It is all over but the Dying… oops I mean Crying… crying….

August 04, 2025

August 2, 2025

I have consistently joked about my demise in New Mexico. Mainly, because 85 miles and 6,000 feet of climbing sounds like a lot. I double that mileage on the weekends and matched that climbing in the month of July. Physically, I think I am as ready as I can before The Enchanted Circle. Mentally, I am working on it.

I tried to lie down last night and imagine myself successfully climbing the Circle. Leaving Taos and pushing my way back to Red River. All I thought about was all the times I had stopped and had to walk or rest going up hills. That wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. I need to stop saying I am going to die in New Mexico and start to think about how much fun I am going to have.

No work. No drama. Just me and my bike and a big challenge in front of me. I got this. I think my Coach would tell you that I did the work. Maybe not always on the right schedule, but I did the work. I don’t know how many indoor rides I did with a space heater in my face. I don’t know how many hours I sat in the damn Sauna I bought (it works great though). A few weeks ago, I was volunteering at this bike ride. This guy kept going on and on about his cycling. Then he started saying well if you ride on Zwift, you must have a fan. Everyone has a fan. If I had wanted to engage with the guy, I would have been like look here asshole, I don’t have a fan, I have not had a fan on me on Zwift since calendar 2024. I get the heat, blasted on high, in my face bub. The problem is I am starting to like it.

My sister Rosie asked me yesterday why, why on Earth would I want to do this? It is because I am a masochist. It is the only answer, right? I thought about this during my three and a half-hour LDSR today. I am not really a masochist. I just like to challenge myself. I like to go out and do things other won’t or can’t. I like to have a goal and work to it, to become better each day. I also love to climb. Ok, so I both love and hate to climb, Gollum and the Ring thing there. You know how he both loves and hates it. For years, I couldn't go out, but now I can—and I intend to keep it that way. I intent to keep going up. I look at hills and think about climbing them.

It has been a great summer of riding. Probably four rides a week. I feel stronger. The hills I ride here have progressively gotten easier. There are still a few out there are a few out there that kick my ass. Two weeks ago, a hill beat me down. I had to stop twice, but I kept going. I got up. That was the day I hit the wall. The mental wall not a physical one. That stuff happens when you train. That is why you do it.

Well Wednesday I head out west. I must figure out how to take my bike apart so I can box it up for travel. That should be interesting. Just like conquering the hill, I will be able to box the bike. I can do this and I will.

By the way look how Horny I was when I got off the bike today!