Not to worry folks…I’m alive and well. For all those that have called, emailed and visited me (no one really) and those that haven’t…not to despair. All is good.
So…somehow I was convinced to get out of my ‘comfort’ (aka indoors) zone and ride outdoors. Yes, the one with roads, real trees and salted grounds. I had to dig for gloves, toe warmers, a hoody, wooly socks and all the extra accessories needed for sub-40 degree climates. Why 40 degrees? Because that’s what I set as my ‘temperature FT’ for the year. Last year no problem, 28-degree sign me up I’m there. This year, unless we’ve got some hotties with us, snacks at the finish and massages…good luck. Well maybe if the G-Man shows up I can make an exception. (Who is that G-Man anyways? Like Bigfoot and Nessie. Who knows.) Where the hel we were I still don’t know. Somewhere out ‘west’…way west. O’Donnell’s the culprit here. I tried telling him that my eye surgery (the other eye) was in jeopardy. It had been worked-on just today…he wanted nothing to hear about it. “You’re riding dammit.”
At any rate, the plan was to say goodbye to 2007 with a bang and get in a good 2hrs. 40 degrees no problem. I had 2 choices: today, 40 degrees sunny and dry…or tomorrow, 20 degrees, 70-80% rain/snow. Hmmm…? Today. Unfortunately, as so eloquently stated here, my SRM PCV also wanted to go out with a bang. I thought I had 3hrs but the thing has a mind of it’s own and one day it can say/read/display a full charge, and the next you have negative 2hrs left. Hmm…as I tell my buddies…no room for ‘thinking’. You know or you don’t.
So why not start-off with an interval from the gun. Actually it wasn’t really an interval, but that kid lives in the middle of nowhere, in a valley, between 17% gradients to the left and right. No choice but to climb…and climb we did.
Just as an aside, there’s no quote ‘flat’ section out west. It’s either up 8mph, down 40mph or rollers.
Be it as it may…the SRM crapped-out after less than an hour. Lucky for me and my fans and groupies (I wish), I captured an interval that just ‘might’ show the tip of the iceberg for the coming season. A beastly climb - somehow managed 14mins @ 291 watts. Of particular interest to me, however, were the first 8 mins @ 310w normalized. The only reason I’m giving this insight is because I have friends/people asking where I’m at in relation to last year, how’s my training, where have you been etc etc? To put it succinctly (is that the right word E?)…I am slightly more fit (higher watts), at a lower weight (150 vs 155lbs) at an earlier time (Jan ‘08 vs. June ‘07). I should be able to lose another 5lbs no problem by summer. Watch out G-man!
Just a little extra in case you’re still reading (fingers crossed). In the last 4-5 weeks I’ve interviewed with:
Bloomberg (x2)
D.E. Shaw Group
Tishman Speyer (x3 times)
Merrill Lynch (x2)
and a host of other quote ‘interested’ recruiters (aka time-wasters). In my endless search, that’s pretty much what I’ve been upto. Between phone and in-person interviews, that’s where I’ve been. Not to be confused with not training. I’ve been training just not posting. I aplogize.
And finally…after 4 weeks of endless goose-hunting, both Merrill and Tishman made an offer, of which I accepted the latter. I start in NYC on Jan 14th. I’m thrilled, excited and can’t wait. Looks like I’ll be waking up at 4am a’la Goldman from now on! Bring it!
Thanks for reading all.
little-E