[TXBatman]

Until I get to ride to Austin! I hope the weather forecast holds, because right now it is showing tailwinds and nice cool temperatures. It has been a very weird training season this spring...mild weather and relatively mild winds have led to some very easy and comfortable rides...or maybe I am I just finally getting used to being on the bike all the time.

It is kind of funny, because I rode two weekends ago and was planning a long 74 mile ride. 27 miles in I was feeling excellent and riding smooth and fast, when I broke a spoke on my front wheel and had to quit for the day. Then last weekend I rode a 51 mile ride in the hills and I felt terrible at the end. I was sore and tired and sure that it had been a very slow ride. When I got home and uploaded my bike computer, I found that I had averaged 1.5mph faster than last year on the same ride.

The only downside to the whole thing is that my wife can't ride this year. She got sick a few months ago and it has taken forwever for her to get better and she missed too many training rides. She will be there as a volunteer, but I will really miss crossing the finish line with her in Austin. This will be the first time since 2005 that I haven't crossed the line with her right beside me, so I am not really sure how it will feel. Probably a bit empty...but I guess we will see.

So now I find myself sitting here at my desk going crazy with anticipation because I can hardly wait to go ride. Yes, I will have to get up at 4 am and yes, it will hurt to spend about 14 hours over 2 days on the bike. But I can't help it...I am just ready to ride now and don't want to wait 3 more days! Anybody got a time machine to make this week go by faster?