Sunday morning

Another Sunday morning ride, when to the Lakfront but a triathon was going on and the street was blocked off, so I jotted to the French Quarter for a while. I go there right after the street sweepers, still no a lot of people about, the smell were just on time, breakfast smelled everywhere. I cruised around the quarter watching the tourist and letting them watch me.
The street musicians were starting to set up and the tour carriges were lining up for
another long hot day. I stopped at the riverfront to rest and took a picture of me next to the mighty Mississippi, I also stopped at Laffitte's Blacksmith Shop but I couldn't get in - too early.














I rode around the quarter still I reached about 15 miles then headed back to the lakefront.
When I got to the Lakefront the race was over and the road was open, I found the travel very slow and hard, I climbed the Bayou St. John bridge then stopeed to rest on the aapex, I realized then I was riding into hurricane force head winds. I turned around and headed west and sure engough I was cruising at 20 miles per hour. I cruised the lakefront till I reached 25 miles,,
I had breakfast with the Beatles and worked up a good sweat. Todays ride was great but not the spiritual ride that yesterday was. Yesterdays ride was a religious experience, todays ride was a great ride. Going home to recarb, eat and rest.
later
gary

What a ride

What a ride, Started at the Lake front and rode to the quarter, then to City park then back to the lakefront. 40 Miles of pleasure and adventure. I got the the quarter early, it's best then,
the street sweepers have washed away all the trash, the sins, the evidence and the night.
The strippers were finished stripping, the drunkards were finished drinking. The
terrace plants again turned green and the buildings again became historic. The air was heavy with the smell of bacon, eggs and coffee. I went down Bourbon then Royal the to the River Walk. A few temporarily homeless men were still asleep under small trees, dirty , sweaty, and still drooling, they laid on the grass and looked very comfortable yet uneasy at the same time. I stopped to take a picture, it was then I realized how hot it was. I cruised to Pirates Alley to get some shade. I couldn't help but wonder how many people throughout history stood on the very spot I stood to shade themselves next to St. Louis Cathedral as I was doing (see picture). What a historic ride, people travel from all over the world to do what I was doing then. Jumped back on the bike refreshed and started toward the lake , went through City Park , great smells, fresh air, mild breeze, plenty space. Climbed the Wisner overpass, the got those endorphins flowing, I hit 20 miles about then and was feeling like a machine. No Pain. Got to the lake and was hit by the salty air and easterly breeze. The MP3 player was blaring and I switched from radio to recorded songs , I felt very relaxed, clear, focused and in touch with the world around me. I climbed the Bayou St John bridge and as I crested the top and started down "Misty Blue " came on, I looked up the the heavens and for about 10 seconds the world stopped turning. What a feeling. Again my mind was riding on my head in a lawn chair unattached to my body, watching the sights and listening to the sounds. I felt like I could just spread out my arms and take off . What a feeling. One of the unique things about riding at the lakefront is you can actually ride your bike into the bathroom. What a great ride. I stopped to challenge some sailboats (see picture) to a race but no takers. Rode the lakefront till I hit 40 miles, felt great, wanted to do more but I must maintain discipline yet. The rain missed me again, but it's alright rain only adds to the adventure. Maybe tomorrow.
As I write this I"m listening to my DOO WOP DVD and the Chiffons are singing "One Fine Day".
What a Fine day I've had. Money can't buy appreciation of life and the world around you.
In the words of Henry David Thoreau " A mans true worth is in proportion to what he can afford to do without" .
later
gary

Wednesday

did a fast 10 tonight,
time to start carb loading for the weekend.
I love this sport
gary

monday

Did a easy 10 tonight, got my legs back, feel like I've returned from middle earth.
now need to rest till wednesday night's ride.
Did anybody think Lance wouldn't win ?
later
gary

