The skis have been put away until next December. The river is about to hit 1,000 cubit feet per second and open to rafting. The trails in town are dry and open for business. The Tuesday Night Worlds weekly fast road ride has cranked back up. The temps are flirting with 70 degrees. The sun doesn’t set until 7:30 now. Spring is here, and I’ve been busy knocking off some rust.

I’ve gone for a ride or nice hike/run everyday for the past two weeks. I had acquired a little bit of belly fat from the winter and going out to pint night too much, but I have leaned back out quickly thanks to all of this riding and giving up alcohol, going out eat, and all processed foods for lent.

At first I was riding on the road since most of the trails were still too muddy. But gradually, the snow melted and the runoff subsided on the Dalla trail system and I broke out the fat tires and started going there. It had been a good 4 1/2 months since I laid rubber on a trail. The legs were weak, and my handling was timid. I was left wondering how in the world I would get ready for a 230 mile ride across Colorado and into Utah in just 3 months. I had a lot of rust to knock off.

This week I decided to jumpstart the racing legs by hopping in the Tuesday Night Worlds. Austin is famous for the Tuesday nighter. We have our own little version here, and it is arguably better. For one thing, you never who might show up. Ned, Todd Wells, Sarah Tescher, Tad Elliot, Payson, Rowan, or who knows. Still, even the riders you don’t know will kick your ass. For another, we have climbs. Real climbs. And at 6500-8500 feet. The route also changes every week. All the routes roll out from town, so you don’t have to ride 13 miles just to get to the course, or worse yet, ride 13 miles back home after being obliterated. And lastly, much better weather. Right now temps are in the 50’s/60’s ride time. By summer, it would pretty dang hot if we hit 91. None of that 105+ crap down in Texas. but I digress.

The 24lb steel 1986 Trek Elance 440 and I showed up for the B ride. The A group had a cooler route, but I knew there was no way in hell I could keep up with those guys in my condition on that dinosaur of a bike.  It didn’t take long for the hotheads to push a ridiculous pace and split the group up. I was one of the many spit off the back. The very back, at that. The split occurred at the base of the first big climb, and luckily, we regrouped at the top. I was seriously winded and a bit demoralized, but pushed on. Before long we hit the 2nd big climb and I noticed people starting to tire. We came back down and hit the rolling county road back into town. The peloton was getting really tired at this point. I felt like I was getting faster, and then I had my epiphany.

I am a second half racer. When others start to tire and cave in is when I typically start to do my best. I thought back to Rocky Hill last fall. I went against my normal way of operation, and paid the price. Then I thought back to all but a few of my big wins. I had always started slow and near last and gradually clawed my way to victory. Flash forward to this night’s ride. People were obviously hurting and not wanting to do any work. I wanted to go faster though, so I found my way to front and started to do some pulls-long and hard. It was awesome. Suddenly my doubt was beginning to crumble.

The muscles are getting stronger, the trail skills have returned, the tan lines are coming back, and I am loving it all. There is still a long way to go before June 27,  but I feel good about the start. I’m thinking of adding a second race to the year to use as a training race for this San Juan ride. I still haven’t secured full time work, so whether or not I enter will be based upon funding in the next few months. The bright side is that the local economy is picking up with the warmer weather coming to town so hopefully I can find something.

That is the update for now. Hope everybody is enjoying the awesome spring weather, wherever you might be.