I started to get brain overload today, what with being in over my head on trying to understand all that is involved in doing the PhilCast podcast I want to begin doing shortly. The road called, even though the cold north wind was telling me to stay inside today.

But I began to feel like I was losing a part of myself by not getting my rides in, buried under the work of trying to find work. It's funny, I need a job to feel like I'm taking a break compared to how crazy busy I have been these past few weeks.

Today the inspiration came in part from Davis Phinney and Tom Held at the Journal/Sentinel, who wrote a piece about Davis in today's paper. The Moving Forward ride is coming up. Check it out.

Riding out on my 26-mile course today I could feel the wind mostly at my back as I zoomed up to a hard tempo pace of 19-20 mph. I started to worry of course about the 13 miles back that would see me with that stiff wind in the face all the way home. NORTH wind...as in COLD wind this time of year.

What was I going to do, cry about it like a baby and turn back early? Hell no. All I had to worry about was a little wind later. Imagine all that Davis Phinney has ridden through. So he inspired me to ride today into that cold wind, snot dripping from my nose....as did Tom Held, although he'd never know that fact, because he is the one who brought Davis to my attention today through Tom's story in the paper.

That's the thing about inspiration. It comes from unknown people and places all the time. It made me a better rider today because it helped get me out there and discover once again that deep down inside, job or no job for now, I am a rider. I am a cyclist.