What a Week!

So my week has been a little stressful. This week, I had to order jerseys, I had to get jersey sizes from the team members and I was trying to recruit all that I could prior to ordering jerseys. I lost a few riders from last year which really made me feel down. I started to second-guess my ability to keep riders and my ability to communicate with riders and to get the maximum amount of participation. I’ve also been trying to coordinate our team practice rides. Set back after setback. So I’m back to square one with team practices. I’ve got nothing. Trying to coordinate rides to make sure that the team can ride without being too one-sided in terms of start locations and times is so hard. But, when I offer other start points, no one’s willing to lead rides. I’ll try and find something, but I’m not perfect. I don’t have a route for every town/city in the DFW area. So I go with what I know and what I know doesn’t make others happy. Ugh. So the drawing board for much of February is blank. We may ride with the local groups and I may just offer team members who are not in Corinth/Denton area to ride with a local group in their area – just to get used to riding in groups and getting some saddle time.

I have a ride in South Texas on the 13th – Jalapeno 100. This ride is something else. The last time I participated in this ride was two years ago. It’s a 50 mile (with other routes of 100 and 63 miles) out and back route. And it’s flat…way flat! So what’s the challenge? THE WIND. The website specifically states “test your skills against the winds”. Now, this is no exaggeration (check the national weather service for evidence). The winds when I rode that rally were a steady 45 mph with wind gusts topping at 52 mph!! I remember there were palm trees (trees, not branches) on the streets, a couple of mobile homes had been blown over, and there was a giant grass fire that started mid ride that blocked a good portion of our route. We had to be re-routed which was handled exceptionally well! I remember I did the first 25 miles in under an hour. The last 25 miles into the 45+mph winds were grueling. I was pedaling a steady 7 mph into headwinds. If I stopped to try and coast, I’d lose my balance and almost fell over twice. I’ve never seen the back of pickup trucks so full of riders. EVER! But my stubbornness to never NEVER ride on a Sag kept me on that route. It took me a little over 2 hours to finish 25 miles, but I did it! This year, I’m going back for more! I’ve got my South Texas chapter of Team Dangerous Curves riders who will ride with me (8 total). (Yeah, can you believe it, a South Texas Chapter?! WHOOP!) We’re attempting 50 miles again. What a great way to spend Valentines!

Then on the 20th, I head to Houston to ride with Skewered Thigh lady. It’s a ride in Humble, TX that’s a recommended ride for the Houston to Austin MS ride. I have two team mates there so I’m going to support them and help them with their training. That will be a light ride (maybe 25 miles) because of her experience on a bike. She’s trying to get back on after an accident sent her to the hospital last year. She was training, couldn’t clip out of her new shoes and new bike, and skewered herself on an orange environmental fence metal post (you know the kind you see near construction sites). After her accident, she was afraid to get on her bike. This year, she’s determined enough to face her fears and ride again. I’ll be there, beside her, supporting her every pedal stroke of the way. What other team captain would do that?

This weekend, it’s more boy scout campouts and of course with the weather, not much riding going on. By the same token, no work on my car this weekend either. The only thing car-related is the Pinewood Derby car race on Saturday with the boy scout troops. We’ll see how my son’s car does. : )

Stay tuned for an important “Calling All Riders” memo from one of your favorite (I hope) MS ambassador! By that I mean, me. : )