The verbal beat down on my bike ride

I'm a happy person. I love life in general. It's part of my DNA or as Tyler Perry calls it "Dana". It takes a lot to get me rattled. Even in traffic I'm a cool customer. I'll might refer to you as an asshole but it'll only be a half- hearted swearing. Band of chupacabras invade my home in the night? That's why I keep Nerf guns handy. I'm just easy going. But last night, during my weekly mid-week ride, I got rattled. Life in general is a learning process. Learning, always learning. Well, training is exactly the same. And I'm not talking about the obvious...

Let me explain.

Last night, instead of heading out with the regular group, I decided to head out with the "women's only" ride. There were about 10 of us going out for about 30 miles of horse country splendor. The leader was a woman that I normally see riding with the men in the A Pace group. She's a bad ass, excellent rider. So, 6 o'clock sharp we head out and within two miles she's criticizing the way I ride. It was just she and I well out in front of the group and she's picking me apart like a downed antelope in the Serengeti. "You're working too hard!". "Be more efficient changing gears!" "Coy, do it now!". No, I'm not kidding. She said my name before an order. I was losing patience with bad ass. I couldn't out ride her. I was stuck. And bad ass is very vocal. Now, in her defense, she had some very valid points. She was right but I like my rides to be peaceful and quiet. Remember how in the Grinch Stole Christmas how the Grinch was going mad with all "the noise, noise, noise!"?? Yeah, I gritted my teeth and would squinch my eyes. I believe if I didn't have crows feet   that I just grew a set. Thanks bad ass for aging me ten years.

We then rode in a pace line. For those of you that don't ride, let me explain. Actually, think Tour de France, tight pack. Wheels on wheels, flying. Now, think of riding 20 MPH with a group of people you've never met. Better yet, think of running with a group of people you've never met with your legs tied together with string? All I could think about as we were flying down the back roads, was the person in front of me, hitting a rock, pot hole, etc and everything that I've worked toward for so many month, pissed away. One wrong move and we were all a mangled mess of bodies, blood, grease chain and rubber. Bad ass sped alongside of me as we were sailing down a large hill and says "you don't really like going fast down these hills do you?" I wasn't going to talk about it. I wasn't about to go into a discussion about my lack of faith in my fellow riders while strapped to a 10 lb. piece of carbon fiber going 30 mph. Not happening. Please leave.

Finally with about 5 miles to go, she and I rode off in front of the pack. I was riding full out to keep up with her. On my bike I feel like I'm action star Angelina Jolie Tomb Raider and Lance Armstrong all rolled into one.  Sick perception? Possibly. I wanted to keep up, no joke. What came easy to her wasn't so much for me. She asked me how long I had been riding, just perusing through my mental training resume I suppose. She said that she used to run competitively but now bikes competitively, etc. It was nice to have a regular conversation and not feel like I owed her 20 push ups. She says that she conducts the ride to teach people things that most people never take the time to learn. I get it. And, like I said, she was right but not until all the noise, did I realize how much I enjoy the quiet of swimming, biking and running.

My weekend is jam packed with all things awesome. My first open water swim is Saturday with my friend Andrea! Then, afterwards, I head to Cincy to go pick up my bib for the Flying Pig Half Marathon that I'm running with my friend Michael! The term "excited" just doesn't cut it.