Things are getting serious

Things are starting to get pretty serious around here.  At least in regards to the role that cycling is starting to play in my life.  Seven years ago when I first started cycling I never imagined it would come to this. I just thought I would be this dude who went out on the bike now and then and did things like half ironman distance triathlons that made all his couch potato friends think he’s crazy.

I am not sure what qualifies someone as a serious cyclist but I am going to assume that cycling over 10,000 miles in the last two years counts.  I now have 4 bikes and have to wear matching kits on all rides.  When Sherry catches me alone late at night with my laptop she assumes I am looking at new bikes.  I have socks that say I “heart’ bike porn. Yes, you could safely say I am consumed by this sport of cycling and all it has to offer.

So, where’s the serious part?

Let me start with riding.  I am coming out of the off season and starting to ramp things up a bit.  Nothing crazy.  A little higher intensity and a little more climbing.  But the real indicator is that I have switched back to my sports drink versus just drinking water.  I am also “practicing’ eating on the bike so it becomes second nature on harder rides. Like robins returning in spring, this means the season has changed and it’s go time.

I also have my writing.  In addition to this blog, which I am committed to updating more frequently, I am seriously contemplating writing a book.  I have had some tremendous adventures and it might be interesting to get them recorded in a single place.  Coming back the blog, I have set an unofficial goal of at least 6 or 7 posts per month.  I am also creating a logo for the blog that Coach Tim is putting on the cycling kit he is designing.  This might pose quite a challenge but with a little extra sports drink I think I can do it.

I am also a guest contributor to the West County Revolution Bike Shop’s newsletter Power to the Pedals.  My final bit of “writing” is helping Coach Tim with his FB fan page and his website.

I am thrilled that Santa Rosa will once again host a finishing stage of the Amgen Tour of California.  My friend David, who works for the city of Santa Rosa, is the Chair of the committee making this go smoothly.  I have agreed to Chair the sub-committee on merchandising and I am busy contacting local merchants to place Tour of Calendar stuff in their shops for sale.  So basically, I am contacting every bike shop in Sonoma and Marin county.

Wow!  That all sounds like a lot of work so let’s get back to riding.  As I mention recently, West County Revolution is starting a new cycling team, Team Revolution.  I will be on that team not only as a rider but as a ride leader, sponsor-getter, route finder, and just about anything else they need help with to get his team up and running.  It sounds like a lot of work, but they hooked me by holding the team meetings at Flying Goat Coffee.

This will be a great group of guys and gals to ride with and I can’t wait until we hit the open road.  Our first official ride is scheduled for February 27th but many of us have ridden together before.  I am getting so serious about this team that yesterday I officially became a licensed cyclist by the US Cycling Federation.  Now don’t get too excited.  This was really just a $60 charitable contribution to the cycling federation with the option that allows me to race.  Surprisingly, the only qualification necessary to be a licensed Cat 5 racer is the ability to navigate PayPal.

So there you have it.  As you can see, cycling is keeping me very busy.  And it’s not just riding.  Although it may seem like a lot of work I am having a blast with it all.  Who knows, maybe someday I’ll even make my living connected to cycling in some fashion.

Until then, I have to go write my article about the last Soup Spoons & Carbon Forks ride.

Ciao!