One more prep session for 2009

Like a junior high kid who can't wait till the first day of school to wear his new Pony's I went ahead and donned my swap meet obtained Pearlizumi X-Alp's (even though the weather was hardly chilly enough to warrant the eschewing of my familiar sandals). Just as the junior high kid has his reasons ("...but Mom, I need to break them in.") I had my similar reasons to break out the fancy footwear a bit early.

I wanted to see if the X-Alp's should be the shoe of choice for the big Hush-Hush ride this weekend. I have a feeling I'm gonna be spending a fair amount of time walking around in the woods, so why not wear some comfort oriented cycling shoes if I got 'em? While the upside would be having comfortable feet the downside would be exposing my shoes to a month's worth of wear (under standard operating conditions) thus reducing their useful lifespan. I'll have to ruminate on that one.

I'm talking a lot about a ride I can't talk much about... thus the reason I'm calling it the Hush Hush ride. I've been sworn to a certain level of obscurity, but some aspects are totally open for discussion. I've already started packing up my shit.

The timing is very odd... well at least coincidentally odd. Just last year at this time I was packing my BD-2 for a ride that actually inspired me to bother the U.S. Ergon handler to obtain said BD-2. For those of you not acquainted with my history I tried to ride my road bike 225 miles to the beach on Thanksgiving loaded down with everything I would need. I started out at 4:00am in freezing temps, my front shifter froze leaving me in the big ring through the Uwharrie Mountains (destroying my knee), and I ended up lost in a little town that unfortunately sold no maps of said town forcing me to call up headquarters for an extraction. How odd that one year later I am grabbing my light (with two batteries) and trying to figure out how many PB&J's I'm gonna need for another full (at least intended to be full) day in the saddle.

I'm stoked about this ride. It is an unprecedented event (in its own way), and it will be unlike anything I've ever done before (in its own way). I'll be up at 4:00am and on the bike at 5:00am with the possibility of needing my light to finish the ride. The BD-2's carrying capacity will be put to good use since I'll be carrying all kinds of spare shit. Some Swiftwick wool socks, a spare pair of gloves, most of the standard PMBAR gear, all the little "Oh shit" stuff (brake pads, chain links, zip ties, duct tape, back up light, extra chamois cream, tire boot, water purification tablets... you name it), and if I can fit it in, a beer.

I won't be blah-ging tomorrow since I've been given the day off. No sense in waking up early just to be up early for the sake of being up early. Tomorrow is one of those pseudo holidays (no disrespect to veterans) when most businesses are closed (banks, courts, post office, etc), but not everything is closed. There will only be enough work for one messenger, and my boss decided to take it, leaving me in dry dock. I'd love to be thrilled about having a day off, but with Ida coming it's not like I can knock out some yard work or spend time with the kids OUTSIDE (where kids belong). Ida should be dropping by later this afternoon dumping inches of rain on my head as I try to finish out my day, but at least I can test out my swap meet acquired Gore Tex Pac Lite coat.

Inches of rain and flooding.... wonder if The Pie will mind if I take the kids for a walk tomorrow to watch the greenways flood?