Pics from my Ipod that did not make it to Facebook

Does anyone else hate the new Blogspot format? Fuck, this sucks balls. Maybe that's why I don't like to blog here anymore.

"Training" for Mohican is over. I definitely did not ride as much as last year. I have no idea what will happen come "race" day, but I know for sure, at this point, I don't really give a shit anymore. I have, however, fallen deeply in love with the sport of mountain biking. You can read about that right here. 

Since I don't feel like typing right now, here are a few pics from my Ipod from the last couple of weeks.

Our tandem is awesome. We rode it on the slow and steady ride last week and ended up hauling ass on the way home. And yes, he rides in the back.
                                                           

Dominic did a bike safety class and flatland demo for Chase School (67 kids!) to promote Kid's Day this summer at Mobo.

Sitting in Hoffner Park.

On the slow ride, we stopped by the new fountain lights near the Bike Center.

Me and my co-pilot, Ari. He has been limping this weekend and I am worried.

"Dominic, when I try to do wheelies, my handlebars slide down, can you fix them?"

Riding the little kids rides at Taste of Cincinnati. We spun the teacups so hard we almost puked.

The stoke is gone.

To blog, I mean.

I got this email from TJ over at TrailerParkCyclist the other day.
"Reading about your training and your racing, your community service and your enviable relationship with a man of many hair colors is, and hear me, an inspiration to many people.  I am one of the strong ones but I have many readers who need to know that getting out of bed in the morning is worth the effort.  Your stuff is one of the places that I go to draw strength my ownself and I am happy to have a chance to say so.  You once said that maybe you have outgrown your Blog and I stayed silent.  But now I will say that if you stopped posting the world will be a little diminished and sadder for it.  I send ladies your way all the time and there is a book in you and one million little girls might become Big Strong Women as a result."


That's really sweet of you TJ, but fuck, I don't know what to say anymore. Blogging isn't something you can force. I used to be able to sit down and pound out a post 3xs a week, never running out of words. Now, I just sit here, looking at this blank screen and have no idea what to say. I feel....blah.


A few updates for the readers who choose to keep coming back here.


* I am now a board member of the MoBo Bike Co-op. It's just a fill in position, and elections for the new year are in June. I haven't decided whether or not I will run again. The board meets every other Sunday. Last night's meeting went on for 2.5 hours. I am not sure I have the time to dedicate to this. MoBo Kid's Night starts in June too, and that's where my heart is, for the most part.


* I am just 4 weeks away from the Mohican 100K, and I am dreading it. Not the ride. The racing aspect. The race scene. The boatloads of local racers I no longer feel a connection to, or even WANT to, for that matter. The pressure to put in miles sucks balls too. I love to ride, but I have come to loathe "training". I do, however, look forward to Gnome's visit, and that's about it.


* This summer I have nothing on the schedule for racing for the first time in 5 years. It is going to feel good to just exercise again. If I want to go out for a run, I will. If I want to go lay out at the pool and swim laps, I will. If I want to ride my bike for 3 hours, I will. No pressure. No training. Just the goal to stay fit and healthy and strong.


* Dominic had a set back last weekend. It was a dramatic event that always ends in a catastrophe. The broken window was replaced the next day, and then we pretended nothing ever happened. I expect it will happen again 4-6 months down the road. Such is life with a dry drunk.


* I continue to get deeper and more involved with my network in recovery. I have grown to love the people I've met, and the longer I work with my sponsor, the more I grow. I have learned so much over the last 14 months, it amazes me on a daily basis.


* The dogs are well. Lola is in charge now. The boys love her. I don't take them to the woods anymore. They get an hour long walk on leash every day and then they play in the yard. I miss the hiking I did with them, but I can't chance the boys running off again. At least, not until I can replace their e-collars.


* Work is good. I like my non-grown-up job at the coffee shop but I know I can't do it forever. My friend Cheri Pi reminded me though - I am happy there. There is some truth to that. It's also nice to be in N-side, being social, running into friends from the past. Plus the espresso is so fucking good.


* I love commuting to work. I have found that there are some days, when my legs are screaming for rest, I drive, and then I feel terribly guilty. Most days I commute though, and riding a singlespeed around the city is making me stronger, especially when I have to lug a 25lb bag on my back up Glenway hill.


* We got our wedding tattoos. This is mine. I couldn't remember our wedding date at first.

RIP BONES - One Year Later

A memorial bench for Bones.




















