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Was going to tackle Emigration today, but the exercise-induced fat-and-out-of-shape asthma kicked in hard today … or the pollen, possibly, since my sinuses have been acting up as well.

So instead, tried to take it fairly easy on Wasatch from Hogle Zoo all the way down to 7200 South, before dropping down Big Cottonwood Canyon Road past the Old Mill and back into Holladay. This loop is essentially what the Cutthroat Racing team used to use for their Monday recovery rides, starting from Spin Cycle, in years past.

I was a little cross-eyed from oxygen-debt climbing up the bike path from the bottom of Parley’s back up to Wasatch, but I think I saw Fastgrrrl (nope, got confirmation it was not she, but a doppelganger) dropping down the path going the other direction; whomever it was got a nod, but I was gasping so hard, I’m surprised I didn’t fall over.

Now, the question is what movie do I want to watch after I get out of the shower?

Ushpizin? Be Kind, Rewind? Into the Wild? Empire of the Wolves? I’ve got time to think it over …

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Completed the climb up Emigration Canyon for the second time this season … felt pretty good, although my asthma definitely kicked my butt on the early parts of the climb before my lungs settled down. Had to take it easy the rest of the way of the climb, but managed to make it.

Unfortunately, my ride home ended in a minor tragedy on 27th South near 23rd East, when somehow a piece of bubble gum managed to destroy my rear derailleur … and my discount code for Backcountry.com doesn’t work for the one Record derailleur they have in stock.

They're not supposed to look like this, are they?

With the warmer weather comes another season of cycling, and this year, I’m bound and determined to actually become a cyclist again, not just some guy with a lot of really nice bikes.

So I took my second ride in 3 days today … Sunday was a 10-miler out to Canyon Rim from Capitol Hill, followed by a long walk in the park with the dogs (did I post that already?). Got a lift home after that one, though … it was a long day.

Today was another 8.8 miler, from the house up City Creek Canyon … obviously, I didn’t make it all the way to the top, but I did get up to the water treatment plant … my lungs feel like death; but at least I did it. Now if I could just remember to dope up (you know, with that Albuterol asthma inhaler thingie) before I ride, maybe I wouldn’t die quite so hard.

Ten miles may not sound like much to most of the people I know; but considering how little I rode last year, just squeezing into bright red Lycra and getting on the damned cursed wonderful incredible machine is a win right there.

Average HR: 164. Max HR: 182 (my theoretical maximum is 180). 40 minutes, 29 seconds.

I am WAY out of shape.