Racing Butterflies
The sweat is stinging my eyes, rolling across my lips, drenching the back of my neck, and clouding my glasses. My heart is thumping along at 175 beats per minute, a few beats over my recommended maximum, and I’m fighting for every pedal stroke while gulping air like nobody’s business. I’m gripping the bars and […]
Tomorrow
My alarm will go off at 5:00 am but I’ll probably wake up at 4:00. My team is coming over for breakfast at 6:00 am and we’ll spend an hour trying to shake off our nervous energy. I’ll bake an egg, potato, bacon and cheddar cheese casserole and make some sweet potato waffles. My wife […]
39 in a 35
Yes, that’s 39 miles per hour. That was my maximum speed attained on this past Thursday’s ride. I’ve gone faster. I’ve actually hit 55 mph (that’s a story for another day.) And yes, I know it’s dangerous to go that fast on a bike with only a thin layer of lycra as protection. I also […]
Going Up?
I got out of the house early today because I knew the afternoon temps would be unbearable. And by 9:00 am I was in Traveler’s Rest and headed for Paris Mountain. The #SCRTR will be a contest in endurance, man and woman against machine, with the machine being the bike. You’ve got to be able […]
See Food
The old joke of a cyclist during racing season was the “I’m on that See Food diet. When I see food, I eat it.” And that’s how I feel right now. Last week I put in almost 250 miles and this week I hope to match that. And of course my metabolism is through the […]
Ain’t That Tough Enough?
The best way to approach a long distance event such as the #SCRTR is through a six month, properly planned, concerted effort. Well if you’ve been following along, you know that I don’t have that luxury. Most of the riders would likely start their training efforts in January or February and gradually up their mileage […]
The 20 mph Vista
It’s the vista. When one climbs onto a road bike and heads out for a ride, the beauty of God’s creation is at your beck and call. Whether you ride at a 15 mph average or 20 mph average, the opportunity to get out and experience the glory of this earth is well within your […]
The Cheers of Buntings
During the summer time, the Upstate is visited by thousands of Indigo Buntings. These gorgeous little birds are commuters. They come here during the spring and summer to enjoy the scenery, the great food, the beautiful countryside, and to raise their families in peace. In the fall they’ll head home. To South America. Buntings have […]
Remember This Rider
That’s my grand parents, Thomas and Blanche Baylor. They were cattle ranchers and they were legendary amongst other cattlemen. Tom called my mother Zinzy and at the age of five she participated in her first rodeo. Tom P. Baylor was something else and I loved being in his company. When he passed away, our entire […]
Honor Thy Mother
When I was 13, I participated in a cycling fundraiser for my Boy Scout troop. I had to ask people to pledge a certain amount per mile I would ride. Most of the folks I went to agreed to donate .25 cents per mile. They were shocked when I rode 40 miles. My mom wasn’t […]