BIKE CAMP: DAY 6

I'm so sad it's coming to an end. Getting away from everything was just what I needed; I can't remember the last time I felt so relaxed. It's kind of scary to realize how wound up I was - and that I didn't even really know it. I have absolutely no desire to go back to real life. Here, I have no responsibilities or unnecessary stress - nothing to worry about besides getting from Point A to Point B...and hopefully avoiding saddle sores in the process.

I think I'm converted.

Could it really be true? Could there be a cyclist inside of me after-all?!? After spending the week as a roadie, I'm seeing more of the appeal, and I've almost completely forgotten about triathlon aspirations. Instead I've been thinking about RAAM and Brevets and PBP and the biking world is basically in a different solar system than the one in which I've been operating.

And I kind of love it.

And it turns out, I'm not such a horrible biker. Now, don't get me wrong - I'm slow and I'm not fast and I'm uncoordinated and everything else bad, but I'm also getting stronger every day, and I now know there is actually potential there.

So, tomorrow is the last official day (I have all day Saturday here too, so I'll probably go out on my own for something like a 35-50 mile ride), and we're scheduled for 92 miles over a mountain, back to Tucson. I'm getting up early to do 8 miles beforehand so that I'll have conquered a century ride this trip. I know that in terms of training, 92 miles isn't that different than 100 miles...but hell, that 8 miles is 8 miles and I'll have done 100...and somehow, that makes a difference.

The photo is of me at the top of Mule Pass on the way to Bisbee, AZ (where there is the cutest bicycle shop I've ever seen - it's called 'Bisbee Bicycle Brothel', and I got a couple of awesome t-shirts featuring naked ladies on bikes).