for these same reasons. I looked briefly at fitness hybrids, but the majority at my weight limit (~25 lbs)were all-aluminum frames. I don't have anything against aluminum, but after riding carbon it feels much harsher than it used to. Besides, I'm a roadie at heart, and like the feel of a road-style riding position. So I started looking at steel road bikes. Which are surprisingly hard to find anymore.

Oh, wait--let me back up and be honest.

well, I'm back in town. The funeral was nice, the weather was perfect. Other than the hearse missing the turn and getting lost on the way to the cemetery (!), everything was perfect. Even that was just a good laugh...no one was really in any hurry. We honored her the best we could.

I also gained almost 2 lbs. Sigh. Here we go again. :)

188.5 today...I think it's mostly luck, emotion and hormones, but hey--I'll take it!

My flight to WI leaves tomorrow morning at dark:30, and I'll be gone through next Wednesday. The funeral's Monday, and then I figured I'd spend a couple days with the family before I head home. Not exactly a pleasure trip, but the weather will hopefully be nice and springy. :)

she's gone. Passed away in her sleep yesterday morning, which was the best we could hope for. (God, I'm sorry about that "kicking you in the teeth" part. Maybe you're an okay guy after all.) I'm going up this weekend for the funeral, and will be back next Wednesday.

Go With God (right-click, save-as)

sorry for the delayed update...I actually got back to Texas two weeks ago Friday, in time to do the MS150. Which was miserable, since I came back from Wisconsin with a cold to end all colds, and the wind on the first day was horrendous. Nothing like a 20 mph gusty headwind sucking your will to live for 100 miles to really make an event memorable. Then my riding buddy quit at lunch the first day, and I tried to ride out the 2nd day with a group that was too fast, and my gears were slipping when I got out of the saddle to climb...it was awful, and I bagged it at lunch the 2nd day myself. Worst. MS150. Ever. (I actually had written part of a longer ride report last week, but screw it. It sucked. I hated it. The End.)

As for my grandma, I'm glad we went up to visit. She was in and out of consciousness, and very weak, but she was still in her right mind most of the time. We were able to talk to her, and she knew we were there to see her. I hate to say that we were there to say our goodbyes, but that's probably the case. It looks like she's not going to recover enough to leave the nursing home, and they're expecting either the cancer will take her or pneumonia will. The estimate when I left was about a month, either way. At this point, they're hoping it will be the pneumonia, since it's a kinder way to go. I'm going to stop there, because that whole situation just makes me want to kick God in the teeth. I mean, she's in her mid-80s and she's led a mostly good life, but if anyone deserves to go quietly in her sleep in her own bed, it's my grandma. The thought of her dying in pain, helpless, in a nursing home? I know it's never about deserve, but that sucks.

So anyway, haven't really done much of anything of note since I got back, except gain 4 lbs and lose 2, ride my bike some, go to work, and try to find new and creative methods to make my nose stop running. (I think I've finally gotten over the cold, though my nose still runs when I try to drink on the bike, which is driving me CRAZY.)