SuperSatellite ||

Well, I think I might be crazy. And not that good kind of crazy anymore. The bad kind that results in additional badness for me. Luckily it’s localized crazy, so I don’t think it would really affect any of you. I’ve been eyeballing the local summer bike tours (BAK, OKFreewheel). Again. I have done both, but haven’t done one since…2004? That sounds about right. I’ve been both too injured and too out of shape (more the former) to manage getting back into one of them since then.  But I’ve really been iching to get back on the road, and every year I kick back and wait for them to announce routes and think about making the trip.  I almost managed it last year, but other travel ended up taking precedent.

So what’s different about this year? Absolutely nothing. In fact, my back is probably worse now than it’s been for a while. But I have a need to prove to myself I can fight through it. In fact, I know I can. That’s not what worries me. What worries me is what I’ll be like after the fight. Ideally, if I train for the next 6 months, I should be great. Hell, the first time I did it, I had no training besides one 30 mile ride under my belt (and that hurt like a mother). But I’m not even really sure I can get through training without coming away worse off than I am now. And the longer I wait, the harder it will be.  But I hate giving up something I enjoy so much. Besides, the rides are just plain fun. Get out for a week, ride in the open air. Be out away from the cities. Relax in the evenings.

OKFreewheel is both the shorter and cheaper of the two rides. BAK is a little better supported in my opinion, but I don’t like where it’s ending this year (about as far north and east as you can possibly get in this state). They’re both at the same time too, so it can’t be both anyway, I’d have to choose one or the other. I think I need someone to talk me out of it though. Either that, or convince me I absolutely should do it. Otherwise it’ll probably just pass me by, and I’ll be frustrated with my inability to commit to it, one way or another.  Odds are it would end up being really good for me. I’ve just lost the confidence that I need, and part of me thinks I’m better off for it, that I should just stick to shorter, low impact stuff.  I haven’t done more than 15 miles in one ride in about two years, which is pretty terrible.  I did try the Gorilla Century about 3 years ago, but had to drop out about 60 miles in after the pain got too bad to fight through.

Screw it, I’m just gonna make the call.  Unless the registration fees are outrageous, or I can’t get transportation arranged, I’m just gonna do it.  Training starts tomorrow.  That will settle that.  How’s that for sudden decision making?