My November Goal-Feeling Comfortable

[planetluvver]

Okay, it isn't quite November...but anyway...

In keeping with Susan Weaver's suggestion, I am setting a monthly goal. (A Woman's Guide to Cycling, page 104.)

After crashing last month, and not cycling much anyway for the past year and a half, I realized that I was getting flustered on all the rides I was doing. So it is becoming obvious that I am not feeling comfortable with my cycling choices.

So my goal for November is to just think of my comfort on every ride. AND get some bike time every day, even if it is five minutes, even if it is just THINKING about biking, or even about why I am not biking.

Today, I rode, on the street where I had crashed. I rode without needing to arrive anywhere. And I had a chance to pay attention, just to me and my comfort, not traffic, not my destination, not how much exercise I was getting, and be open to whatever I noticed.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

That's a great plan! Sounds like you will be very in tune with yourself and with your bike. :)

[wildhawk]

That sounds like a very good plan! I need to get that book too - it is on my wish list! I try to ride at least every other day, but in the off days I turn to walking or pursuing my fine art/photography stuff. At first my goal was to ride at least 10 miles every day, but my doctor said I should cross train and not rely on the cycling for my primary exercise, so after I increased my skills and endurance, I set cycling as a goal for every other day (I am up to 24+ miles each time) and walking on the in between days coupled with weight training. Weekends DH and I go hiking, etc. I do, however, think about cycling every single day as it is my most favorite thing to do for exercise. I ride in my local park which is near my house for my training rides - weekdays it is not very crowded and I see tons more wildlife too. I do not stress if I have not ridden my entire miles - I am just happy to be out there pedaling and the miles just keep ticking away on my cycle computer so before I know it, I have accomplished my goal without realizing it. Enjoy your riding - it should be relaxing and fun.

[planetluvver]

I am so HARD on myself! I read Wildhawks comment, and immediately wanted to think about the distance I rode.

But now I have remembered that a year ago, I was only able to walk as far as the bus, and not riding at all (a knee injury.) And even then, I would need to rest a day or two, between outings. I couldn't get my doctor to listen to me. It was only this past May that I attempted to walk .5 a mile without it being a necessity.

So, yes, the important thing is just to be enjoying my activity, without stressing myself out about it.

Thanks!

[wildhawk]

Atta girl! Just enjoy the riding and let the stress go! A year ago I was 55+ pounds heavier, had a major artery leading to my heart that was 99.9% blocked, had stent surgery, lost weight and started walking and then cycling to regain my health. The first ride I only rode six miles - now I can comfortably do well over 20 and am training for a two day, 150 mile ride in May. And I just passed my yearly cardio stress test with flying colors and my cardio doc is very proud of me and my progress. Stress, however, is the one constant that I am struggling with - for example, my job is very stressful and our company has gone through some major changes this year, the economy doesn’t help much either. But these are things that are out of our control, so I have learned to let the stress go. We both got back into cycling which we love dearly and the benefits have been great! Hard to believe that a year ago I was totally sedentary and a good candidate for a major heart attack and now one year later I am feeling fit and energetic!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Yes, take back the joy you used to have in bicycling. :p
It's for you, has nothing to do with anyone else, and nothing to do with what what you might think anyone else thinks of your riding. (ok, brain hurting now!) :p

[latelatebloomer]

I've had the same issues with anxiety on the bike (it's my first sport ever, I'm a big woman in my late 40's, and I had some nasty falls the first year.) I am blessed to have been taken under the wing of Master's World Champion racer & wonderful trainer. Why, I'm not sure, but it's turned my life around. Anyway, he did some road rides with me this spring and kept checking my heart rate - unreasonably high from the start. He sees me train indoors so he knows my fitness level in spin classes. His prescription:

We found a quiet, fairly flat 3 mile loop close to my house. My "homework" was to ride 3 circuits quite slowly, in very light gears. Something funny happened. I soon went into a state of relaxation. My breathing became very deep and even, my muscles relaxed, in fact, that state of relaxation continued for hours off the bike, too. When Chip phoned for a report on how it went, I described this weird sensation and asked, what was supposed to happen? "That."

Sometimes by trying too hard, we set ourselves back! It sounds like we're dealing with the same kinds of issues and goals. Pm me if you want to chat more.

ps, I joined an author's group a year or so ago. One of the authors? Susan Weaver! (it was months before I mentioned to her that I ride.) She's a very sweet person.

[RoadRaven]

What an excellent way to begin cycling for November, Planet :)

It made me think of what I am doing for the next 3 months - base-training. And having thought about it (the implications of doing base-training) for a month, and then having just completed my first week, I feel so good and "refreshed" about hopping on my bike.

No pressure of performing in a race every Saturday, no goal specific rides (eg sprint intervals etc), no guilt if I don't get a designated ride done - or done well...

I just hop on my bike and ride... I don't think I had lost the joy BleeckerSt speaks of, but I had certainly become a bit too intense to fully relish just the simple pleasure of riding a bike.

So be comfortable, and enjoy :)