It's no secret that I've been struggling on the bike lately - over come some illness, then allergy-thing, then injury . . . waaa, waaa, whaaaa. It's been as much of a mental hurdle to try and get over it as a physical one. I'm trying and trying, but just seeing no return to any kind of form . . . perhaps I never had one to begin with and I'm so far from the truth and reality that I'm searching for something that was never there, but thought that I DID once have.
I put a hard effort in on the bike Monday, some structured training, some intervals and shit. All in hopes of feeling better. Tuesday, the plan was to do a long ride - build that base back up again. Plans are made to be broken, forgotten about or messed up . . . and my plan lay in shattered pieces by the time I got myself out the door Tuesday morning.
Morning started out with some road and climbing up to Champlain Look-off.
Planned ride turned into, "I'm just going out to ride and enjoy the day and see what happens and stop the fuck moaning about how out of shape I am in this season."
Then it was onto some gravel fire road.
Even squeezed in some single track. CX bikes are so versatile - big fat 30mm Grand Bois tires - fast and smooth on the road, squishy and forgiving on the trail.
Bombed down the 40 to Meech Lake.
Despite going out "just to ride", thoughts about how far behind I am in the season and how much of a Sucky McSucks A-Lot-on-the -bike I am right now kept creeping into my head. I didn't bring any food with me and about 65 Km in I started to bonk for lack of a decent breakfast and decided to head for home. Despite the beautiful day I was feeling down about my efforts and how far I had ridden.
Legs heavy and spirits grey I swung into the Gameline Parking lot to fill my bottles for the slow ride home and noticed a guy unloading his bike out of his truck, getting ready to go for a ride. I've seen the guy and the bike once before, but this time I stopped to talk. I remarked to him about his ride and he was more than happy to tell me about it - why wouldn't he, it was a cool bike - one you don't see very often at all. We got to talking, comparing rides and shooting the breeze when he told me that he used to only ride free-ride type bikes, but now is only on the road.
I put a hard effort in on the bike Monday, some structured training, some intervals and shit. All in hopes of feeling better. Tuesday, the plan was to do a long ride - build that base back up again. Plans are made to be broken, forgotten about or messed up . . . and my plan lay in shattered pieces by the time I got myself out the door Tuesday morning.
Morning started out with some road and climbing up to Champlain Look-off.Planned ride turned into, "I'm just going out to ride and enjoy the day and see what happens and stop the fuck moaning about how out of shape I am in this season."
Then it was onto some gravel fire road.
Even squeezed in some single track. CX bikes are so versatile - big fat 30mm Grand Bois tires - fast and smooth on the road, squishy and forgiving on the trail.
Bombed down the 40 to Meech Lake.Despite going out "just to ride", thoughts about how far behind I am in the season and how much of a Sucky McSucks A-Lot-on-the -bike I am right now kept creeping into my head. I didn't bring any food with me and about 65 Km in I started to bonk for lack of a decent breakfast and decided to head for home. Despite the beautiful day I was feeling down about my efforts and how far I had ridden.
Legs heavy and spirits grey I swung into the Gameline Parking lot to fill my bottles for the slow ride home and noticed a guy unloading his bike out of his truck, getting ready to go for a ride. I've seen the guy and the bike once before, but this time I stopped to talk. I remarked to him about his ride and he was more than happy to tell me about it - why wouldn't he, it was a cool bike - one you don't see very often at all. We got to talking, comparing rides and shooting the breeze when he told me that he used to only ride free-ride type bikes, but now is only on the road.
Continued tomorrow . . .
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Dude, your all negative and depressing these days.
ReplyDeleteIn three months you'll be riding with the Goat in Colorado on alpine trails, on some hidden gems only a scant few know about. It'll be good, damn good.
Get the positive vibe going on and the rest will follow.
It looks like a beauty day. seriously. Look at those pics you took with new eyes and ask yourself if that wasn't a great ride.
ReplyDelete..cause you coulda been inside pounding keys and worrying about shit like how yer gotta get outta the red an into the black.. just sayin' :)
somebody needs to give you a hug. I'm not gonna do it but someone should.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're going to tell us about his ride. Has he taken it over any sweet jumps?
ReplyDeletewait for it . . .
ReplyDeleteThe 40 is such a blast on a CX bike though. It brings great sht face grins to my face. I haven't had time to do it in a while though. But, when I do get a chance to, it will be a really good time.
ReplyDeleteYah gotta do some beach time!
Bike 75km then sit back and enjoy some down time... then continue on.
I have a cooler up in the gatineaus for cold drinks even. Its a natural spring. So, I always have a cold drink available... as long as no one steals them.
attitude - yah win some days yah loose some days. Take the good with the bad.
Good days are like today - sun is out and its hot. Go enjoy some beach, bike and babes!
Bad days - damn cold outside. Me, I don't like the cold anymore.
Get out and ride today! Its not very often we get this sort of weather.
ReplyDeleteAnd, stay far away from Vanier. I have a buddy going through to be a cop as well. The first place they brought him was vanier.
Vanier is the sht hole of ottawa.
being a cop ain't easy. Probably one of the toughest jobs out there. Gotta be a judge, a doctor, a mentor, a nut cracker, a fighter, etc...
Give me back your teaching job any day. How sweet it would be to have the summer off. What I would give for that!