Ice = Adrenaline

Today's session from Coach Perham was a 90 minute endurance block (2hrs, weather permitting). As I was zipping up my jacket and strapping on the Camelbak I looked out the window and the snow had just started coming down at a pretty good clip and had already started to accumulate. In this case, "weather permitting" meant I wasn't going to be able to ride on the roads so I was heading out on the trails on the mountain bike for 2hrs instead of slogging away for 90 minutes on the rollers in my garage. I always get up for rides like this because of the added elements. Today's ride would have a nice mix of elements with snowmobile trails that have been turned into glare ice bobsled runs that were now being covered by the falling snow. As slick as ice is on its own, it gets that much slicker with a half inch of fresh powder on it. 5 minutes into the ride while crossing an apple orchard both wheels shot out from under the bike, somehow leaving me standing while my bike slid away from me. This was going to be interesting.

For two hours I was alone in the woods, grinding up hills that were so steep and icy that the only way I was getting up was if the studs on the tires were able to hold the ice. It would have been impossible to get enough traction on foot to push my bike up the hill. Bombing down the other side of the hills was a huge adrenaline rush. As long as I heard crunching under the studs I knew I had traction, but as soon as the tires went silent I knew the studs were floating about 1/4 inch off the ice due to the fresh snow and that my ability to stay upright was going to be as much luck as anything. A couple times my tires went silent on fast descents. Braking would have caused an instant crash. All I could do was hold on and hope that the next turn would have a built in berm from the snowmobiles so that I would be able to hold the corner without flying into the woods. Many times my tires would start to slide out and I would somehow get the bike under control, seemingly by magic, and avoid crashing into the woods. I would get that instant adrenaline rush like when you used to be in the classroom leaning back in your chair just a little too far and all of a sudden you would practically fall over backwards and somehow catch yourself at the last second. Yea, it felt just like that..

Those were the moments that made me feel it. Made me feel alive. Made me realize how great it is to be active and in shape. How much better my life is when I push myself and test my limits. Seeing how far I can lean back in my chair without falling over....