EURO TRAVEL…..The good…the bad…and the uuuhhhooohhh!!!!
Anyone who knows bike racers understands that there is ONE thing that trumps all others in order of importance. Any guesses?? Well…that one important thing is….ROUTINE. Yes, we are creatures of habit. We love our consistency, our routine. It keeps us somewhat grounded, though I am not sure that we are a very grounded bunch. It helps us feel as though we are in some semblance of control; that our world is not reeling off its axis.
Our days are spent waking up and tinkering with bikes (God forbid those aren't set up correctly down to the last millimeter). My husband has often referred to me as the princess and the pea. "I know my saddle is off," I mutter. "My handlebar height doesn’t seem right." "Sure," he states. "Well DOES it look off to you??" I squeal. "Uuuhhh…looks the same as it did the last time you asked," he mutters. He knows he can't win that conversation, no matter what he says.
We eat and must have the correct foods to eat. Some need soy, no dairy; others chicken, no beef; rice, can't do pasta; apples, no citrus….the list goes on. Don't even get me started regarding race day and race fuel….holy hell does that get complicated. More important than food is coffee. Absolutely every bike racer worth his or her salt drinks coffee. We don't drink that crummy Maxwell House either. It has to be from beans grown at the right altitude and roasted at the right temperature from the correct part of the globe. It has to be made just right, usually strong, but never burnt or bitter.
