4luvandlife

came home last night and noticed my favorite bike was gone from the garage. my race bike. stood there dazed and in disbelief for about 3 minutes staring at the spot where my bike had been hibernating for the winter. what am i going to race on?? i will admit that for a nano second i already started planning what my new race whip would be. went inside holding back tears (not really) and told Beth that my bike was gone. she kindly reminded me (although she was laughing at me a little) that i had taken it in for a tuneup and it was in the shop. man, i have got to get back on the bike. my January brain waves are...way....too...slow. whats worse is that this isn't the first time that i thought my bike was stolen from the garage and it wasn't. maybe i will share that story on here someday. for now the above story is enough embarrassment .

it's winter now. it has been for a while. this is a blog about biking. this blog is in it's winter...hybernating. quiet. it's sleeping. don't wake it. winter is different now since racing. it is more about taking it on now. it used to be about waiting until spring to live again. the year is almost twice as long now. don't get me wrong. it's definately slower still in winter. it's still quiet. but biking in winter brings out the world more. i feel like i am meeting the earth in the middle. the elements are nothing to be scarred of. just be prepared. old man winter softens up as you accept him. the snow levels out the trail. the rocks are covered up. the log pile is a small hill easily rolled over. the rock garden is hidden away until spring. the trail is smooth and forgiving. the world is a new place after a snow fall and so is the trail.

friend of mine beat cancer about 3 years ago. about a month ago he found out that he will have to beat it again. he watched his two little girls open up Christmas presents over a webcam. this day is a gift. life is right now. Joe, you inspired me in 2007. you showed me what heart can do. your challenge made me appreciate life more. i look forward to seeing what heart can do again in 2010.

so i thought today would be the first race of the year. found out at 4am this morning that the universe had other plans. spent the day snaking out the main line to the street instead. went great except for a very heavy piece of rental equipment tipping over and crashing through the interior panel in the van. B is either ok with it or quietly planning a pay back. another race at Hillside is set for the 26th and so is Rock the Cradle. sounds like a fun day. i did make a couple of additions to the clothing arsenal to fight off the minus 25 windchills right now. scored a gore helmet liner with my gift certificate for Freewheel from MNSCS and shoe covers from Eriks on sale. bring it on Mother Nature...actually take it easy girl, it's been crazy cold already this year.