So how miserable can a bike ride be? Well, pretty miserable. I had forgotten about how hard the climb up Mountain Lake [pictured right] was for a clydesdale such as myself. In talking to my friends who I talked into riding it with me in 2006 my answer to the question, “How hard is it?” was a non-descriptive: “It has its moments.” Like that’s supposed to mean anything.

To get myself off the hook, especially after one of my companions said, “In my heart, I’ve murdered you several times already…” I did also describe the climb as “soul shattering.”

“Soul shattering” is what happens when you’re exhausted. You’re so tired you can no longer compartmentalize. Instead of saying, “Wow, that was hard, I need to work on my climbing,” you say, “I suck as person; I don’t think I’m worthy to own a bike; I think I’ll quit riding and begin endurance Dorito eating….” Soul shatering — not just taken down to the foundation but digging out the foundation.

Two more days…