Just an update on progress:

Climbed old la honda with some friends tonight.  Clocked in somewhere around 22:30 going prob. 85%.

This, I would say, is quite decent for my first week back on the bike -- in fact it's only :45 slower than my fastest time this year (which, is still 2 minutes slower than my fastest time last year, indication itself that this year has to have been a fluke...).

I'd like to see that time drop by 3 minutes in the next 4 months; a tall order for sure, but what have I got to lose (aside from a couple percentage points of fat)?

Also, can I just say: I LOVE descending 84 -- not as fun, however, when you get stuck behind a mini van for 1/2 the descent and are unable to go around it because rush hour keeps a steady flow of traffic flying 'round the blind corners. 

So I'm starting up on the bike again after a 9 week hiatus.  I have no further aspirations for the rest of this season.  In fact, whether I have any aspirations even for next season will depend on how my form comes together over the next 4 months or so.

I entered this season with high hopes.  Despite the failures and mistakes of my first year cycling, I had some truly awesome days on the bike, epic rides that hinted of great potential just awaiting its moment to burst forth. Cycling, like other endurance sports, is one of patience and committal, trial and error; wherewithal.  Success will not come over night but over the span of years -- meaning you can't enter the cycling scene and expect to be anywhere near your full potential without the dedication of a bare minimum 3 years.

That being said, progress should still be steady if hard earned.  When you enter the sport, you can expect to see your most significant gains in the span of your first 6 months.  This is the time it takes for you to build up your oxygen carrying capacity and build up muscle strength and endurance.  At some point, you should reach a peak, then you'll plateau, and after a bit of rest (i.e. several weeks of long slow distance) you can once again begin your training cycle.  Following this pattern, every year should build on the progress of the last; you may enter each season slightly weaker than you ended the previous, with a reduced capacity for laying down the big watts, but you'll quickly regain your form and surpass your previous peaking point by a noteworthy margin. 

With my second year cycling, I never surpassed my first's accomplishments.  Climbing saw me 10% slower than my best times of the previous year.  I felt strong on the flats, but not necessarily any stronger than the year before.  And as the season progressed I got weaker instead of stronger until I finally had only one hard effort per ride. 

Which brings me to my 9 week hiatus.  I needed a break -- from the training; from the lack of results; from the waking up early to suffer; from the time commitment of riding 6x a week.  And for one reason or another, by body needed time to recover and repair.  So I've begun anew, with the purpose that the past 2 years shall not have been spent on the bike in vain.  But also with the hope that my time off, and some modifications to my diet (mainly an emphasis to get more iron) will put an end to the lethargic and energy drained sessions I experienced for so much of this year.

My first goal, so far, has been to enjoy biking again.  Ultimate goal, however, is to regain my climbing legs.

So if you're riding or driving up any of the benchmark climbs in the region, keep an eye peeled for me in my red spandex.