I guess I had to wait until May and move back to Boulder to remember what it feels like to get cold. Over the last couple weeks I’ve been pedaling over familiar roads and dirt and absolutely loving the relative quiet of Boulder. Even US 36 feels tame compared to some of Tucson’s worst corridors of exhaust, dust, and overhead airforce jetways. But I miss the Saguaros and sun. Today I rode up Flagstaff a number of times in the rain in fifty degree weather. My hands haven’t gone numb once this winter and frankly I forgot how much that sucks. Each descent of Flagstaff was miserable, with my hands and toes numb in just minutes. I’m a whimp. Take me back to the desert, please.

I haven’t raced a bike since Fontana and I’m anxious to twisty-tie a number plate on the front of my bike again. The last couple weeks I’m been doing some hard climbing LT workouts and even had the pleasure of spending five hours one Saturday riding around Nederland and climbing through snowfields. Aside from the Nederland epic, I’ve been challenging myself in other ways. Just yesterday I assisted as a “coach” at the Luna Ambassador Women’s Mountain Bike Clinic in Boulder. Public speaking tends to turn my brain off and tie my stomach into knots but the event was a blast and a couple women mentioned I had some helpful tips on cornering. The event continues next week and the week after–May 29th and June 5th–it costs nothing, supports the Breast Cancer Fund, and many other more experienced pro women who are better suited to the public demonstration of skills and such will be there. It’s starts at 6:00pm at the Boulder Reasearch Park (famous for the Wednesday night short track). Bottom line, it’s a great event with lots of women who love to ride thier bikes. Take care.