As you can probably guess, there really isn’t that much happening right now. I’m riding. I’m training. I’m waiting for the real spring to arrive. I’m about to move into a new phase of training – I’ll find out more today but I’m anticipating longer rides, more tempo work-outs and maybe some threshold. Whatever it is, I’ll be more than happy to do it.

So I thought that since I really don’t have much new to tell you about, that I’d tell you about some of the places and people I like to visit on the WWW – some cycling related, some food/cooking related, some book/reading related, and other simply fall in the miscellaneous category.

Cycling: here’s a snapshot of some of the cycling blogs I follow:

• Todd Wells
• Red Kite Prayer
• Catharine Pendrel
• Cycling Tips

Food: I like to cook and eat good healthy food – here is where I get recipes and inspiration:

• 101 Cookbooks
• Oh She Glows
• Peas and Thank-You
• Serious Eats
• Vegan Delicious

Books/Reading: I read. I read a lot – about everything and anything:

• The Morning News
• National Post – Afterward
• Powell’s
• The Tyee
• Salon

Miscellaneous: sites I visit because they are interesting and make me scratch my head:

• Yarn Harlot
• Chris Jones
• I Have UC
• Frugal Traveler

(Of course it goes without saying that it is worth visiting my sponsors’ web sites for good food to eat, clothes to keep you looking sharp, equipment to protect your body, bikes to make you go fast, a bike shop that keeps everything together and clicking, and top-notch coaching to give you the training you need to bring out your best.)

So there you have it – some of things out there that I dig. Happy pedaling!

I really wish I could tell you all about the amazing outdoor riding I’ve done this week… but sadly I can’t. I did manage to get outside on Tuesday and was it ever windy out there! I was hoping the weather man would be wrong and things would have warmed up by now but it really seems to be getting colder.

So it has been down to the basement for me. I appreciate how riding the trainer and rollers does have its benefits – particularly when it comes to having to do specific intervals at  specific wattage ranges – but I have to tell you, I’m a bit sick of this trainer and roller business.

I’ve ridden indoors the last three days with one thought in my head: “on the weekend I’ll be able to ride in the warm sun”. Well, it doesn’t look it is going to happen. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Sunday and a solid group ride. But if it is a “high” that is still below zero, the trainer it will be. I know, I know – I live in Ottawa in Canada and last March was unseasonably warm, but I think this is pushing things just a bit.

Apart from whining about the weather, things have been going really well. I was worried the long ride on Sunday might tire me out a bit too much, but with the one planned rest day on Monday, I was good to go on Tuesday. This is a really good feeling. My wattage numbers might not be where I’d like them, but it is only March and I want to be blazing full blast in September… Besides as Marc pointed out, I did get handle the ride on Sunday fairly well.

Progress is good and I just have to remember that I’m preparing for September and not April. I’d still like to get out for some early season races, but if it doesn’t happen, well no big deal. I need to feel confident in my fitness and strength before I can line up and race so I’ll put in the time to get me where I want to be. Same as usual really.

In other news, I’ve had some excellent discussions with my sponsors about the upcoming cyclo-cross season. I’m pretty stoked to say that once again I’ll be eating Clif Bars, keeping my brain protected thanks to Giro/OGC, racing around in the latest in cycling clothing thanks to Champion Systems Canada, getting the best coaching there is thanks to Bell Lap Coaching – all with the support of the top bike shop in Ottawa – The Cyclery. This being said, I am interested in bringing a new sponsor (or two) on board so if you have any suggestions or contacts, I’d love to hear from you.

(And since I haven’t plugged it in a while… Did you know that I wrote a book? Yep – it is called An Unlikely Elite and is available in PDF and EPUB formats. Download it, read it and tell me what you think.)

Wow – I think the wind blew me away out there! That was a wickedly windy ride out there. Truth be told, if I’d known how windy it was, I probably would have just ridden the rollers. But I’m glad I got out there and battled the spring winds – good for the heart and soul.

