It's Friday. I had another solid week biking to and from work. Thursday morning when I woke up, my legs were just too beat, so I broke down and drove the car - and yes I still have the Maxima I wrote about in a previous post.After two full months of biking to work everyday with the exception of the first week in September, I am feeling more excited than ever about being a bike commuter. Wednesday after work I took the mountain bike out on the trails by my house and rode for a solid hour on some not-so-level terrain. Needless to say, that pushed my legs over the edge, and Thursday morning when I woke up, I had nothing left. And I am ok with that.
When I first started bike commuting, my legs were tired every morning when I woke up, and it would take me a good mile or so to get up to speed. But now, every day I feel powerful right from the start - and it lasts all day too. I have plenty of strength left when I return home every night too.
Case in point: I beat a truck going up a hill this afternoon! A traffic light brought me to a slow roll about 4 cars back. Once traffic started moving, I settled into my spot behind a truck, catching a little bit of a draft and using the break from the wind to keep up with the few cars that were on the road. I hear an old beater pick-up accelerating behind me and in the lane to my left. As he starts to pass me, I began pedaling harder and harder - all the while beginning a slight incline. From the roar of the engine I could tell the truck wasn't just easing up the hill. I began to pull ahead - at the same time the roar of his engine gets louder and louder. We peak the hill (about a quarter mile climb) and I am slowing down to 33 mph. It was a nice rush...
So the lesson for all you kiddos: take rest when you need it, eat your fruits and vegetables, and love the Velorution! Happy Friday all.
3 comments:
Hi Jeff, Your blog is awesome! I live in Phoenix too, and I use my bike to get to school and back. I am also an avid long-distance walker. If you ever wanted to meet up that would be so great.
HA! I ride a huge monster of a bike, and one of the most common questions I get is: "Does that thing have a motor?" My stock reply is that it uses an "organically top fuelled 1/8th horse V-twin hemi." I figure that if people who think a lot of their upper body strength can refer to their arms as "guns," I can call my legs a "hemi." I guess I'm not the only one, eh? Val
thanks for the comments in2itive eater and Val. naturally, i always enjoy compliments from readers.
in2itive - if you aren't planning on it already, i would suggest going out to the tour de fat at tempe town lake on oct. 13. it is a big cycling "festival" put on by new belgium brewery. check out biketempe.org for more info. i will be there...
val- i love the comparison you use about people calling their arms "guns..." it's so true, if they can do it, why can't we?! we have probably earned it in a more noble fashion. i mean, honestly, anyone can lift heavy objects and set them back down until their arms are huge!
Post a Comment