Road biking fascination

In the previous post I asked about false starts. Here is why.

So I rode the 2008 Bicycle Tour of Colorado. 400+ miles at altitude in 6 riding days. I even did the optional parts of the ride to the bottom of the Black Canyon of the Gunnision National park - which is 16 miles of 16% grade. Look it up. It is brutal. People on the ride were shocked that I had been riding for four months. Most of them attributed it to my "youth". I was 35 going on 36. That did not seem all that youthful to me.

Later in 2008 I acquired a USA Cycling membership and signed up for my first race in Knoxville TN. It was a two day event including a Criterium, a Time Trial and a 44 mile road race. I did not finish last! It was very fun. Then I stopped riding.

I did not sit on my saddle for over 7 months. I did start lifting weights and running 5Ks again. I got down under 220 lbs for the first time since 2004. I started winning trophies in my age group in the Nashville area races. Sometimes I would race "Clydesdale" and others I would just race in my age group. Either way, I was getting podiums.

I told you those stories in order to tell you the latest story. Are you ready for it?