bike catch-up

[winterbadger]

I seem to have missed out a huge number of bike entries, or I didn't tag them. I guess this is part of the big catch-up on journaling that I need to do.

OK, so, since Neta seems to feel the need to tell everyone this story, I'll just repeat it here and maybe stop having to hear it. Bryan and Peter came over for one of our evenings a bout six weeks ago, and Peter brought a HUGE bottle of port with him. After we went through that and a bottle of red, and after B&P had gone home, I felt the need for a quiet bike ride to finish off the evening. It was a nice night and I wasn't ready for bed yet; it seemed like a reasonable idea to me. Well, OK, so it wasn't the best idea, nor was starting at the top of a rather steep hill. One crash later, I had a bruise the size of a small dog on my stomach, and Rupert needed some expensive repairs.

After the expensive repairs, I took him down to my mum's one time Neta and I were going there and had a nice ride around my old neighborhood, plus a trip out tot he store to gt N a Mountain Dew she was craving. My first bike trip for groceries. ;-)

Then we went out to the Capitol Crescent Trail another weekend (I really can't believe I haven't whined about this already--maybe I just didn't tag it...) She rollerbladed and I cycled. We went about three miles and stopped for a breather. I asked how far she wanted to go, and she replied that she figured she could go as far as I wanted to. Well, masculine pride kicked in, and I said "OK, let's go another three miles, then go back." She looked a little surprised and said "OK, if you're sure..." Maybe it was just me, but the implication was "...you can make it that far OLD MAN!" So, stung, I said "Of course!" and off we went.

The relevant fact to remember is that I *am* an old man, and a really out of shape one, too. And she is a young, lithe, athletic damsel who plays soccer a couple of times a weekend. So, yes, as you can expect, I barely made the whole twelve miles, gasping for air and stopping regularly for the last three, while she glistened slightly and skated circles around me, stopping every once in a while to make sure I was OK. :-)

I did notice on that trip that when the shop replaced my handlebars and one of the gear levers, they put the other gear lever back too and my computer hook-up, but left off my BELL. Rather annoying. They also threaded the computer sensor wire through the new brake pad they put on, which I'm sure is all clever and designy, except that it promptly got caught between the brake pad and the wheel. Taking it out took a bit of work! Grrr.

Went out for a short ride this morning. I'd like to do longer, but anything helps at this point. I need to get out and get exercise. I've been making a concerted effort to eat better, and I've GAINED weight again. Until I'm doing half an hour to an hour of exercise every day, I don't think much is going to change. :-(

Comments

[magaidhbhan.livejournal.com]

Ugh, I hear you. Matthieu and I took the first of our (theoretically -- we'll see how long it lasts) daily hour-long pre-work bike trips this morning, and I'm so out of shape it's ridiculous. He doesn't even notice the hills I have trouble with. And I've been trying hard to eat better and whatnot too, and I've also put on weight -- I'm the heaviest I've ever been. Bleagh.

But good luck to you! I'm determined to get as shaped-up as I can over the course of the next month, as I'm going to a big conference at the end of July where I'll be seeing people from Scotland -- two years and 30 pounds ago. I'm glad Rupert's feeling better -- I might have to take Bucephalus in for some repairs, too, as he refuses to stay in a low gear while I'm climbing a hill (gee, thanks, honey; not like that's when I need it!).

But yes. Good luck, good on you, and keep at it! :)

[winterbadger]

Yeah, I was really labouring when I started up this morning and realised after a while that it was because Rupert hadn't responded to the gear handle and was still on the lowest front chain ring--d'oh! It got much easier after that. :-)

[gr-c17.livejournal.com]

He left the story of his fall unfinished.

Neta called me at midnight and demanded to know "what did you do to Jan?!" I must admit the best answer I came up with was a fit of girlish giggles. ( my share of the Port, I suppose. ) Neta has banned Port from the house.

[schizokitty.livejournal.com]

Yea gods, I know what you mean. I've hardly gone to the gym since we got back from NZ: just twice a week so far. I went Monday and it was a major slog. I usually can do 35 minutes on the elliptical on level ten resistance. Monday I started at nine and by the time I'd finished I'd worked my way down to five, and my pulse was still 157. Geez!

Keep at it, man! You can do it!