:: Gravity Demons ::

:: after loosing the game of phone tag this morning with dieter, i struck out on my own for an adventure aboard the new steed. i was secretly relieved after a fitful night worring about bonking, being dropped, or worse yet, having to be waiten for. we'd originally planned to do some climbing, and i was nervous. while wolfing down some faccia luna pizza with the rakkit-brawl crew the other day, i had proclaimed 'i'm so fat, i'm going to go on 2 diets.' i was only half kidding. grad school has not been kind to both my mind and waist line the last few months. so back to the story, i was relieved when i was let off the hook for a day of climbing... flats with diets are bad enough. as i headed out of town it seems that my mind was conspiring with my legs and i didn't even notice the jullian pike sign. feeling a nagging, i made a u-turn and headed away from the flat ride. my body and mind were begging to escape the punishment, but i knew it had to be done.

black mo and the back injury ruined my will to ride last year, and it was time to face the gravity demons that were lurking in the back of my mind. i figure if i can make it today this early in the season, there will be no reason to fear them again. as julian kicked, the pvd jt remix started playing and my cadence quickened. as i lowered the jersey zipper, i almost raised lunch, and decided to back off a touch. eventually the top of the climb was in sight. 'welcome to moshannon', 'it's been awhile' seemed to be implied. the reservoir was still ice covered, and the air chilled to the bone. the views as always didn't disappoint. the descent down the 1500+ foot drop around loose gravel switchbacks left a smile on my face that took hours to fade. not even bonking on the final climb could wipe it away. i saw the man with the hammer, and laughed him off, digging deep into the energy reserves. no records were set today, but i no longer have to fear the gravity demons this season. ::