Gates of Hell

VeloNews has published some really interesting letters lately from Major Jason A. Bryan stationed with the 101st Sustainment Brigade in Iraq. He brought his bike with him and cycles loops around the compound to maintain sanity.

His description of how hot it is over there makes me feel a little guilty about yesterday’s whine.

Summer is officially here and it feels like someone forgot to close the door to the gates of hell. My rides start with two bottles of cold water and by the time I’m done, anything left feels like bath water.

If you’ve ever opened an oven, imagine that gust in your face all day long. Picture a tiny version of yourself pedaling over the crust of baking lasagna… that’s what the mid-day chow race feels like.

You can’t accurately associate this heat with a number. But for the record, temperatures will range between 115 and 120 degrees this week, with a perpetual 15 knot wind. I don’t know exactly what a “knot” is, but 15 of them at 120 degrees feels like that guy at the end of “Raiders of the Lost Ark"… you know, when his face melts off…

It feels like the sun is screaming at you… like having concert speakers blaring Iron Maiden in your face every time you step outside.

Abandon all hope, ye who enter.

…

As for yoga, no more “sun salutations” for me… The sun sucks.

Comments: