Brr...It's Ass Biting Cold. I'll Go Ride My Bike Now

This whole racing thing is changing me. Already. Sure, I have heard people lament about "roadie" culture and such, the stereotypes of riding and upwards of 20 hours a week during the off season, talking endlessly about splits, raw food diets, abstaining from alcohol and the like, well knowing me to be me, I just never really believed I'd fall into the deep torrid hole.

And then there was yesterday, where I found myself riding around in circle after circle at Des Moines' Water Works Park, on my bike. It was 13 degrees and windy.

Yes, you read this correctly. 13. Degrees.

Allow me to assure you, it was damned cold for this weiner. And while I did have along some kick ass Cabella's camo hunting gloves that Ben borrowed me (complete with a trigger cut out in the index finger region), I did most definitely NOT have booties. My feet were frozen solid stubs of worthlessness but a few minutes into this adventure.

Nonetheless, I am happy to report, that the brave men who assisted our team in this training adventure were just that, brave. We did not crash a one of them. And by god, I even had FUN. I learned a helluva a lot to boot.

I have not stopped sneezing since, although I have regained most of the feeling in my feet. And I am still trying to discern if this very achy feeling deep in my lungs is because I bestowed upon my lungs permanent frostbite, or if this is the natural feeling that comes after getting your ass whooped so hard doing chases that you nearly barf and wheeze your head off.

Either way, I am ready for more.

The whole experience reminded me of the day, not more than four years ago, when my Bellingham man turned to me one rainy, shitty, grey Bellingham day and declared:

"You know, you're going to have to learn to ride in the weather if you ever want to be any good."

I looked at him with one eye evilly squinted and shot him daggers.

And then I sweetly replied with a shit eating grin, "oh? maybe I don't want to be any good."

And he responded, "Yes you do. I know you."

I did not ride that day. To prove a point. Or something like that.

Hindsight's always 20/20.