I never stopped riding when I joined the Army. In fact, I rode 5,100 miles on Camp adder in Iraq and organized a bicycle race.
But I pretty much stopped being a bicycle racer. From 2002 to 2007, when I re-enlisted, I rode 10,000 miles a year training to be just pretty good as a racer. After my re-enlistment, not to mention breaking my neck in May of 2007, I rode less. And I did not ride with enough intensity to actually compete in races. I still raced once in a while, but the peak of the racing season is May and June when I miss five weekends out of eight for Drill and Annual Training.
As I right this, I feel like a racer again. Friday evening I renewed my racing license. Yesterday, I rode south 50 miles with more than 5,500feet of climbing, then rode with my son for a few miles, then rode to my bike shop, Bikeline of Lancaster, to talk about a new bike. My current race bikes date back to 2002 and 2003. By May, I should be riding a new bike.
Today, it was supposed to rain beginning at 11 am. So I had to ride in the morning. I rode 35 miles giving me 100 miles for the weekend after 100km yesterday.
And this morning I signed up for the last Battenkill road race: 68 miles including several miles of dirt. May 21. I need more training.
