Fear...

Does it motivate you or hold you back? Is it better to go out in a blaze of glory or stay comfortably conservative? How well do you really know your limits if you never exceed them?

I know for me the mental part of cycling is the toughest. I am content on most days to stay within my comfort zone and play my hand. On the rare occasion that I have crept past the line I have tasted success at the risk of utter failure. Failure haunts me. Mediocracy does not carry the glory of success, nor the pain of defeat, but it certainly isn't gratifying. Is consistency over the long term better than pushing the limits resulting in a complete implosion? Can you really improve and push yourself to new horizons without rocketing past those limits with total disregard for the outcome? I must find a way to turn off the my inner safety patrol that keeps me holding something back "for later" so that I may know what lies beyond the line and push myself to new heights.

...push the limits and enjoy the results.

Creative...

Jordan's Bike. The sign says it all. Saw this on my ride home from Crystal Ridge last night and had to turn back for a picture. Jordan must have a lot of spare time.

enjoy your rig however you may roll.

Bummer...

Rode out to Crystal Ridge, aka Wednesday Night the Races course and took some shots of the mudslides.

Southside of skihill.

Westside of skihill climb.

Looking down the climb.

The mudslides caused some major damage. I ran some of the singletrack, most of the water has receded. There is mud mixed with gravel almost everywhere. A lot of standing water in the low spots still and some general debris. It looks like they took a grader to the gravel climb and smoothed it back out some. The climb is on the westside of the ski hill is pretty rough and narrowed a bit in spot. Hoyt Park was still under water in many spots this morning and is going to need a lot of love as well. Everyone who races, trains on, or enjoys the local trails should lend whatever time they have to rehab the trails as quickly as possible.

...do your part so everyone can enjoy the ride

Umm...

$150 for a Shimano chain ring! ------> Exclusive yes, $150 I don't know think so. I will give them this, they make a damn fine chain ring, quite possibly the best thing coming from the Fishing company's little cycling division.

Everyone has a little guilty pleasure and for us cross junkies it just maybe overpriced "PRO" style - exclusive chain rings, carbon brakes, french tubular tyres, and elusive wheels.

enjoy your obsession...

We interrupt this training session...

Not going this way.

The "FunCut" not going to be fun for a while.

Golf Course or swimming hole?

Turned back again!

So my weekend training went a little something like this...

Put off riding on Saturday to hand with the family unit. Went out for what as going to be two hours of pain. I was stopped after 15 minutes by a a gentleman with a weather radio "Rain is coming"
Me - "Oh yeah" .
Weather radio guy "No, really severe storms are coming!"
Me - "Okay"
WRG - "They will be here in 5-10 minutes"
Me- "CRAP, I had better high tail it home, Thanks!"
Put the bike in the garage and all hell broke loose! Thanks weather radio guy! I then get a call from fellow MKE My Wife Inc'r asking for a Shop Vac, they have standing water in their basement. The misses comes by for the shop vac and a few minutes later I get another call. They need to get everything out of the basement it is turning into a wading pool. Carpet comes out, everything off the floor, find the numerous leaks bubbling up form the floor - fill the 10 gallon Shop Vac every 2 minutes! They had a long night, it kept raining off and on all night.

Sunday. I went out after work and well you can see the pictures - water, water everywhere!! Lots of people will be drying out for some time to come! The trails are going to need lots of TLC.

be thankful for the dry days...

Anticipation...

Race rig has arrived!

Well...

Barely made the top half of the Overall for last Wednesday Night Races. It's tough when you reach the goal you set for the week and end up further down the list. Oh well still pleased with what was accomplished. Knowing that my goals are still months away and hoping these guys are burning out by then. Stick to the plan, trust in the plan, believe in the plan.

It's all just riding your bike...