You look so cute, honey.

Dan,
You remind me of the riders I saw in the mountains of Colorado. There was even one fellow riding across the pass at 12,000 feet in a snow and rainstorm.
Much of Colorado has bicycle lanes on every street and road including the interstate highways. We saw many riders out especialy a group that appeared to be pros in training. Can you imagine a ride with several climbs in excess of 5000 feet beginning at 7000 feet elevation?
Dad

Colorado is cycling HQ for sure. That's also where the Olympic Training Center is located. Altitude, or to be more precise, decreased atmospheric (or barometric) pressure, is the reason why.

Several weeks at altitude results in increased red cell mass. The banned substance, erythropoietin (EPO) does exactly the same thing. Lance Armstrong sleeps in a high altitude chamber to increase his hematocrit levels. Live high, train low creates the best athletic performances.

Riding at 12,000 feet in snow and rain doesn't do much for your physiological strength, but it certainly shows great psychological strength.

I don't usually check internet stuff on the weekends but this morning I was so looking forward to your blog and it hasn't been updated. So sad.... Love B