Winter training.

I must write of a beautiful convergence this past weekend: Oregon, late November, and it's a perfect crisp, clear Sunday. No cyclocross race to sling waffles and clothing (Kruger's was happening, but I had already said I couldn't do it - sorry, Kris). And some riding buddies were heading out for four easy hours. What could be better?

Nothing. Except for two minor items, barely worth mentioning. One: I am sick. I'm definitely on the mend, but I"m still stuffed up and my cough is "loosening." Two: I have not ridden my bike for more than my one-hour commute in I can't remember how long. Well before 'cross season started. Those two minor items hit me pretty hard after two hours of riding. We were riding easy. Mostly easy, anyway, except for Cliff who isn't working right now so he rides all the time and he loves climbing fast always because he can. I still tried to keep it easy.

So I'm a bit tired and then we come to a point where the Pallet Factory Loop (a nice 3.5-hour ride) can become the Kansas City Loop (a nice 4.5 to 5-hour ride). And Doug is loving the ride and wants to keep going. And I know that's what my mind is thinking and my body is not. So I listened to my body for once and turned toward home. Home was still 1.5 hours and a few miles of climbing away, and it turns out there was a headwind. Even on the exposed lower half of the climb. I actually turned the wrong way at the top and extended the journey a little longer.

When I got home, that easy three hour ride felt like a hard five hour ride. I was wasted. I wanted to eat everything. Luckily, we don't have much food in the house except the delicious tofu chocolate pudding I had made the other day - it's tofu, eat as much as you want!

So glad that it's November and I have just one more weekend of cyclocross before I can start using those two special days every week for their divine purpose: Winter training.