10 Minutes is a Long Way.

I did my favorite 35 mile loop last night and after a day off Tuesday the urge to go hard got the best of me. A strong headwind greeted me when I made the turn onto Lyons Mill so it looked like it was going to be a hard going. At least a tailwind would help me the last few miles on the return I thought. Strong headwinds always make me think of the Netherlands in spring and how the real hard men of cycling never seem to complain. They just chew through it like snowplows through a drift. If you ever watched old footage of Eddy Merckx, or more recently, Tom Boonen, it's amazing how much time they will spend at the front pulling the Peloton in this weather. Its as if they are saying "I am the strongest here, try and hold my wheel if you can!" Class. I stayed in the drops almost the whole way with my head down, keeping a pretty good average speed and high cadence, but could definitely feel the burn.

Going hard on a familiar course is a pretty good indicator of fitness level, but it also is a cruel reminder of how far down from last summer's peak we are. Finishing 10 minutes off a normal fast ride for a 35 mile loop is an awfully long way. Greg LeMond had a great line for times like this. "It doesn't get easier, you just get faster." I'm not worried, faster will come in time.