Sunday, February 26, 2006

Lazy Bastard

This isn't the illegitimate older brother of the La-Z-Boy. This is me. I'm one lazy fuck. Excuse my language, but it's true. Unless it involves my working (earning a living), getting a bike ready for riding, or riding a bike, I don't do anything. I would take a picture of my apartment and show you, but you wouldn't be able to distinguish it from a landfill.

I didn't used to be this way. In fact, I used to be a pretty anal neat freak. I used to get pleasure out of washing a car or cleaning my apartment, but then as Hank said, "I saw the light." I learned there were better ways to spend the time of the one life I've been given. Of course, I don't say that too much when I'm searching in vain for something I need for a ride. Like the one arm warmer that seems to always get separated from its companion.

Speaking of riding, it was a good weekend for that activity. Especially after the deep freeze of last weekend. I don't care what you Minnesotans and Gunnsionians say, 0-5 degrees is cold, and I'm staying out of it.

Saturday, I met up with a group ride south of Denver. I've always meant to do more of these, but I never seem to get around to it. I plan on changing that this year. It was pretty fast from the beginning. Think fast to warm up to really fast for the remainder of the time. After the first 10 minutes, it was pretty much balls to the wall for the next 50. At least for me it was. I was pleasantly surprised to stay with this group of guys considering I just started doing intensity training and haven't done any race tempo stuff. It was a ride of some steep rollers, and I was good until about the last 5 minutes when the sprinter types started gearing up for the "finish."

After the "finish" and the hill turned upward, I still had a little kick and some of those guys were worked. I guess my home is in the hills. Everyone split up from there, and I went to my car to see if my misplaced contact had remained lodged in my eye. Luckily it had, but it was a bitch to get it out. I popped it back in and decided to do some more riding.

The destination was the top of Deer Creek Canyon Road, or whatever it is called at the top. I was surprised at how well I was climbing. I kept a steady pace, locked in on a good power zone and managed to pass a few fit looking people on the way up. Another pleasant surprise I must say. I would wager to say I climbed it just about as fast as I ever have, but I rarely climb the whole thing in one fell swoop. This road is usually the location of some post-work climbing repeats.

I'm one of those sick bastards (when I'm not a lazy bastard) that actually likes climbing. It's nice to get into a groove and push yourself up the mountain. I think I'll show you this ride.

I've known about Google Earth for some time now, but I haven't downloaded it until recently due do the aforementioned affliction. I am now an addict. Mostly due to the fact that I live and ride in an urban area, so a lot of the rides I do, dirt and road, are pretty sharply imaged. I saved some images to post here.

No comments: