Looking Forward

Drier air and a brisk breeze dished up just a hint of Fall this morning, and as the group rolled out down the levee bike path I noticed there were a lot more people out than usual. Some, I suppose, might have been trying to get some last-minute fitness in preparation for the local MS Tour for Cure coming up the first weekend in October. The ride had a fairly big turnout for a Wednesday, and although things were pretty smooth on the way out, that brisk ENE wind kind of took its toll on the return trip. For some reason, Donald went to the front toward the end and stayed there for a few miles pushing the pace, and that surge was enough to make a few riders decide to back off and cruise in the last bit at a slower pace.

Today I found myself thinking a lot about the upcoming 6-Gap Century this weekend. It's been many years since I did an official "century ride" kind of ride, and I've never done one where there were real hills. I'm definitely looking forward to it, though. I hear the scenery is great and I'm sure the climbing will kick me and my 39x25's ass, but at least with this kind of ride there's always someone behind you, and at the end you can always claim to have taken it easy in order to enjoy the scenery. The thing that really concerns me the most, aside from that extra pound of fat lodged around my gut, is the weather. If it gets down even into the upper 50s or lower 60s, I know I'm going to feel chilled at the start, and probably on the downhills as well. Of course the other unanswered question is just how hard the really steep sections are going to be for me in the 25. Only one way to find out, I guess. I still need to get together with whoever else is going to work out transportation and lodging issues. Some people have contacts in the area where they can stay, which is great, but it might interfere with the carpooling efforts if they're all in different cities.

There are a few more things coming up as well that are on my mind. First off, our office will be moving, probably the second week of October if things stay on schedule. I can't say I'm really looking forward to that, but it will surely result in a week or so of relative disorganization. Then, right about the same time, we have our annual Rocktoberfest race to put on. Although I'd originally wanted to do it on Lakeshore Drive, after the hurricanes there were a lot of other things on my mind, and since I never got a response to my email to our contact there, and it was looking like turnout might be lower than usual, we decided to go for James Business Park where we don't have to pay for police and where there's a nice little criterium course. Then, two weeks later, there's the rescheduled Time Trial Championships to look forward to. I always start the year with high hopes of making Rocktoberfest the bigger event that it deserves to be, but by that time of the season it always seems hard for me, and the rest of the crew, to find the time and energy needed. Anyway, that's one that I may or may not ride, depending on whether there are enough volunteers and officials on hand. Right now, it's possible that the Team TT will be the day before on the same course, but I still haven't heard if the promoters have the official OK on the course or not from the local Sheriff. Then, the first weekend in November I'll have to go up to Colorado Springs for the annual USAC Local Associatons conference, where I can get the scoop on plans for the '09 season, rule changes, etc. I'll also need to send out a request for nominations for the open LAMBRA VP position, make some arrangements for our annual meeting and possibly also for a general meeting and awards banquet -- if I can find the time and energy to organize all of that. Makes me tired just thinking about it all.