when fatigue and stress make a genuine effort beyond me, an exercise in discipline is sometimes the best choice. fundamentals and base will carry you a lot further than talent. rote repetition can yield gems in the unlikeliest of places, or, hard work pays off.

Ahem… … This week I did some cool things on my bike. Give me a moment to think of what some of them were…

I rode Usery loop twice on the roadie and National twice on the Heckler. I did 1:03 and then 1:01 on the loop. I felt slow slow slow on the Heckler, but made it up Javalina and to BV in 1:15. I am very very confused. . I need to keep riding my roadie.

Sometimes you have to go out of control into something and trust that the momentum will let you gain control and pull through it. Sometimes you have to be in control and trust that it will stay that way despite what you throw yourself into. I’ve ridden 24th St. twice more in the the last ~week. I get better at it each time, things are slowing down and I am seeing safe lines. This is scary; it is scary.

I am talking to Eric Shunk, his buddies Sean and Justin who I know from Moab trips, about a Fruita\Moab combo this year. It looks like it will happen, leaving Tuesday mid-day for a few days in Fruita then Al’s Moab trip and home Sunday night. I rode with them and a few other guys from their crew that I know from the Moab trips – Jake and JW and one or two others. It was the first time I’ve done Somo on a weekend in a long time, and i felt awkward every time our big group rolled by some hikers and sounded like a fucking missionary to my group I am sure: “thank you, have a nice day! thank you have a nice day!” I should invent a button that sits on the handlebars and says that. The ride was long and frequently-delayed. and while it was good to see everyone, it was good to see that the guys on the trip will be a bit faster than our group, and sort out the trip and confirm we would all be more-or-less on the same page and compatible. Having a fun ride with some guys is a very different level of commitment than 6 days on the road and on the bike with them. I’m psyched that it should be a good time.

A woman turning left on Recker as we were crossing the street north on Thomas decided to pull her car right up to the crosswalk and stare at us. I shouted at her. she said “you’re wearing dark clothes.” A convenient excuse at just past 7pm for not seeing a pasty rider in shorts, a shiny bike, a dog, and a reflective trailer staring at you for a full minute waiting for the light to change. Idiot! Fat, stupid, dunderheaded, lying, self-centered, un-aware, bad-driving-skills, idiot! i wish there had been a cop around.

I was supposed to ride National with JB, but first i forgot my camelback, and then i got held up at work. So i missed him, i rode afraid and alone, and took no chances since i had no tools. The bike was working well, or i wouldn’t have tried it. And i know i can ride National and have no problems, or i wouldn’t have tried it. I wish i could bring that attitude to wearing pads now that summer is coming.