Hangin Tough

I know that I may not be the next ultra-pro. I also see young guys that are starting earlier than I did and some of who have much more talent than I. However, the one thing I do like about this sport is that if you’re dedicated and smart it will take you a long ways. Over the course of the years I have developed something that I see many of the younger guys missing – toughness. I’m not just talking about the ability to push hard when it hurts in a race; I’m talking the toughness you have o have off of the bike. One of our Cat 3’s here in NOLA is amazing on paper. He’s had a rough time this year coming off of a stellar season last year and being herald as the next youth rider to watch. Adjusting to Cat 3 riding here is hard. Most races are 123 and everyone is pushing just as hard as you are. My first year as a 3 I think I finish only maybe 2-3 races with the group and rest of the time was off the back. Not quitting and not loosing your mental strength is important. Even to this day when I enter a race – I believe I have a chance of winning or doing well. Sometimes well might be defined as finishing and making a time cut. I however have been fortunate to never enter a race with the expectations of failure.

This past weekend I needed the mental toughness as I traveled to Tulsa to complete the Tulsa Tough Criteriums. Needing a riding companion for the long trip up there and not being able to get anyone from here to go I found Murphy who went the entire trip with me and shared his insight of philosophy, and laws of life.

Trip to Tulsa

Tuesday
Check Engine Light comes on in the car – I make an appointment to take the car in to get an oil change and get the car checked out (it’s probably just a filter)

Wednesday
5:00PM - Go to Wednesday at the square to see some long lost friends (lost since racing season beganJ
6:00PM - Go to Loews to get some LocTite for Darrel to put my spoke in my wheel and true it (this is the wheel that I broke the spoke on in Arkansas)
9:00PM - Go to Wal-Mart to get some pipe cleaners and acetone (also to fix the wheel)

Thursday
6:00AM - Get up early to swap cars with the parents & take mine into the shop
8:00AM - Go to the shop to drop off the supplies to Darrel then go to NAPA to get some different type of LockTite
9:00AM - At work – the one that pays
4:00PM - Get a call from the auto place … news … cracked transmission, and a half ass job on the repair from when it was in the shop a month ago and a blown fuse
4:30PM - Call Insurance
5:00PM - Pick up car at auto place
6:00PM - Drop car off at dealership that performs faulty work!!! (not my idea)
6:30PM - Pick up Wheel that Katie picked up from the shop for me earlier in the day!
7:00PM - Drop off mom and go pack her car
9:00PM - Glue Tubular
11:00PM - Go to bed

Friday
7:00AM - Get up Drive to Westbank
8:00AM - Get at Enterprise to rent a car for the trip
8:45AM - Leave for Tulsa in rental car
7:30PM - Arrive in Tulsa and get ready to race
8:30PM - RACE
8:15PM - Get caught behind crash and dropped
10:30PM - Eat Dinner with team
12:30PM - Get to Chad’s house and crash soon after

Saturday
9:00AM - Wake up and Eat
3:00PM - Begin Warm-up
4:00PM - Ride to Course
5:05PM - RACE – finish with main group (First finish of the year with this quality of field)
9:00PM - Eat Dinner with Team and go out to awesome cycling bar “SOUND PONY”

Sunday
1:00AM - Get back to the host house – SLEEP
10:00 AM - Wake up and Eat! – Homemade French Toast
12:30PM - Warm Up
2:15PM - RACE
2:35PM - Get Dropped on Killer hill and pulled from race
2:40PM - Make it around to the top of the hill again and get a complementary beer from the Sound Pony Race Party!!!
3:30PM - Leave to go home

Monday
2:30AM - Get back to NOLA
8:00AM - Return Rental Car
9:00AM - Back at Work