Tough day with no saddle…

So, today’s adventure was intense.  There is only one word I can use to describe the intense mix of elation, challenge, frustration, exhilaration, fatigue, pain, and triumph.  The word is cathartic.  
This morning, I awoke at 6am to consume the necessary calories, and prepared for a LONG road skate.  Yes, I said “skate”.  After packing the car, I headed down to Port Credit to attend the Gear’s Bike Shop’s Saturday morning group ride, with training partner Peter Light.  We met down there at 8am, in time for pre-training coffee, some chatting, a stretch, and of course to gear up.  The ‘gearing up’ part is where the heads started to turn in my direction with several audible laughs, and apparent/obvious skepticism.  I planned to skate the ~120km out-and-back road cycling group training session.  The group today was pretty big.  I would say it started out with around 40 riders, and whittled down to a lead group of the five strongest riders before the 65km meeting place in Campbellville.  I hung onto that group until the second last climb, and came in solo through the last 3km falling back quickly by a few minutes.  We then stopped, and grouped up for the slightly shorter, but windier ride back.  Because I was on skates, I didn’t have my computer/HRM with me, so today’s stats are from Petey’s speedometer. [PL, I subtracted the time I waited at the gas stop to get this average…]  We took it a bit easier on the way back, which allowed for an occasional sprint, which felt really good, even at the end of this very long skate.  After this session, I really feel ready for the move.  I feel motivated, and organized, and in decent shape.  I think my acceleration needs a lot of work, but my top end feels as good as it ever has.  [I know my corners suck…]
Oh, and I forgot to mention the downhill-into-a-corner outside pass on Petey at 70km/hr (that was INSANE!!!), and hitting a top speed of 75km/hr and freaking out arguably the strongest rider today by making a pass between him and the shoulder of the road he didn’t expect.  I kind of got locked into that line as I passed the others on my way up to him, and at that speed I just wanted to make sure I stayed up.  Sorry about that, dude.  I should have called that out.
 

Anyway, here are the stats;
 

4/21/07:
Time: ~3.48.00
Distance:116.38km
Average: 30.6km/h
 

Oh, and I just wrote my second last exam. It was hard!  :P
 

Thanks for reading, I really can’t wait to post about Switzerland.  
Stay Tuned!!
-A.
 

Oh! And how about that weather!!!!!!!!