The forecast for this weekend has gotten better and better.  It looks as if we will be racing mountain bikes on Sunday!  It will be a great way to end the week, as long as I can keep the bike underneath me.  Tuesday, I ran into Kevin on the path and what was supposed to be a sprint workout, became a "keep up with Kevin" workout.  It was not bad at all actually, we chatted all the way down to 71^st Street and back.  The funny thing is, I know Kevin can put down some serious wattage, and we were moving at a good clip into the wind, but my perceived effort was way low.  This was contrary to what my power meter was saying, showing me threshold level numbers just about every time I looked down at the thing.  I felt loose, strong and comfortable.  Wednesday Julie and I went and met Paul and his wife at Cafe Ba-ba-rerba for dinner.  I apologize to anyone I have talked to about this development in my cycling life in the last week or so because I am so freaking excited, I blabber on and on.  Either way it was wonderful to meet the person behind the frames I will be riding and the company I will be representing.  I feel like I am being welcomed into an extended family with open arms.  Paul and I are in the same place mentally and want the same things and that makes this deal even more sweet.  Now to try to get to the west coast more often this season to race with them.  Yesterday was opening night at the track and I rode to Northbrook from work to hang out.  There were enough places along the route to get my workout in, so after about 20 minutes of warm up I hit a bike path through Busse Woods and started my first 5 minute interval.  I finished the five minutes (maintaining about 330w) strong and felt really comfortable.  Remembering the ride with Kevin and how good I was feeling earlier in the week, I kept the motor going and decided to make this my monthly threshold test.  In short, 15 minutes later of pushing hard and telling myself this is the day I leave the old, semi disappointing, numbers behind I was done.  Glancing down during the effort and rarely seeing numbers below 310w just kept me focused.  After that, I rode the rest of the way to the track, and with the exception of a long stretch of Central from West to East over the river and through the woods, it was very enjoyable.  It was a blast at the track, albeit a little cold, watching people push and the sound of disc wheels.  Talked with a lot of people, it is great seeing everyone again after the long winter.  Got home late and plugged in the powermeter.  In four weeks of regular riding my threshold is up 18%, hoary muscle memory and the ridiculous fitness I am blessed with. Getting myself, with the much needed help from Julie, into a steady healthy diet is helping so much as well.  I can not wait for the fall.