A skinny, a fat and a skinny ride

Skinny

Curvy Butt and I did a Manotick road loop Saturday afternoon in mild temperatures and zero wind. No photos of the ride so our route will have to do.  A little over 70 kms left early Spring legs feeling a bit tuckered. Not huge miles, but when all you're doing over the course of a winter are 10-18 km fatbike rides . . .well, the endurance conditioning goes out the window.

Fat

Sunday it was plus twenty four degress celcius!  That's ten degrees higher than the record in the Ottawa area for March 18th ever. Melting snow meant the chance of drier, snow free trails south of Ottawa in the Limerick Forest.  The beauty day didn't disappoint.  Lots of dry fun trails to be had, but also some hard ice pack still on the trails covered in an inch or two of water.  We got wet and muddy, but it was fun. 

It was also my first dirt ride on the fatbike.  Whoot!  What a blast. Fritz was on his too while Curvy Butt and Peter rode regular mtn bikes.

Skinny

Do my fingers smell like ass?  Monday afternoon - another freak'in blazing warm day.  Got out for a nice West Carelton road loop with Lenny.  No he's not digging around his jersey for a bar, but is scratching his skinny old man butt as we climb up and over the Carp Escarpment.

We got down to the Ottawa River .  I snapped this shot for two reasons: one being to show the ice still on the river.  What's the other reason?

Fog rolling off the ice on the Ottawa River caused by the warm temperatures.  Plus freak'in 24 degrees !

Who's Fat?

I'm fat . . . and I now have some fatter wheels under me. 

Angry Big Ring

I am the big fat red bird in Angry Birds.

 Today is a sort of a day for reflection . . . you see, it's my birthday today.  Maybe as you get older and as your time left on the planet decreases you contemplate where you've been and where you're going.  My first years as a kid were child-like and set me up for the disappointment, rebellion and confusion in my adolescent years (pretty normal).  My 20's were a time for searching for myself.  And so far my 30's have been a time for discovering who I am.  Maybe my 40's will be a time for acceptance . . . maybe. 

Over the years I think that I've grown mentally (a bit) and matured (a bit less).  Despite the growth I still suffer from character defects.  I've always had a quick temper usually brought on by tantrums when I don't get my way.  My two year old is now teaching me great lessons on how to deal with life on life's terms and/or how to throw a wicked tantrum.

What's all this self-reflection, gushy crap got to do with biking?  If you're a regular reader you'll be quite aware of the battle I've waged over my weight, specifically to get my weight down to make me go faster on the bike.  This journey of self discovery and acceptance of my body type has had its share of roller coaster rides and late night trips to the peanut butter jar.   

I weighed myself last week, hoping to see a few pounds lost so to make the long sustained climbs that I'll be doing in North Carolina next week a bit easier.  Alas, my weight didn't drop, but actually increased by about a pound (197 lbs) . . . . and over the past couple weeks I had been trying to eat well and was riding!  I completely expected to see a drop in weight.

It pissed me off.  It really pissed me off.  So much so that I kind of jumped in anger while standing on the scale when it told me something I didn't want to hear.  It was unintentional, it wasn't to destroy it, it was kind of like a little kid buckling their knees in disappointment before they rebound back into the air in full arm and leg flailing tantrum.  Yep, it was kind of like that.  

Success!  From now on, no matter what and how much I eat, I'll always weigh 2 lbs.

After unclenching my teeth and fists I was able to compose myself, breath and tell myself, "I'm good enough, I'm smrt enough and doggoneit, people like me."  As I re-opened my eyes after my personal affirmation and look down I see 2 lbs.  WTF?

I didn't break the scale, I just fixed it.

Back on

Despite being twenty-two days behind my scheduled goal for being on the bike, I'm almost a week and a half earlier than last year. Whoot!
However, I am much more behind the eight ball in terms of overall fitness (there isn't any) and weight (there's too much).

My first trainer ride of the 'training season'.
Was hoping to squeeze out an hour, but my arse could only handle 49 minutes or so before it crapped out (not literally). Only been on the bike a handful of times since September, so all my callouses on my nether-regions are pretty much gone.



'Tis the season to be fat and slow and back on the trainer.