That is, I picked up some confidence. After taking a break from hard riding for a few weeks, I rode a hilly 55 miles this weekend in 97 degree heat and felt good amidst the suffering. That gave me confidence for today's ride, and I had a great ride.

I learned some new things today.

One: Bibs rock the house. I never want to wear shorts again.

Two: The Red Bull people gave me a free Red Bull before my ride. I drank half a can and it made me really nervous like I get before starting a race. But I was excited and wanted to ride hard because of the jittery feeling. I liked it. I wish they made Red Bull in 4 ounce servings. Like those mini cans of Coke.

Three: My shifter is worn out, which explains why my bike has been shifting poorly for the past few months. I learned that when a bike shifts well, my performance is significantly better. This gets me even more excited about buying a new bike this winter, because then I will really kick ass because my bike will kick ass and I will have more confidence.

Four: Confidence counts for a lot on the bike. I've been having some weird symptoms lately (getting tests done at the doctor tomorrow), and it's been worrying me. However, I've removed some external stressors from my life, and I'm feeling much healthier and vibrant. I am amazed at how much my physical strength is affected by stress. One thing that's good about athletics is that it reminds me of the importance of balance in life. It has increased my awareness of my diet and what I'm putting in my body for fuel. This winter I plan to take a look at my nutrition and make some changes (specifically, breaking my addiction to simple sugars). Be prepared for some grumpiness. ;)