Re: Are you ridin'..OR are you hidin'..
^ preparing for tour-de- france...alas! :D ..I just liked the whole idea of competing in the Mountain madness series, and it all started from there. Although, there aren't any prizes to be won..the sheer enjoyment comes from the fact that one is able to actually cross some of the mental and physical barriers..and just manifest the same excitement into day-to-day life..
We do have some gruelling mountain biking races, there's one in September from Whistler to Vancouver..something I may like to participate.
But, tour-de-france is just another level all together. I am no where closer, however, one of my work-mates follows lance armstrong's mid-level prescribed training schedule. One has to bike roughly 50+ k with a certain level of hear-beat. This is for 7 weeks straight, and then couple of days in a week you have to a do a 100 k mountain stretch, and yes with a certain minimum hear-beat. When you take into consideration that during the tour, for three weeks you have to ride 100+ miles each day and it includes some very very tough climbs, I think even some automobiles wouldn't be able to keep up with such punishing routines..that's them; an entirely different and prestigious club..
Whenever I can pull a 40 k mountain bike stretch and then be able to do a 10 k run the next day without any aches, I give myself a big pat on the back :D..feels just as good as winning tour-de' france...