This week has been a bit of an emotional roller coaster. A year ago my friend was killed by a police officer. The full story has finally been disclosed to the public.

http://www.friendsofbones.org/overview/

He was featured on the front page of the paper yesterday.

While I was at work, the new Cincinnati Magazine came, and smack in the middle, an article about Bones.

The family and friends of Bones have finally filed a law suit against Officer Mitchell, a full year later. I hope justice is served.

http://www.friendsofbones.org/



We will not forget.

#occupybikeseat

After the crash on my road bike, I took 2 days off and then the crazies went off in my head.

I had to pedal. And so I did.

-A social urban ride.

-A day of long miles on my road bike.

-A day of hill repeats up Sycamore.

-A couple of MTB rides with Russell from PA over Easter weekend.

-And the commute to work.

Some days after work, I find myself riding for a couple of hours all around the city, across the bridge to Devou and then down route 8, across the ferry and home. I trash my legs on that singlespeed, climbing, testing the waters, seeing which hills I can handle, always 20lbs heavier with a messenger bag on my back.

I never realized how much commuting to work on a SSCX bike would impact the rest of my riding. It's making me stronger in a way, but I feel tired, like, A LOT.

After Sunday's trail ride, and nine consecutive days on the bike, I was cooked. I took Monday off to get shit done around the house and when Tuesday rolled around, I had a good excuse not to ride to work. I had to meet a friend at work with a rear MTB wheel, so I drove, and goddamn if I didn't feel guilty all day.

Yesterday's commute was nice and easy. I felt better but still tired. I rode home after work, to my injured, whiny, and very needy husband. I tried to spin my legs on the rollers, real easy. My legs were on fire after 45 minutes so I called it quits and went out to eat. I know when to listen to my body.

Today I commuted to work and when I got off, I did some errands on my bike. I ended up climbing Glenway home with 40lbs on my back. On a singlespeed. Yowsa. It hurt.

Tomorrow I am off and I plan to get in a long ride on my road bike.

Seven weeks till Mohican.

Here are a few pictures from the rides.

About 35 riders showed up for the Riverside ride to Lunkin, to promote the need for bike lanes on this road. People brought food and beverages to snack on upon arrival, and then I rode home solo. Urban night rides alone are the best.




















DrunkCyclist reader Russell from PA was in town and trails were in prime condition to ride. We rode almost 30 miles at Verailles on Friday, and then we rode at Mitchell Memorial again on Sunday. He's so much fun, and has been reading DC for a long time. It's hella cool we hooked up through the site and we ride bikes whenever he comes to town.




















My bike, locked up in the courtyard at work with the resident bunny, Patrick.
















Out on the road, solo.

My husband loves the shit out of me.

Dominic and I are like twin souls. We share a bond so deep that it's just - weird. I can't explain it. If you have met your soul mate, you know what I am talking about. You communicate without words. You think the same thoughts. You share the same ideas and you almost always know what the other is going to say or do when it comes to certain situations in your lives.

I know how lucky I am to have him. Not a day goes by that we don't recognize how blessed we are to have each other.




















Gone are the days when we'd ride bikes for hours together. I miss those days, but I love seeing him ride BMX. The last few weeks I have been going on some long rides, and when I come home, he always tells me how much he's missed me.

So when he tells me he needs to be with me on one of our days off, I relent.

Yesterday I had a long ride planned with a friend. It was going to be one of those days I had planned to be on my bike most of the day. Granted - Dominic was supposed to be working during the day. At the last minute he got his shift covered and when we woke up Sunday morning, the pouting began.

"You're gonna be gone ALL DAY."
"I'll just see ya on Monday."
"Please don't ride all day."
"I miss you."

So, I canceled the planned ride and left a bit early, solo. I was mad at first, especially when I saw clumps of cyclists out riding together. I don't like to ride alone ALL the time so when I have a chance to ride with a friend, I go. When I got to the top of Devou, I was gonna text him and tell him I was mad, blah blah blah, I had this big long text all ready to go in my head.

When I pulled my phone out, there was a text from him.

im up and gettin in the shower. gonna go session. cant wait to spend the day with you. i luv you so much. thank you.

How could I be mad?

I have a husband that actually wants to spend time with me. I have a husband that loves me more than life itself. How awesome is that?

So I slammed out 3 hours alone, cranking up hills off route 8 (and dropping 3 cyclists up one of them) and then headed home. Spent the rest of the day eating, laughing, and being with my best friend.