GROSA

I am one of the wimpiest cyclists I know.

Last weekend I bailed out 3/4ths into the Tour of the White Mountains and this weekend I balied altogether on the Mt. Graham Hill climb.

As Odin and I rode up the Catalina highway today we were joined by another wimp on a road bike. He admitted to wimping out on Mt. Graham too.

We rode the highway, then Molino from Prison Camp to Grosa, then Grosa out. Nice ride, but my big-ledge downhill confidence was lacking. I am more focused on being able to continually ride then on cleaning certain sections. The last thing I need is to whack my knee on my bike or a rock. This is a good way to become a chicken though. Just tell yourself it’s only “for now” — when is it going to be okay to crash?

We have already established that I am a wimp, so why not a chicken as well. Is there a difference?

I felt pretty good climbing the highway, and I felt good about not racing too. I fear my body would have once again rejected 100% effort on the slopes of Mt. Graham. Soon, perhaps not.