One:
Eight weeks ago, when I was advised to take 4-6 weeks off the bike, I for various reason decided to stop drinking beer at the same time. If was gonna be miserable not riding, I might as well be really miserable and not enjoy beer too. To be honest, I really haven't missed it. (the beer, I hate not riding)
Thankfully, twelve days ago, I was able to start riding very easily and very slowly. I can't push, I can't go fast, and I'll admit I'm scared and oddly conscious of my knee the entire time I'm riding. But it is glorious. Mentally, I've turned a corner even if I'm wicked slow right now. I can't train yet, but riding is a big step for me. Riding a bike is amazing. In someways this experience has been entirely frustrating and awful, in someways it has reminded me how awesome just riding a bike is. I mean more frustrating than not, but what the fuck, life gives you lemons, you gotta look on the bright side of death . Am I right? Riding is awesome.
Last Friday, Good Friday was my first single track ride since January. My buddy Karl kept me honest as we weaved our way around the loop at Lums Pond. It was the first time I've ridden for an hour since my injury AND IT WAS JOYOUS. But I will say this, as Karl and I finished up, it was the first time in eight weeks that I craved a cold beer. Some where in my mind mountain biking and beer are connected. Gotta wonder what the psychology is behind that...
Two:
Saturday afternoon, I was still stoked from my Friday ride. Monk and I met Buddy for a quick fire road ride from Newark to the ticking tomb. It was a windy, but a good ride. Buddy and Diane looked after me, as I was fighting in the wind a bit more than I wanted.
Diane was on her cross bike, as her mountain-bike is currently out of commission. As we got to one of the more techy sections, Diane went to the front as we came up on a runner.
The runner saw Diane on a cross bike and exclaimed, "She's killing it on a cross bike! YEAH!" Buoyed by the cheers, Diane, who really hasn't spent much time on her cross bike for two years, settled in and cruised through the section. In doing so, she put me into the hurt locker. She looked back and sat up making sure that she didn't drop me. We made the turnaround, and embraced the tail wind which I was cursing a few minutes earlier when it was a headwind. Monkey, Buddy and I worked our way back to town. Not dicey, not froggy, not fast, but moving at a fun pace. It was awesome...
Sadly, our ride was cut a bit short as we came upon a downed branch with lots of limbs. Buddy, Diane and I were riding three a breast. Buddy and I quickly moved to the edges. Diane decided to hop the gnarly branch, but forgot to actually get her rear wheel in the air. From my vantage point to the left of her it was less of a bunny hop and more of a steam roller. The branch exploded and launched into her back wheel which for lack of better terms blew up. Seven spokes destroyed, 3 more bent...
"I tried to hop it!" she exclaimed as Buddy and I laughed...
"Looked more like a snow plow..." Buddy said.
"Do you think I can twist a few spokes and ride it in?" Diane asked laughing..
we all laughed. Buddy and I set out to get the car and pick up Monk, while she worked on her shouldering technique.
Riding bikes is awesome.
thanks for reading..
respect
fatmarc
vanderbacon
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