Sunday Training Ride - Find the excuses

Sunday morning training ride 35 miles.
Had a great time yesterday, "Carbo Loading" for today, a small pizza, 2 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, grapes, figs, peaches, suzy q's, Milano cookies, chocolate milk, Coco pebbles,
ice cream and yogurt, I wanted to make sure I have enough calories for today's ride, I love this sport.
Started in the middle of the pack this time, saved 3 minutes not having to ride around
the butt sisters. I felt a little drained from yesterday. I looked over the crowd as we waited to start and the first thing to enter my mind was to call 911 for these poor folks, cause they gonna
need some help. I noted a head wind as I started the first leg. I passed a few slow pokes, and ripped it up to the grain elevators, my wrist was giving me trouble , but I still pushed on. It was very hot today, I hydrated as much as possible . The grass on the levee had just been cut and the smell filled my nostrils with enough pollen to choke 40 dollar mule, smelled good though. The river boats and barges worked like any other day, the giant ships struggled up river and the smells of sweat,Gatorade and inflated egos filled the bike path.
Lance Armstrong and I have something in common today, we're both on bicycles. That's it.
He won the Tour De France, I didn't . Crossed Frank , he was cruising about 110 miles an hour.
Reached the half way point 17.5 miles, stopped for water, streched out, started back and wouldn't you know it, the wind turned around and was in my face again. The heat escalated to about 115 and my tires were melting and sticking to the path, I had to pedal extra hard to make headway. I kept hydrating , it was hot. I didn't do much passing on the way back but I had already passed those I would , a lot of riders were camped at the rest stops.
Fast Frank rode with me a few miles, we stopped at a water stop and if they'd had a grill I think he'd have put on a steak and potatoes. He was hungry.
It was so hot the air in my tires was sweating. It was so hot the water in my water bottle was boiling. It was so hot my sweat would sizzle when it hit the ground.
It was so hot the grain elevator rats were wearing sunglasses and lounging in little plastic pools and lawn chairs, I saw one drinking a mint julep.
Needless to say I wasn't making my best time, but no matter, I got in 65 miles this weekend in the blazing heat. I'm almost half way where I need to be. Feel good, gaining strength, getting ready. Burned a lot of calories today, now I get to eat all I can to replace those calories.
I love this sport.
later
gary

preparing for Sunday training ride

Rode a fast 10 last night with Frank, This morning I got up early ( 6:00 am)
drove to the Lakefront and was prepared to do a fast 30. Ran into Frank and a friend
of his, rode with them for 7 miles, they did 20 and went home, I continued on.
In practice for the Mississippi Hills of the MS Tour I rode over the BAyou St John
bridge 6 times, good training. Plenty fresh air, great sights, salty smell of
the lake water, other riders and runners all over, great day.
Coughed up a chunk of flem that was in my lung so long it was inscribed with a date,
I could make out "Fort Polk 1970" , about time I got rid of that one.
I think there was a Winston filter attached to it. A girl took a fall about 50 yards in front
of me, I stopped to see if she was ok, she was, plenty padding, hard to reach her bones.
Managed my 30 miles, now its time for my favorite part, I get to go home and
Carbo Load for tomorrow, starting with Pizza and working my way to the Peanut Butter,
I love this sport, more tomorrow, . .
later

Wed evening

Did a quick ten tonight,
started Carbo loading for this weekend, another training ride SUnday.
So far I have 80 miles this week.
I love this sport

weekends over. .

Did 10 monday night, taking off today, must recover , riding again tomorrow night.
Feel good, legs feels good, just need some recovery. .
later

Training ride for ms tour.

Did a fast 25 yesterday, no sweat, laid it out in preparation for this morning.
Something about rising early in the morning and riding into the sunrise. Nothing ahead but
pain, sweat, and endorphins. Got home and carbo loaded for today, I love this Sport. .

MS Tour traing ride, 35 miles - 8:00 am

As usual I started out in the rear, last of about 120, I even let them ride off a while before I started. By letting them go I get to pass everybody and pump up my ego, look over the field
and don't have to be concerned with anyone passing me.
There was a good tail wind , I had good legs and I was inspired, my mp3 payer was playing
"breakfast with the Beatles " on WTIX, I was cruising at 16 mph.
My first feat was to pass a group of 5 women riding together, I think they were fishing for husbands because they had a "LOT OF BAIT IN THE WATER", it was a job to go around them, whew!
I think I saw a shirt on one that said the "butt sisters". Must be a team or something.
At ten miles I passed of a man on a tandem with his son on the back pedals. I moved in front of him and looking in the rear view mirror I notice he's still there, maybe I didn't give enough
leeway I thought, I bump up to 17 mph he's still on my ass, I go to 18 mph and he's still there,
I realize then he's trying to ride my wheel (draft on me), can't have it , I stood on the
pedals and at 21 mph he disappeared in my mirror, chump ...
At 15 miles we crossed the grain elevators, I hear 2 dogs barking at me, I instinctly stepped on it , I turned to see what kind of dogs that were chasing me , no suprise they were corn fed grain elevator rats, I hissed back at them and they backed off.
By now I'm high as a kite on endorphins and my conscious has stepped out of my body and is sitting in my head in a lawn chair enjoying the ride, no pain, no sweat, no effort, just moving like a machine. It's the part I love, that and eating afterward. .
Just before turnaround I was counting the riders coming the other way, I had moved to the top 40 or so, not bad for an old fat guy.
At the half way point I stopped for a few minutes to stretch and drink a little extra and back at it but now I'm battling a head wind.
Not too bad, still doing 15 mph, then I hear that familiar "boing", I could only utter that famous phrase " AW SHIT ! BROKE A SPOKE" . Like a broken toe, still able to go just not as comfortably. Stopped at 25 miles and loaded up on water , took a hydration break, got my wind back and started at it again,. At 30 miles I could smell the finsh line, accelerated my pace, nothing to hold back for push, push, push . Crossed the finish at 2 hours 27 minutes, that includes rest stops. I got off the bike and cussed my back wheel spokes for a few minutes,
they didn't care. Now the best part of the race, go home and eat everything in sight.
I love this sport, ,
later

