Sigh... another rest day. I sorta need it. Five days in a row now. Not that that is alot really, but a day off now and then is good to recharge the batteries and make me dream about riding even more. I spend most of my free time thinking about where to ride next, the next destination and variants on what I've already done. In the meantime I can read this guy's blog and dream some more. He rides epic long rides and is based in Ulster County where I used to live. He is able to do what I hope to be able to do one day, toss off 30 or 40 mile rides like they're nothing. Currently he has a planned 138 mile ride that takes him through three states. Sigh. One day...
http://ridingthecatskills.com/

Darn Tough Socks

Made in Vermont with a lifetime guarantee with no strings attached. You wear them out, send them back and they will replace them free for life! I'm liking this!
http://darntough.com/men/mens-bike/herringbone-micro-crew-ultralight

Breadwinner Bikes

I'm liking Breadwinner Bicycles, though completely out of my price range, they're nice to dream about (and maybe wear one of their t-shirts!).

http://www.bikemag.com/gear/bikes/preview-breadwinner-bad-otis/

Get On Your Bike

A little something for everyone here- get on your damn bike and ride!

Small Acts Of Kindness...

 ... Can renew your faith in humanity. A couple of weeks ago I had a passenger in a silver Hyundai that zoomed by me, yell "Dumb Fuck!" at me. Not the first time and not the last, I'm sure. All for daring to exercise my right of way at a four way intersection where I had the right of way (and no stop sign... whereas they did have a stop sign...). I've had it worse in my years. Yelled at, given the finger for no real reason, yesterday someone screamed something unintelligible out their truck window as they drove by me. Either they wanted to startle me, which they did achieve to a certain extent or they were having a sudden stroke and/or heart attack. I've had cans thrown at me when I was young and been driven by so close while I was doing 30-35mph downhill that the car mirror came within a couple of inches of my elbow.
 That was a scary one, but yesterday, in fact at the same exact intersection as the dumb fuck driver yelled a guy in a green Dodge Challenger waved me in front of him. He had the right of way going straight while I was turning and it was pretty awesome of him. I gave him a big thank you wave and then accelerated of up a little uphill stretch at 17-18 mph feeling the kick of strength. It was invigorating getting treated respectfully. And then today after slogging out sixteen hot and humid miles I did something that I never do, fumbled my water bottle going to put it back in the cage and watched it roll into oncoming traffic. A guy actually stopped (in a 45 mph zone...) and waited for me to drop my bike and grab the bottle from the road rather than just zooming around it or running it over. Little acts, people, they are gratifying.

Guilt

 So, I'm not riding today and damn do I feel guilty. Its the second day in a row. Yesterday I felt justified in it. It was hot as hell and more humid than I remember it being at any other day of the summer... Plus I had promised my sons that I would put their new bunk bed together. So, yesterday I chalked up to a recovery day as cyclists call them. I needed it after the mini-disaster that Sunday turned out to be.
 But today I'm not riding even though I looked forward to it all day at work. I constantly imagine myself riding and how good it would feel even though on some of the hills I know I'd suffer. I keep upping the ante inside my head- I'll ride faster, farther, be stronger, feel prouder and better. And as much as I looked forward to it, I'm not riding today.
 Its still hot and humid, but today there are also big black thunderheads which I'm using as my most convenient excuse to not ride today. And yeah, I'm STILL tired from not getting much sleep Sunday. I slept ok last night, but not long enough and so while I'm feeling motivated, I'm looking for an excuse to not ride... figure that one out. I have a rain jacket and in some perverse way I'm looking forward to riding in the rain intentionally (or not...) one day soon, but I guess not if I may get struck by lightning in an ugly downpour.
 Plus its the beginning of the month and I'm looking forward to putting some miles into this month.
 So, second recovery day or am I whoosing out on this one?

Stretching

You know, I really try to do alot after rides, but some more pre-trip stretches would be good as well. Here's a decent link. http://mikesbikes.com/articles/stretching-before-you-ride-pg241.htm