Set That Bike on Fire. Put It Out With Sweat!

Sometimes in life there is something that pulls you through in a pinch. A song, or a loved ones support, even a look from that girl across the room. Today it was a song for me, that and knowing that my little girl would be at home waiting to help me finish off my bottles. I worked on the bike for the first time in a week. We have been going through a mini heat wave and it has kept the heat index above 105 for quite some time now. I don't ride when I can't keep enough fluid on the bike for me to stay hydrated, so I have been keeping myself inside. Today I couldn't take it anymore, I broke free and rode.

I knew it couldn't be a long ride, and I needed to "take it easy" as my wife would chant as I get ready. She will hopefully someday learn the rush of fighting the road for speed. I decided to cap the ride to 10 miles today, and to take a longer ride in the morning. I got all my gear rounded up except my cozy Softwick Socks. I love my Softwicks, and really wish that someone at that company would give me enough to work in them, until then I am only using them for rides, but for some reason I couldn't find them today. I know from the Tour de Rock that losing a key piece of gear isn't necessarily bad luck. I lost my gloves prior to that ride. I mixed a fizz and water, and some Gatorade, yes I am really that old school. I carried the bike out the door and rode down the ramp to talk to the wife before leaving with a commuters passion, then rode back up noticing that I had forgotten my helmet...bad luck yet? I think not.

I headed out to the road to get in my miles. It didn't feel that hot at first, and never truly felt that bad while riding. I noticed that there was less road kill than normal, guess the heat speeds decomposition. After getting just past the 5 mile mark (I had to find shade for a quick water and adjustment break. I had made pretty good time getting to the turnaround spot. I headed back with the same zeal, and noticed on my Garmin that my heart rate was staying amazingly high for the way the ride felt. It had to either be the heat or the aspirin I took. I don't know which but it felt pretty awesome to keep it that high without draining me horribly. The heat quickly began to set in now that it was hitting me in the face. I got around a mile out and the most motivating song came on. Citizen Cope with "Son's Gonna Rise". One of the main lines in the song says "the son's gonna rise in a mile, in a mile you'll be feelin' fine." that line kept me pushing the pedals harder and harder, fighting the sun, and the sweat, and my abnormally fast beating heart. I really pushed myself and was totally drained coming down the home stretch. I worked my way in the house and then it hit me.

Seems like every ride I take in the summer, after I get in the door I get the sweat really going. Today I got in the kitchen and had to get my wife to get me a towel, I couldn't see to move. The wind must dry enough sweat to keep you from noticing but man did it hit when I got out of the wind. But the last mile made it alright. I can't shake this cycling bug. I can fight it for weeks at a time, and even a year in a pinch but I am a junkie, and addict and I will forever carry the chain tattoo on my calf muscle to prove it. So when your in the heat, and having a shorter ride because of the 107 degree heat index just set that bike on fire for the short distance you do and make your bike pay for keeping you on it! Hammer Harder!