Pedaling Cubes

When things go south they call it pedaling squares; today things went further south, Antarctic south, I was pedaling cubes - Rubics Cubes.

Multiple media types, cycling broadcaster and others have picked up on the pedaling squares phrase, but I think it was from Paul Sherwin on a particularly vertical stretch of the Pyrenees in the Tour de France when the the utterance came tripping off his tongue and was the death sentence to the poor lad to which he was referring.

Since then we have joked loosely with the phrase on club rides and weekend mountainous adventures - ah, careful what we mock, it might be moi.

Today I was out trying desperately to get back in some shape resembling race ready. I have no illusion about what race ready shape feels like - especially when you 'pop' off the back in a race. Today I watched stage 2 of Paris-Nice and rolled off the porch with an illusion of getting into shape. This has been a pathetic winter for building base. More time in a window seat on a 757 than saddle time on a Super Six. I hope to race Banana Belt next Sunday - but god will I be slow - likely dropped. Oh, but that won't stop me ripping this old body to shreds trying to keep up and then limp home exhausted still clinging stubbornly to the illusion that I can race a bike in March with no training.

So as I plowed up a 9-10% gradient Sherwin's words continued to throb in my brain in counters-throb to that in my chest. No squares today, I was pedaling cubes.

Nearly three hours later I rolled back on the porch remembering with workouts, you're never disappointed you did, just disappointed you didn't. Equally - any day on your bike - cubes or square - is a great day to be alive.

Echelon - part of a team

The Banana series concluded yesterday under another Sunday of sunny skies, it's amazing what a year makes. Last season everything fell out of the sky except some space junk, you name it - ice, rain, snow, a hint of sun, wind, we had it all, enough in fact to postpone one weekend. This year three straight sunny Sundays; the only part that sucked was not riding any of it; the best part, being part of the team that dominated much of the racing. Dominating was especially true this past Sunday as the Echelon boys scooped up 5 of the top 6 places.

Masters 40+ 123

 Pl    Num   Last Name     First Name     Team                                            
 1    145   Slater        Matthew        Echelon Gran Fondo/ZteaM                            
 3    715   Browning      Scott          Echelon Gran Fondo/ZteaM                    
 4    129   Dunn          Michael        Echelon Gran Fondo/ZteaM            
 5    162   Hagen         Karsten        Echelon Granfondo/ZteaM               
 6    175   Zimbelman     David          Echelon/Salmon Cyclery    

To quote Dave Zimbelman assessment of the team's effort, "it was really cool to see the team talk about a race plan and then execute it perfectly; congrats to matt, mike, and scott for making the early break stick so well and karsten for saving his adrenaline-fueled legs for the last lap effort; i haven't seen a team work that perfectly since being on the short-end of the 7-11 juggernaut in innumerable races in the 1980's. ...you guys rock."

Something interesting about being part of a team - we feel a part of it even if it's only on paper, or online - the excitement and success come through on Monday morning even if the legs and lungs weren't there Sunday. This new Echelon team is a great group of guys - exactly the focus, commitment and camaraderie I had been seeking when asked to join. Even off the bikes as emails fly there is a true sense of belonging - and I thank all of you, listed above, and others, who have sent me emails about getting healthy and back out on the road. It's great to have that support off the road as well.

Did finally get back on the road this weekend - rolled out 2.5 hours worth in the West Hills, even an easy climb up McNamee - can't even explain the joy of turning the bike onto the base of that climb and spending the next four miles pedaling up, up, up - sheer joy! Thanks TT for your patience - and indulging the ridiculous smile that was smeared across my face.

Hopefully no more setbacks of a serious nature - from here it's get in some saddle time and rebuild a base - and then get out and help the team.

More Beer - Less Racing.... hmmmm?

Well that's my friend Alex's solution to my current health calamities. Not against the more beer idea, just would like to also get the new season started... not exactly my dream start with the new team (not that they need me, the Echelon boys did some serious butt kicking in the Jack Frost TT on Sunday morning - while Hammer and I were winning the tandem division).

No racing for the next two weeks - actually no strenuous exercise - nothing that taxes the lungs. Looking outside at the cold rain - yes, this is the real February in the Pacific NW - maybe a good time to miss the Banana Belt opener.

Spent the day Wednesday in the pulmonary clinic with a range of tests, several to eliminate the possibility of blood clot around the lungs... looks like I'm okay there. Apparently all we know at the moment is a small amount of bloody-fluid in the lining of the outer lung wall (pleurisy) and a touch of pneumonia has started, so course of antibiotics, enough ibuprofen to choke a horse (control the inflammation), plus pain killers every night so I can sleep - which I haven't done well for much of the past week.

No workout sessions the next week either - until new chest x-rays.

Oh well - this too shall pass.

In the mean time I'll get back to research and writing on the new book about the Tour's Lanterne Rouge and work on editing those India bicycle/tricycle photos I promised to post.

Thanks everyone who has written - appreciate the well wishes!!

Going slow to go fast...

So my coach Phil constantly repeats - the mantra to my building a stronger me. Well, now it appears it may be stopping to go slow, so that eventually we can go fast.

Somewhere in a time-warp between last Friday morning feeling really great and going through a progressive work out in Session 5 since back from India, and racing Sublimity circuit road race (Saturday - photo above as I roll out in search of my lung - maybe I should have noticed the arrow on the ground pointed the other way?) and the Jack Frost TT on tandem with Hammer (Sunday morning) I managed to do some damage to my lungs/ribs (??) it appears. Severe enough I ended up in the local ER at 2 AM Monday morning having trouble breathing with one of the worst pains imaginable drilling into my left ribs just about the base of the heart... yes, that alone scared the shit out of me! (and Jenn)

After over 6 hours in ER which included EKGs, x-rays, CAT scans, full blood tests,, other tests, and a whole lot of some cousin to morphine (thank you chemistry!), I was able to breath with reasonable comfort and eventually wheelchair it into a car to go home - and here I sit or partially lie down - which ever position let's me dodge the pain.

So what they think they know is this -

Pleurisy is swelling (inflammation) of the thin layers of tissue (pleura) covering the lungs and the chest wall. (according to WebMD)

Appointment with a pulmonary specialist tomorrow - hopefully pleurisy is all it is, a week or so to heal and back to going slow, but well know more later.

It appears I may have pushed the lungs and body too hard too fast trying to get into race shape. In other words, didn't go slow enough to go fast (later). The price is no Banana Belt series opener this weekend - with any luck a nice long pain free walk with Jenn.

Congrats to friend Jeff Otto for the win in Mstrs 40+ and to teammate Matt Slater for a great 3rd!

Weekend results (besides the pain): Sublimity Road Race and Jack Frost TT
Photo: Jenn Loren