Remembering why

Six weeks ago I returned from Europe with the best fitness of my life. I had just finished an intense block of European racing and had planned to carry that speed and motivation I had back to the states. However, my return to US racing would be anything but speedy. I began to develop a knee pain which continued to bother me and kept me from riding for the next four weeks. This four week span was an up and down roller coaster, but it was a lesson I needed to learn.

Icing my knee and sitting on the couch with the best form of my life was mentally taxing, it wasn’t until my younger brother Austin returned from Europe that I first got a desire to think about cycling again. Riding and racing has been such a part of my daily routine for the last year, and not being able to ride I didn’t know what to do. When Austin was rested and ready to ride again after his own European trip, I wanted to help him out as much as possible to prepare him for the rest of the season. I wasn’t able to ride with him, but I was able to motor pace him behind my car and drive him into the mountains to get in some good riding.
Last week I was able to ride again pain free thanks to Rebound and a lot to ice and rest. I could tell I had lost a lot of my fitness but I’ve learned that these injuries can and will happen and its how you deal with them that makes the difference in the long run. Riding again reminded me of why I love cycling, it is such a beautiful sport and the views from the road are stunning. I had my down days while I was injured but now that I’m riding again I appreciate it even more. For the next few weeks I’ll be in Bend training and preparing for the second half of the season with my brother Austin, on the roads we know and love.

Ian