Notes from Team Shad

A text this morning from legendary Huron cyclist Dave "Crusher" Mawgs (now retired) reminded me that the Rasputitsa is 38 days away. Indeed.

http://www.rasputitsagravel.com/

That fact seems almost surreal to me as I lay in bed convalescing after being pole-axed by some super germ or rogue virus that sought my body as host and took up residence. Four days felled, four days of wretchedness, four days of lung sludge and slimy effusions, orc-like noises bursting from the chest in the wee hours, four long days of depletion.

If the Rasputitsa were this weekend, I'd be hard-pressed to do circles in a muddy parking lot on a tricycle. What a sight to behold - Dubstoevsky of mighty Team Shad doing doughnuts on a titanium trike while the rest of the field laughs and rides away. Ugly waking nightmares.

And yet, there is an upside to having spent the last 96 hours essentially prone and fasting. I've dropped 10 lbs in 10 days. This morning, despite having stuffed myself yesterday with blueberry-pomegranate juice, Russian caravan tea, a banana, and an apple, I tipped the scales at 147.8 elbows. That's racing weight.

The goal now is to regain strength and stamina. Assuming I'm recovered by the weekend (and I do seem to be past the worst of it), I plan to ride Saturday, possibly Sunday, then once or twice next week. Official Team Shad training camp starts Sunday, March 20 when Dubstoevsky and the Virginian will undertake their first ride together in 2016.

 A note on the team roster. I Ward has been left off the squad for the Rasp, possibly for the season. While shoulder surgery last fall ended his season, and though his recovery went well, he has not managed to train with any real intensity since and his commitment to returning to form is under review. Not to mention that he has been incommunicado.

Nonetheless, the duo of Dub & Nut form a strong tandem and, with a modicum of focused, disciplined spinning over the next 30 days, should be in good form when race day dawns.