Marc put my SRM and a big 53-tooth chain ring on my Stevens ‘cross bike yesterday. Hmm, it is a bit surprising to see those power numbers and cadence numbers again. I’ve been data-less since November when my SRM met an untimely death – but it is now back to its top form and is doing its part to keep me honest. I like to think that it was the wind that was skewing my numbers and also I reminded myself of the ever-important spring riding mantra “it is Spring”. The 53-tooth chain ring took some getting used to again as well. Spinning a 42-tooth chain ring is definitely easier and friendlier. Again “it is Spring”.

Today was one of those rides that reminds me how much I love riding and racing my bike. It was kind of cold, it was damn windy, and I was struggling. But I got through it and did the work-out. I could have turned back, but I didn’t. This is a good thing.

On another note, I’m really happy that cycling season is hotting up again – this means lots of action on my favorite cyclist’s blogs. Although I’m not racing right now, I feel like I can live vicariously through some pretty awesome racers. Nice also to read that we’re not the only ones dealing with a lingering winter.

Alright, I best be off. Hopefully soon enough I’ll have the odd race report to post up here. Or at the very least, tales of some epic rides. Really looking forward to the long days in the saddle again. Keep the rubber side down.

There is nothing quite like the first group ride of spring. Yesterday we had a group of eight and at times nine hardy riders come together for a ride. We rolled out of our place with Merrickville as our destination. This ride really is very enjoyable and the terrain is very friendly (i.e. flat).

We did battle some crazy headwinds and crosswinds on the way out, but better on the way out than the way back…. Good little stop in Merrickville for some tasty treats. Can’t beat the peanut butter bars at Brewed Awakenings – perfect combination of peanut butter cream, chocolate layer and a crispy chocolate crust. (No, these are not gluten-free and yes I ate one. I am not allergic to gluten – I just choose to avoid it as much as I can. Yesterday, was not one of those times…) We all kicked back a bit and then it was time to get back out on our bikes.

So that wind had shifted a bit… We did have some tailwind on the way back but down Malakoff it seemed like the wind was coming at us in all directions. All in all, it was an excellent ride. I was really concerned that I might not be good for the distance or pace but I was able to get through it. Some tough moments during the ride but generally I felt pretty good. Many thanks to the guys for such a great ride – good conversations, steady pace, and generally an excellent way to spend a Sunday.

Keeping my fingers crossed that this new dumping of 10 centimeters of snow that we’re getting today will be long gone by the weekend. I’d like to get out to Merrickville again and out to Almonte/Mississippi Mills on Saturday. Some good long back-to-back rides is just what I need right now.

As for today? It is a rest day. I’m off to Mountaingoat Yoga in a little bit for some hot power yoga. I would like to be welcoming spring with an outdoor ride but Mother Nature has another idea of what the first day of spring is like for us here in the snowy north. Oh well, the season is long and I’m going to make the most of it.

Just sitting here after one of the best rides I’ve done. There aren’t any photos of breath taking scenery. No tales of epic climbs. I didn’t win the sprint for the town sign. Instead it was just me and the open road. Sounds pretty typical for my rides right? Except for one thing, I had complete and utter freedom. From my brain. Yes, my brain turned off. There weren’t any “to do” lists floating through my brain, I wasn’t thinking ahead to what to have for supper today/tomorrow/next week, I wasn’t fretting about the unfolded laundry or the messy basement. Nope, my brain took a break and just sat on for the ride.

This doesn’t happen very often for me. Normally my brain is as busy during my rides as my legs. Sometimes it seems the harder and longer I pedal, the more my brain shouts and churns away. But not today.

It was a great ride.

Funny thing is I didn’t even realize this had happened until I was in the shower thinking about my ride and I realized that I couldn’t remember what I was thinking about during my ride… I know it sounds confusing but really it is quite simple. I had a break-through ride. It was me, my bike, and no one else.

Crossing my fingers that this isn’t a fluke and that I can repeat this tomorrow. Right now this is worth more to me than power numbers and race registrations.