Signs, signs....

I meant to post this last week but forgot....but, yesterday while I was riding several of the songs played again and reminded me.

So, a day of climbing. Went a little hard the day before but, I was by myself and I was in no hurry. Supposed to go up Page Mill with HR above 90%.

That shouldn't be hard....right? I can ride a 60 minute crit at 90%. Somehow, though, it is much more difficult to go that hard that long without the motivation of a race or the adrenaline from the dueling in the pack.

Warm-up on the way. Legs not feeling great. Damn, forgot to change the cassette...11-23 for Page Mill, not ideal and certainly won't be able to "spin" up.

I got to the first hills and just didn't feel good. I started making all kinds of excuses and was pondering thoughts of going back down and just doing a flat ride along Foothill Expy (even kidded myself about doing some intervals).

Then, The Red Hot Chili Peppers' Aeroplane started playing....do you know it?

I like pleasure spiked with pain and music is my aeroplane,
It's my aeroplane,
Songbird sweet and sour Jane and music is my aeroplane,
It's my aeroplane
pleasure spiked with pain,
that motherfuckers always spiked with pain.

Looking in my own eyes (hey lord),
I can't find the love I want,
Someone better slap me,
Before I start to rust,
Before I start to decompose,
Looking in my rear view mirror,
Looking in my rear view mirror,
I can make it disappear,
I can make it disappear (have no fear)

I had to keep going!

Then Seal, Bring It On started

Bring it on
At first I didn't have the will to carry on
Illusions in my mind
Like that picture when you feel you can't go on
Like you've been left behind
Life goes on, now
Take me to that funky place where you and I were born.
Carry on, now
Psychedlic tendencies of love will bring it on
Bring it on
Bring it on, Bring it on
Don't wait until tomorrow

Then Bush's Machinehead

Breathe in, breathe out
Breathe in, breathe out
Breathe in

Breathe in, breathe out
Breathe in, breathe out
Breathe in

Tied to a wheel, our fingers got to feel
Bleeding through a tourniquet smile
Spinning on a whim, a slide to the right
I felt you like electric light
For our love
For our fear
For our rise against the years and years and years

You get the picture...

So, I made it to the top, maybe not as fast as I would have liked and maybe not at 90% HR....but, I didn't quit!

And guess what song started as I turned the corner onto Skyline?

It's a beautiful day, the sky falls
And you feel like it's a beautiful day
It’s a beautiful day
Don’t let it get away

You’re on the road but you’ve got no destination
You’re in the mud, in the maze of her imagination
You love this town even if that doesn’t ring true
You’ve been all over and it’s been all over you

It's a beautiful day
Don’t let it get away
It's a beautiful day

Isn't it great how music can motivate you and take your mind to a place so you can ignore the pain coursing through your body!