Scalin' Back

Well - my wife lost her job - which isn't the end of the world. We have been talking about it for awhile - I just we were a little more proactive about saving so it would not be such a money shock. Oh well - so there are a few changes that must be made in regards to cycling - positive and negatives
Negatives:
1st - no new TIME or Giant TCR Advanced - I'm sad
2nd - no front ZIPP Wheel (also looking to sell a rear 404 - rim, tire and hub if interested)
3rd - the coach is gone.
4th - racing is going to take a back seat.
Now you're saying WTF - you have no money to race - OK I could come up with the cash - but I'm not going to race when I am not ready. I need to drop some weight. This starts with eating at home and not as much - hey, my wife losing her job takes care of that! Already I have dropped 5 lbs! When I get to my perfect weight of 167 - I will race! - but as for now - I cannot waste the money to be blown off the back in the pack sprint.
Positives:
I get to commute everyday! This rocks and along with eating is the reason I am losing weight. Today I commuted 40 miles! It was great weather and felt awesome to be out. It's stuff like this that will make me stronger (and the jogging girls with sports bras in Forest Park aren't a bad reason either). Judy has even lost some lbs due to working out during the day and eating at home - not bad - a shout out to Judy for looking HOT!!! in front of Judy's Lounge in the Hoosier Casino

OK - so the riding:
Last Sunday was FoPo - one of my favorite crits - but it was raining big time and I bailed. 21 guys showed up to race and the report was it was slow until the very end - I guess I should have showed up - Oh well - 30 bucks saved.
Wednesday Night Hub Throwdown. What is known as the fastest group ride in St. Louis did not disappoint. I was on Harris Stowe Spring Break and could do the ride. Started out at mock speed until someone flatted at Geyer and Manchester. The ride stopped and than started. I was near the back and going down Clayton there was this huge break and being near the back I missed it. The ride blew apart and I was in a three man chase group - and we caught them by Mason! That felt great - unfortunately I was so smoke from the chase that I fell off again. I cut short with Matt McLaughlin and caught the ride on Conway and stayed up until the end - a great ride. Phil, Steph me and Judy went to the BreadCo after the Team Rev was over.
Thursday - rode after school with Jeff and two girls, one a former student, who do Tri-athalons. Both girls were in great shape and we hit it pretty hard. A little too hard and I was smoked. A good ride though.
Saturday Hub Ride. The ride started out pretty much balls out. My legs were hurting and I wanted to scale back. Somehow on the really steep Geyer Hill I found myself in front and pulled the hill - never know how fast to go, knowing the speed of some of the guys I'm with, so I went way too hard and blew a wad that left me falling off down Clayton. Devin and I rode and we caught them on Conway. Without having any warm-up the slower riding really made me feel strong. By the time we met the group I had gone from feeling weak to feeling great. The rest of the ride was nothing. The worst part however was the flats. 4 flats total! Breaking up the pace sucked. Later in the day I rode Grant's Trail with Isabella and Judy, which was a blast! and even later in the day Michael R. came over on his Mountain bike and I went back out for a ride - and flatted! God do I hate the chip seal shit - cost me 5 bucks for a tube! I trying to save money, dammit!
Good commute today - might ride a group ride tomorrow - Alpine Shop or Maplewood - I'll see tomorrow.