First and foremost, this picture has nothing to do with this post. It was simply my post ride breakfast, and it was awesome. Eggs, left over roasted red potatoes, and salmon. Sort of a high end frittata. Mrs. Skinny went to the farmers market yesterday, so left overs turned into a breakfast that pot heads dream about. After four hours in the saddle, it was particularly tasty and I was experiencing pothead-esque cravings.Tim O. and I haven't missed a single Saturday or Sunday out on the roads this winter. Short of a little break after CX season, the base has been in full effect all winter. I'd say that we're both in agreement that the enthusiasm to ride is still very much present, but the enthusiasm for riding in the cold and snow is waning. Thursday and Friday finally melted the snowbanks which was a plus. I got home a little early Friday, but decided to hike with the dogs and then hit the trainer. I know it sounds crazy to ride the trainer when it's 50+ degrees out, but I didn't have time to figure out what to wear and still beat the dark. Much like prisoners become institutionalized, I've gotten used to mittens, winter boots, bad shifting, and worse brakes.
On the positive side, every weekend that it is cold and snowy is a weekend that most people are on their trainers, or worse yet drunk on the couch. That's one more weekend to get something of an edge, and given my overwhelmingly average genetics, I need it.
Yesterdays 40 mph winds and drifting snow made riding borderline crazy. By and large it was a lot of fun, but there were a couple of times where visibility was about 25 yards and you could barely keep the bike upright. Turning around to look for cars was nearly impossible. Hearing cars or plows was entirely impossible. It crossed my mind that all of my jokes about being found in a snowbank in spring had the potential to be fulfilled. Turns out that travel in Madison County was "emergency only." Apparently, half of the county, including Tim and I didn't get the memo.
March and the Johnny Cake races in Albany are almost here, then Battenkill, the local spring Classics and summer. After that, back to CX and the cycle starts all over . . . Now that I think about it, I'm already excited to ride in fresh snow next year. I am however still sick of this snow. Surf's up.
