Forced time off = ouch

Mid-way through last week, I knew there was not going to be much opportunity for me to get any decent riding time in due to work and the other projects I had started around the house.  I didn't want these projects to continue on for long so I put a lot of my free time into it when I wasn't at work or sleeping.  In trying to keep my sanity, I told myself it was a "forced recovery week."

On Saturday afternoon when I jumped on the bike to make my way my thoughts of "forced recovery week" changed.  They are a bad idea if you wish to keep any sort of consistent fitness.  It had now been 7 days without my arse being in the saddle and my legs were letting me know about it quickly.  Needless to say, the ride in wasn't that enjoyable.  Correction, it was nice to be on the bike but it hurt a bit more than I would have liked.  Saturday evening, I ended up making the ride home mostly with Zeb of the Hug and Tug Crew.  He set a pace I didn't want to really keep but did so just to save a bit of face.

Sunday morning, I woke up a few minutes early so I could help Jenn get ready for her triathlon.  Having to be at work shortly after should would finish I packed my gear up along with hers so I would just ride over from the race and then ride home.  Jenn did a amazing job finishing 6th of 26 while setting a PR for the course.  She was/is extremely happy with her progress.  Now if her hip would stop bothering her like mine was (Is hip flexor discomfort contagious?) she would be even happier.

On the ride home from the shop Ried, Twig and I were all heading the same way so we all left together.  Twig and I were a bit tired still and made the comment that we weren't trying to push it.  Once that was out of our mouths Ried jumped off the front to up the pace.  Again not wanting my ego to take a hit, I put my head down to close the gap and pull him back. 

Once alongside of Ried, I made the comment "Nice jump but how about we not do that again?"  Seconds later, Twig was off the front.  Not again!  Once again I put my head down to pull us all back together which took a bit more of an effort because of our delayed response.  Once we were all back together it was time for Ried to head one direction and Twig and the opposite.  Twig was gracious enough to let me try a saddle he isn't using so after a quick stop by the Square Brick Building on the Right I was back on the road heading for home solo.  Thank goodness, I could finally shut it down and just spin it home.

I don't think I will be taking that much time off the bike in a straight setting anymore.  At least not until September and the ADK is in the past.  This week sees a rest day today, then back at it Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday then possibly Saturday and Sunday.  6 days in a row really?  Taking bets as to if it actually happens or not.

1 hour 30 minutes

 Raw vegetables for a salsa and some potatoes ready for heat
 
Gotta have greens with every meal

 Pork stuffed with pepper jack

 Dueling dragons

 Vegetables with a little smokey flavor added

 Golden brown

 Time for a short rest

Final plating before devouring
 

Direction of focus

So the last week has been a bit of a let down in terms of saddle time.  The usual culprits are to blame work, weather and lack of motivation.  Their isn't much I can do about the work and weather but the motivation, I could probably do something about that.  It isn't the fact that I don't have any motivation, it's just I have been focusing all my attention onto work and a couple of projects I/we have started around the house.  Both of which I am terribly excited about.  Neither of which I am going to reveal any details of just yet.

I did pry myself away from said projects and out of the house long enough on Saturday morning for an easy 30ish through Ashland with the TNT crew.  They were slated to ride 75 but with Mother Nature threatening us with hail producing thunderstorms all day we thought it best to get in a quick ride before things got sporty.  As it turned out Mother Nature ended up holding her cards close to her chest and not revealing her hand until late in the afternoon.  No worries as the ride was a good one and I know of at least one other rider who had a great ride despite their being a whispering gnat in her ear all day.

Depending on how quickly the house projects get finished up, I may have a post about a decent ride or two later this week.  Until then, here are some pics from Saturday...

 Delivery thanks to Powerbar

 Orange Turtle which we helped cross the road
 
Field of purple flowers in the mist

Sometimes in life throws us a twist, something we didn't expect to see how we will react.  To see what we will do in the face of adversity no matter how great or small.  This past week has been a rough one for me which thankfully, I do not have many of.  Yesterday, I was in need of a little mental getaway so after work I did the two things I thoroughly enjoy no matter what the conditions are; ride my bike and cooking over an open flame.

After leaving the store, I packed my bag and headed out.  I thought about extending the ride but then an overwhelming desire to just sit down for a few minutes came over me.  At that point I decided to just head towards home and see if my feelings changed along the way.  They didn't.  A short hour later, I was home and playing with the pups.

This photo is actually from Tuesday nights ride.  In trying to take a photo of the horses, I got one of the moon.
 
The last couple of days, I have been addicted to Mexican styled food.  It seems if I eat it one day, I want to eat it for the next 13 days.  For the record I get that way with a fresh pan of lasagna too.  After a quick run to the store, I had everything I was going to need to whip up something new to us on the grill.

 First we started with a couple of breasts rubbed with a chipotle seasoning

 The chicken was then joined with pepperjack cheese, onions, green peppers between two tortillas

After just a couple of minutes on the grill it was finally plated up next to a big helping of Mexican rice