JB's Adventure Blog: Saved by the Bell

I'm back... Mostly.

I decided that I was feeling good enough for an "endurance" ride with Nick Waite and Jeff Shalk - my Trek/VW teammate from D.C. They were on their Madone road bikes and I was on my Top Fuel with 700c wheels, since I don't have a road bike at the moment. With the heavier machine, I knew I had to conserve as much as I could and sat on most of the time. Being of rusty form and unbridled ambition, I planned to just ride for three hours with them so I didn't get sucked into more. Little did I know Captain Cadence had his throttle switch stuck in turbo mode with legs like oiled run-away turbines.

We did 4 climbs up a local small mountain pass called Hopkins Gap. I suggested that Jeff do 5 and try to catch us. "No way man..." I said, 'Nick, if he catches us, that would suck'. Jeff is going fast and training with great focus. I hope he kicks some more but this year. I was real careful on the fast downhill. It was fun.

Later, I got hungry and almost choked trying to suck on a power bar... won' t do that again! :) Anyone who has tried to eat a 38-degree power bar knows it is jaw workout. My plan was to just suck on it until it melted. So after spitting it out I stopped at the Esso in Broadway and made the mother of all white trash mochas. It was 1/2 coffee, 1/4 machine hot cocoa and like 1/4 half and half for some real calories! Armed with moisture, I could make good work out of a soft coffee cake as Jeff did circles outside to keep his heart rate up.

Jeff wanted to go for 5 hours and I was thinking my legs are like noodles but I can do it. Then, just as we set out from our only stop, the cold cold rain started. Phew! I could save face a little and we could all make the 11-mile B line back for the Burg! I was stoked riding in the cold rain just trying to stay on the back as Jeff pulled at swift 30 miles per hour. We got back to Harrisonburg just in time, as I started getting the really cold water soaked my chamois like a diaper feeling. I smiled as I striped my heavy wet clothes in my basement. The sense of normal tough training that is the landmark of my off season has begun.

Perfect ride; plenty enough work, great friends, super roads and terrible conditions. Gotta love it.

I wonder if Andy McKeegan made it from Harrisonburg to Nova?? I told him he was nuts to do that ride and that was before I knew about the rain. He'll probably be on a milk carton by next week.

In other news, my bike was accidentally sent to New York City instead of New York Ave. Oh well. I wonder if they hosed the blood off of it?? Geez. I owe someone big. Better ask Ignacio who had that task at the bike shop! gross..

I've run out of stuff to say, so all I will say now is travel carefully this Thanksgiving and know you always have a lot to be thankful for even if it is 34 degrees pouring rain!!!

Happy and Thankful;
Jeremiah

posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 4:43 PM

Saved by the Bell

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