Simple Pleasures
It's absolutely simple, really. That is what can appease my aching head. For me, as a kid, it was a Tamiya model or a new plastic M-16 and I'd go play. Now, I have this little black rain cloud over my head. It's all semi hilarious and trust me, I pop open the mental umbrella most days to fend it off and keep the powder dry. Now that I'm all grows dup, it's new rubber that can take the surliness right out of me. Challenge Grifo XS. 32's. File tread. White. Of course.
Kids to bed, wife with tea and book and smiling, me and my rain cloud head out to the garage dialing in the bikes. Door open. Fall coldness enveloping the room. A bit of tune-age going on...I'm vibing with Fleet Foxes these days...and it's Zen. Paradise. Bike in the stand. Gears humming up and down the cassette. Sweet smell of Tri-Flow. Everything gets polished. Dialed. Ready. Rain 
cloud disappears.
Being fast these days is tres difficile. The league is deeper. Way deeper. Still balanced but nothing's easy. Ever. Couple steps forward, massive steps back. A few more leaps forward, a tumultuous tumble backward. But I just clench my teeth and bring it.
Bike practice tomorrow. Shake the toxins still in me, won't you? It's hard to say no to a Delicious Beer these days. Or 3. Discipline or be disciplined. Left hand holds training and focus, right hand holds a cold beer and sensibilities.
Balance grasshopper.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 8:42PM
Reader Comments (5)
I just read this yesterday, and it seems utterly sane:
"Ride a lot and ride hard - sometimes for a long time, sometimes for a short time. Drink enough that you can stand riding your bike a lot, but don't drink so much that you can't ride your bike a lot."
- Dan S of Velocitynation
Your words are often inspirational to me, and I do appreciate it.
This post rocks. The pure joy and contentment that comes when you do a job well done, your family loves you, and you get to play hard with your buds on the weekend is a thing of beauty. For many, this isn't enough but for me it's the only way live.
Good stuff ...keep it coming.
You really articulate what I (and certainly others) feel about juggling work, family, racing... ...etc. Keep it up.
BTW, please tell your neighbor (GB) that I absolutely enjoyed working for him. One of the few people there that got it. We will miss him.
Greg~
First off, I always enjoy reading your blog, great stuff. More specifically, thank you for sharing this great post, quite soothing and inspirational. I now have the motivation to go home and get the Ridley all cleaned up tonight after work.
Balance is the trick.