Greetings from the cozy confines of a Starbucks in Helena, Montana, where I’m eagerly counting down the minutes until the Montana Velo Road Race registration kicks off. I’ve struck gold here – they actually have blueberry scones, a rare find in my world. So, naturally, I snagged two, along with a Grande house coffee. I’m just a sip away from letting the caffeine wizardry begin its magic. The sun’s shining, the weather’s showing off, and it’s shaping up to be a perfect day for a race.
I rolled into Helena yesterday, but not before taking a slight detour to explore a dirt road stretching across the divide. Managed to coax Marcy out for a brisk 30-minute walk. But here’s a head-scratcher – hiking trails around Helena are as elusive as a decent cup of coffee in a tea shop. What gives?
While basking in the ambiance here, I bumped into another race-goer. We ended up swapping tales about the race and lamenting the state of Wi-Fi in Helena. Stumbled upon a network dubbed “guest network” – it’s supposedly free, but there’s a catch. They want your digits and your email. Thanks, but I’ll pass. I’m not exactly keen on being on the receiving end of what I affectionately call “government love letters.”
This week’s training? Let’s just say it didn’t exactly follow the grand plan, with too many unspent hours I’d earmarked for training. With the MTB season lurking around the corner, it’s high time I shifted into high gear. But hey, today’s race day, and even though it’s tarmac under the wheels instead of dirt, it’s still race day. And that, my friends, is always a good day.
Boneshakerbike 
Your Thoughts