City Bakery Ride

Met up with the Asheville Bicycle Racing Club crew today for their weekly 10am Saturday ride. It was obvious that I was a visitor from the north, as I was the only one in shorts. Still, by noon it was straight up balmy. Despite sore legs, I still put in a good showing, taking hard pulls and winning the one town line sprint. I made many friends too. I felt that I was a good ambassador for Dartmouth Cycling.

I sat outside and enjoyed a fantastic lunch of a portobello/tapenade sandwich and a GIANT sugar cookie/scone in the arts district of Asheville. Wow...I love it here.





To say that I'm smoked would be a vast understatement. As you'll see below, in the past seven days I've ridden 8 times for a total of almost 21 hours, covered 317 miles, climbed 28,300 vertical feet, and burned almost 21,000 calories. Whether or not its raining tomorrow, I'm taking a rest day. I'm headed for certain doom if I don't. Still, its hard to believe that I've gone from incapacitated by major surgery to riding like this in only 9 months. Perhaps the lesson of this trip is hidden in that miracle.



I find it hard to believe that my journey north is imminent. As I've said before, I wonder if I've had enough time for quiet reflection. I wonder if I ever needed it. I wonder what my integration back into med school will be like. One thing is for sure, I've definitely had my last stint of the euro-pro lifestyle down here in the south. Hard to believe that I'll be back at the books soon.

Pisgah National Forest MTBing

Got a big ride in at an icon of American MTBing today: Pisgah National Forest. Unbelievable day and great riding...still, its no Colorado. The most stressful moment of the day came when I realized that Beaker had fallen out of my jersey pocket. I rode back miles and miles to find him.

The days of heavy training are definitely starting to add up. My legs feel somewhat sore, but mostly I just feel like I've burned all of my matches. In the past 7 days (which includes a rest day), I've ridden almost 17.5 hours, climbed 23,500 vertical ft, and burned over 17,000 calories. Tomorrow's group ride should be interesting for me. In the midst of all this, I wonder if I've taken enough time for self-reflection. Perhaps that's why the long hours in the car haven't bothered me at all.

Asheville rocks

Had a wonderful last dinner of Afghani food in DC with Caitlin and Rob. I haven't laughed so hard in a while. Reliving the old days of Lehman felt so good.

It was great to see Justin in Durham. Of course my VW had its usual coilpack/check engine light BS. Went for a huge ride north of Durham and experienced the terrible motorists there. Still...amazingly beautiful countryside.



Asheville is wonderful. My cousins Yuri, Danya, Mara, and Matt are taking such good care of me. Its gorgeous here with UNBELIEVABLE riding. I think I rode the best descent of my life today...twice. Plus, there is all of the sustainable, organic, renewable, locally produced, vegan fast food, BBQ, fair trade lingerie, and biodiesel that one could ever want.

Finally Riding!

Turns out that Caitlin Hanley lives IN Tucker's apartment complex, so I got to see her for the first time in two years.

Maryland Ride with Tucker

Skyline Drive with Tucker



Headed to Justin's tomorrow...

Photo update

Not a ton to say. Had an amazing weekend with Bruce and Jodi in Williamstown. No...not a new bike yet, just the shop demo from the Bike Hub in Norwich.

Having a great time with Tucker in DC despite terrible weather. Feral cat sounds all the time. Looking forward to riding this weekend. Drive down was remarkably painless, despite a bureaucratic gas fill up in NJ. Spent yesterday walking in the rain and at the national galleries.












Richard Serra:

Fingerpainting...um whoa.

Alexander Calder:

TONS of awesome Roy Lichtenstein's: