As August begins it's hard to not look fondly back on July. With consecutive wins at the Tour de Burg, Mountain Bike Nationals, and then the Miller School Road Race it's hard to imagine things could have gone any better. For all the good that comes from winning there is no doubt it can quickly go to your head. I can hope that it doesn't show and that I manage it well but I'd be lying if I said my confidence (cockiness) wasn't boosted after the amazing month of riding. With a month until Green Mountain Stage Race I headed out to Afton Mountain and the Blue Ridge Parkway last week for a solo afternoon spent in the hills. With a great route planned I left the Popcorn Stand with my head filled of ideas about effortlessly dancing up all the climbs. Well that tends not to be how it goes when it's just you and the mountains. Without other people setting tempo, riding away from you, or allowing you to ride easy the mountains really begin to take their toll.
When it's just you and the mountains there is no hiding, the suffering comes and it comes in loads. No matter how fit you are (or think you are) alone in the mountains you are bound to suffer. The mountains doesn't care about your fancy bike, your latest race results, or your nifty power meter. The mountains just ask you to work harder, to push further, and to dig deeper. Then when you think you've done those things the mountain just ask for more, it's never enough. The mountains know they aren't going anywhere and you are just a blip on their radar, but to you, to you the mountains are everything. The unforgiveness of their grades seemingly calling out your name. When it's you and the mountains the cockiness slowly fades away, because when you're alone out there, the mountains always have the upper hand. That day was a good reminder of those facts. It was a reminder of who I am. I am a finite number of heart beats and watts. I am just a kid hanging out and playing bikes. It will always be hard and nothing will make it easier except your weak will. One can only hope that on a given day you are smarter, stronger, and faster than your opponents because while you may be able to beat them, there is no beating the mountains. I left the hills that day deflated and defeated, not in a bad way, but in a way that reminded me of who I was. For on that day the mountains won, but maybe the time spent with the quiet beasts looking over the valley, I can up the odds of crossing the line first and that'll make it all worth it.
Keep those pedals spinning,
BSlow
Keep those pedals spinning,
BSlow
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