I suck, or why I'm not racing tomorrow night
 

So, I was all prepped to do a training crit tomorrow night as my first race in about 7 years. Looks like a nice series, a 1.1 mile industrial park crit with no major turns. Fields of about 20 for the C race. I actually feel like I am in pretty good shape, even compared to my earlier racing days, which, though nothing to write home about, never resulted in getting pulled. I renewed my license on Monday, and did a few light intervals followed by some nice recovery on my commute home.

Then I find out my wife's best friend's great aunt who meant a lot to her just passed away. I am sad for her; she is a friend of mine as well. Then I find out she was going to drive four hours to the funeral and four back with her two kids (3 and 9 months) by herself tomorrow. My wife says, "do you think I should offer to go?" I say, "absolutely." So I now have child-care duties tomorrow evening, and will not be racing. I will however, be taking my boys to scout out the race so that I can make my even longer-awaited return to racing next week. Before that, I will be pulling the boys on a ~15 mile ride around our lake, if it has recovered from recent flooding.

You don't suck. That's what a real man does. I raise my glass of "CHEAP RED WINE" to you.

Here here! :beer:

I visited the race last night. I love my three year old's main observation, "why aren't the people in the back going faster?" I'm thinking, "I know someone who will be in the back next week."

This morning at breakfast, my wife asks him about the race. He says, "they won a pair of socks!" The juniors in the C race had a prime for socks. Funny what makes an impression.

Based on the times and the race, I think I can probably finish in the top half next week. It's actually a little over a 1.5 mile loop with 1 180 degree bend just after the start / finish and few small rollers. Sort of like a hybrid circuit / crit. Unfortunately (or fortunately) watching the officials made me want to renew my official's license as well.

Nope, you're cool with me. My wife had business obligations in the first part of the week, so I was on dad duty from sun-up until sundown. I missed a couple rides, but got to spend some serious QT with the kiddos.

It's called Manning up...good for you. Plus, you'll get some brownie points for it!

cycling = hobby/passion

family duty = life

well done.:beer:

Best part of the day was taking the kids to the jumping house for 1.5 hours or so yesterday morning. I love those places. Anyone who has kids and has not been to one of these, I highly recommend it. A great excuse as an adult to play on all those great, giant, inflatable slides / obstacle courses / etc. And it works out one's massive guads as well. :D

did you drope the hamer?

Babysitter?
Assuming the race is local (travel time approx. 15 mins), register (10), warmup(15), race (30 mins), cool down (10), drive home (10) = 90 mins. Maybe if you place in your race, you could pay off the babysitter and still come out ahead.

Sorry to hear about your friend. As you said, there's always next week.

^^^^ I should have titled the thread differently (was trying to be cute and use the melodrama form). I really enjoy doing things with my boys, and definitely preferred watching a race with them to leaving them home with a babysitter. And I am very, very cheap. Very, very, very. And I'm in the C race where you race for medals. This summer, excluding my commute, which accounts for most of miles, it is probably safe to say I have more miles with a bicycle trailer than without. Even pulled the trailer on a few commutes to take my oldest to camp near my work. Bicycle trailer with 40 lb boy on old 26 pound Bianchi up a short 10% grade = fun workout.

^ I hear ya. Just thought I'd throw out a suggestion. Some guys on our team have a babysitting thing going with other wives on the team (drop off kids before the ride at a teammates house and pick them up after ride/race).
Believe me, I'd rather hang out with my 2yo than suffer for a 40 min race.

Around here, that depends on if he's had his nap or not...:D

:beer: And when the nap is not had, the beer is needed.

My whole first year was having time for a few races (to get my feet wet) while my wife worked on Saturday to make ends meet. Me and my two girls bonded and I learned a lot about them.

You will be blessed for doing the right thing.