The alarm goes off and I hear the two local DJs trying to be funny before 6 a.m. It takes me a couple of minutes to summon up the energy to turn it off, and a few more minutes pass before my feet actually hit the floor. The room is dark and cool and I strain to see the outdoor temperature on my bedside thermometer. Fifty-two degrees. The skies are supposed to be clear today, so I decide to skip the long tights, but take along the vest and arm-warmers. Outside it's just barely light enough to leave the tail light home, and as I pedal slowly through the quiet neighborhood streets I can feel yesterday's ride in my legs. Today will be an easy recovery ride. I don't think I really rode hard enough over the weekend to be so stiff, but these old legs don't recover like they used to.
The levee is deserted, which is just as well. Riding alone suits my mood today anyway. Without the effort and company of the group, my head begins to fill with the day's problems. Things that need to be done, bills that need to be paid, drains that need un-clogging, work that needs to be finished. My pace gradually rolls up to 21 or so, but every few miles I ease up and coast as my mind wanders. I find myself scanning the river through the bright young leaves of the batture willow trees. It's quiet, and I'm glad I took the time to clean out my Look pedals last night. Every time they get dusty (The Rouge did it this time) they start to emit the classic Look creak with each pedal stroke. Today they are silent and if I listen closely I can hear the light click, click, click of the cadence pickup each time the magnet in my pedal axle passes it.
I see first Eddie and then Dan on their way out as I'm on my way back. More victims of the DST shift.
Back at home I run through the morning routine and hop on the commuter for the ride to work. The sky is blue and the temperature is perfect and even the RTA busses can't spoil such a spring morning. Things are quiet at work, but I know it's only the calm before the storm. Deadlines are looming and I 'm waiting for three other people to finish their parts before I can begin mine. The longer they take, the less time I'll have.
Situation: Normal.
I check the TXBRA forum and scan the results of the Cold Spring road race. Charlie took 6th in the Cat. 1,2,3 Masters race, but I don't see Rick listed. It sounds like there was some confusion and/or delay at the race in getting the results out, and riders who were missed are replying to the forum trying to set things straight. I get an e-mail from the U. of Iowa about a problem I'm having uploading to the "Inside Stuff" website for the women's gymnastics team. The site has bumped up against its measly 175 MB quota. They bump it up to 200 MB and I delete a bunch of files to make some more room so I can upload another 18 megs of photos that have been waiting on my computer since last week. I send them a reply, pointing out that I have more than 200 MB on the keychain in my pocket and why are they so stingy on disk space? I don't expect a reply.
Last weekend was "show off your new team kit" weekend around here. Every local team has a completely new jersey design this season and it seems like they all came together for the Saturday Giro ride. It's always a bit disconcerting to me when the jerseys change, and it takes a few weeks for me to readjust so that I can recognize everyone again from a distance. The new Verge NOBC jerseys feel pretty nice and I expect they will be particularly good when the temperatures start to increase. The shorts were a little uncomfortable on me during yesterday's 75 mile ride, but I think they will be fine after a trip through the washing machine. My new red-white-and-blue Bell Ghisallo helmet was just a tiny bit snug where the plastic at the back of the helmet was pressing against my head, but a few strategic taps with the old ball-peen hammer took care of that. I'll ride with it a few more times before I finally cut off the considerable amount of extra strap. Then I'll put a few stitches through the strap to keep the ends from dangling around and keep it in adjustment.
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