Joel Hainley

I am trying to get myself in shape for a century in March. This can sometimes be difficult with all the rains/cold weather during this time of year. I have to remind myself that a lot of people ride their bikes to work in the snow, then remind myself that I live in california so I don’t have to suffer like that.

I haven’t been eating as many carbs for the last few weeks and it’s had a huge impact on my riding. ( no i’m not on a low/no carb diet, i’ve just been eating less overall, but i think it’s the lack of carbs that’s killing me ) Basically i’ve felt like a slug out on the bike the last few weekends. I only rode 45 miles last weekend, over Kirker Pass Rd, through to Walnut Creek, then up to the junction on Mt. Diablo and back down. I rode SO SLOW.

This weekend wasn’t much better, I started off at a better pace, but by the time I got to Morgan Territory I was beat, and only made it 3 miles up the south side before I realized that I had better reevaluate my plan because I was heading for a 100 mile day if I stayed true to the plan I made when i left. Now this didn’t scare me that much, but it would mean that there’d be a lot of riding done in the dark because I didn’t get started till late and I wasn’t riding too well. So i abandoned the plan. Ended up with an 82 mile day. The strange thing was that at about mile 63 out of NOWHERE came “the freight train”.

The “freight train” is a term I used as a kid when i’d be on these LONG rides and I’d be pushing a headwind, uphill, and have to get into the drops and pedal my ass off for a few hours. It’s just making the pure effort, no thought about when it’s over, you’re just a machine beating the hell out of the pavement, and the wind.

Anyways, most times that i have these days where I feel like a slug I can actually get myself into a state, fire up the “freight train” and start eating miles. The last two weekends it’s been rough.

I’m tired, and blithering so i’ll shut up now.