Strange currency

It's been a long time since I felt like a bike racer. I mean, I'm not a bike racer so much as a guy who happens to race bikes now and again, but there are some days where you just feel like one. You pull through, you attack, you pull through again ... over and over. Some days, it feels like you're the only racer there, and everybody else is just trying to hold your wheel.

I haven't felt like that in a long time. Months. Almost a year.

On Sunday, I was able to enjoy a few fleeting seconds of that feeling — it was awesome.

(Cue the wind.)

We headed northwest first, into fairly substantial NNW wind. The plan was aim for NW, head back east, then head back south. Hopefully 2/3 of the ride with a tailwind. The ride north was tough — rotating paceline, waiting for those who got caught off, rotating more.

When we finally turned east, most of us took on board some food and then got to it. I ended up in a split off the front with Randy, Mark and Ryan. After drilling it at 30+ mph for a few miles, we settled into a nice rhythm as the crosswind buffeted us.

As we were getting closer to Blair, I could tell the effort — and the time spent in the drops — was pushing me to the edge. Once I saw the Blair water tower, though, I knew I'd be OK.

The picture above is from the pit stop in Blair. After that, we rolled again. This time we were pacelining in the upper 20s, and then into the 30s again. We shed a few guys before it was just us four again.

Mark ramped it up on the way into Fort Calhoun, and I just came off his wheel. I still have work to do.

After that, I was OK until the final hill of Omaha Trace Road. I knew it was coming, but I didn't have the go to hold onto that hard, driving charge up and over the top. Like I said, I have work to do.

But I had moments. And, for the most part, I felt good — strong — all day. I'm racing for sure at the Twin Bing Classic in two weeks. I've been riding lots since pausing things a few weeks ago, and it's time to get going.

I've been waiting until I rode like a racer before I started acting like one. First up: Shaving the legs. Second: rebooting the training plan.

Time to ride.