"Its not how hard you hit, but how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” That's was Rocky’s decree in the last of the fabled series. Admittedly, I'm a little behind for what’s considered in vogue within the movie viewing department, but as I was watching the film (from ‘06 I believe) for the first time while spinning away on the trainer last night, I got to thinking. “…keep moving forward” sounds like cycling to me. This movie was brilliant, not for the acting, but for its message. As a synopsis of the flick I would include the obvious themes of never giving up and fulfilling your dreams, but also embrace some more subtle undertones that for me are much more essential. Rocky had something “burning” inside him, a smoldering that in all essence defined his being. For him, the thrill of competition fueled his very existence, and without it his tank would empty. You’ve got to feed the beast inside, or it will die and take you with it. For me the beast takes the form of aluminum, steel, titanium, and carbon fiber. That consistent need to push the boundaries of what my fitness and sustainability can be, not to impress others, but to oppress my own need to feel fit and fast over a long ride. Bike racing and riding will hit you, sometimes hard, and you must overcome those blows relentlessly to keep moving. Its those blows, and how you compensate for them that keeps me continually training to get better. To be able to withstand a multitude of nocks and keep pedaling on keeps my beast happy and fulfilled. Sometimes the people I work with question me with dismay as to why I’d spend the hours I do spinning my wheels. Well from now, I’ll just tell them I’m feeding the beast!
So figure out what the beast inside you likes to eat and feed it regularly. Then repeat.
After a 12 month delay (trying to get money in my flexible spending account) I was finally able to pull the trigger on LASIK. Talk about George Jetson stuff! Walk in blind, shoot some lasers at the most precious of your 5 senses, and go home with 20/15 vision. All in less than 30 minutes. I've got a little reminder of the power of the suction device used to keep you balls steady during the proceedure, but it will go away in a few weeks says the Doc. I did get some really cool sunglasses too. Tried to use them riding today, but to no avail as they fogged something fierce. 
The assimilation of parts for this years off road weapon has begun. Here is a sampling of my gathering so far. Maybe with any luck I'll have a frame to hang it on by spring. Oh, and I gots some wheels too, and yes they are the little ones. : )
So what do you do when its 29 degrees, and falling. The wind is gusting up to 30 mph, the trails are muddy, and the gravel roads are swamps? You get out those road bikes with the funny tires and go ride anyway dufas. Dr J and I froze to the core today on some nasty loop he dreamed up, but I loved it none the less. I've got some goals this year, starting with a good showing in AR in April, so I've got to start early. 2nd place was at home on the couch right?
I turned 35 today, and the weather Gods smiled down upon me in celebration of my Birthday. I road north to HeavyD's and completed a windy Big Tree Loop before heading back home to Ashland. 60 miles and 4+ hours later I was only minutes from home, when... Well, see the body needs glycogen to keep moving forward at a high rate of speed, and I had grosley underestimated the ammout of that presious comodity I was going to need this day. I was in a complete fog, and felt as if the rear of my bike was coming apart. Seems it was! 3 miles from home I threw in the towel and called Cathy to rescue me and my flat tire. I'm off for some Barley Wine at Flat Branch to celebrate.