Getting Ready

Rode a Fast ten tonight,
getting ready for tomorrow, carbo loading , eating everything in sight, I love this sport..later
gary

exhausted

I'm exhausted, spent , worn out, didn't ride today but I did watch todays stage of the Tour de France, it wore me out, I though my nose would bleed when the Peleton climbed to the summit of an Alp . My legs were cramping watching their legs go up and down without fault.
Last year I got seasick watching a fishing show, the boat kept swinging back and forth , back and forth, back and forth, oh oh , I'd better stop, same sort of thing.
I hope when I ride tomorrow it won't be as exhausting as watching the Tour de France.
Can't be , I'm not that aggressive. . I want the fame not the pain.
later

Boing !

Rode a fast 10 miles this evening, did have a catastrophe, heard that familiar "BOING!" of a spoke popping. Losing a spoke is like breaking a toe, you can still go it just don't feel right .
Ride felt good, legs felt good, tuning up . Now I have to get spoke fixed before Friday.
The only thing I can say philosophical is " AW SHIT , BROKE A SPOKE".

Tormented Tuesday

Sometimes your the bug , sometimes your the windshield, today I was the bug.
Can't win them all but tomorrow's another day and I get another chance.
No ride today, bad attitude, don't' care, I'm 54 years old, I can not give a shit if I want to .
Tomorrow ride again. Getting ready for 35 mile training ride Sunday morning.
I think I too will go to Cosmetology School.

Typical Monday

It's a typical Monday, rode a quick 10 miles with Frank,
we discussed the strategies of the tour de France and
a few political strategies. Easy pace, stayed loose,
saved carbs, translated ( I was tired, bra ) .
Must prepare for next Sundays pre- MS Tour dash.
River Levee - from Central Ave to Ormond Blvd and
back - 35 miles , speed counts. Getting psyched!
Think I'll start carbo loading tonight, um ! oreo's
pasta, fruits, I love this sport. . .
later

hurricane weekend

Things started to fall apart with the passing of Tropical Storm Claire or whatever her name was.
THe electricity fell off for 12 hours, my peach tree fell over, the refrigerator did not come back on with the electricity, and Dennis reared it's ugly head. .
Hauled out the peach tree, replaced the refrigerator and still managed to ride 30 miles Saturday and 20 miles Sunday.
I've been watching the Tour de France and it makes me feel great about riding but also makes me feel like a wuss, they ride over a hundred miles a day, my only consolation is thier skinny young guys, I'm an old fat guy. I have 3 months to prepare for the MS Tour and I"m right on schedule, don't want to peak too soon...
later

THE DAY AFTER

Tropical Storm whats her name came through last night, lost my peach tree,
lost some figs, lost some sleep.
Had to ride on the street, the park I ride in was closed because of debris,,
couldn't go to fast, too much traffic, Frank was with me, he don't like to ride the street,
it makes him nervous,. He's afraid to be hit by a car, I say what the hell, you gotta be somewhere. We did a quick 10. Just keeping loose till the weekend.

Tropical storm

Tuesday - no riding today, raining all day, tropical storm on top of us.
I enjoy being caught in the rain when riding, but I would feel like a dummy leaving into the
the rain, then if you get hit by lightening you really feel like a big dummy.
Worst than getting hit by lightening is when you get that racing stripe up your backside
from the water splashing up from the back wheel, what an embarrassment.
Tomorrow afternoon the weather is predicted to be better. will try to get in 10 or 15.
later

Long Weekend

Greeeeaaaaat weekend for riding, rode 25 miles Sat, 25 miles Sunday, and 25 miles Monday.
feel good, not as good as Lance though.
Sat I rode to Audubon Park, Sunday to the Quarter and Mon to St Rose and Back.
My return continues, I'm 1/3 of where I was before my operation.
Persistence and determination will pay off. Legs feel good, ass hurts and averaging about 15 MPH.
Took Erin's advice and posted my pics on Snapfish.com and started this
blog. If only she'd come do all this typing....
later