Final Ride

Sunday morning I got out for what I call my 'Final Ride', the last training ride for the ITI.  The morning was perfect, WeatherBug said -11.8 degrees, but it sure didn't feel that cold, probably closer to a comfortable -5.  After many dark and cold mornings this Winter, the internal thermostat is getting pretty accurate.  I didn't get out of the house until almost 6:30 AM, and now the sunlight is already noticeable.  The snomo trails were freshly groomed, hard packed and squeaky.  After a million adjustments to gear and clothing over the Winter, no changes have been made in the last week or two.  My Alaska-ready load comes in at just under 60 lbs, food for the first 2 days included.   I was warm, the bike felt balanced.  I rode for 2 1/2 hours, pushed some hills, practiced a bivy in the cold/snow, but safety of my back yard.  The Winter went by fast.  I thought I'd be sick of biking by now, but just the opposite.  I can't believe it's Race Week.

I crashed last weekend and have a sore hip.  I had a terrible head cold last week which I'm recovering from slowly.  I'm a bundle of fear and nerves about riding 350 miles, possible blizzards and exposure, -40 temps.  I lie awake at night thinking of gear and what ifs, and when I do sleep I'm plagued by snowy cold nightmares.  Packing my bike and gear in a cardboard box to send down the luggage chute at the airport gave me fits.  The logistics and $ have been stressful.  But a week of rest, getting to and thru the airport, building the bike back up, sitting thru the pre-race meeting, and finally 2PM next Sunday departing the Knik Road House will surely solve all that.