OK. So I decided on a whim to go riding last night. I really like my ducks and most of my life I've perfected methods of getting ducks to line up. So when I announced to DH last night I wanted to ride, he was game, so we changed and loaded up. I hadn't been riding since the ride on Saturday, so I was feeling a little stiff and achy, but figured I'd work out the kinks once we got going and I knew I'd feel much better about it afterward.

Well.. that didn't happen.. I FOUGHT for four miles going SLLLLOWWWWLLYY until I couldn't take any more and bailed. I KNOW I need to ease up on the tension as I'm gripping the bars like my life depended on it and I need to quickly learn which gear to be in in times like these. I was in the SAME gear as the last time and hit over 17mph and tonight could barely muster 10 (just a guess-- I was so aggravated I turned the computer around so I couldn't see it.)

Last night the aches I felt quickly turned to acute pain in my arms and neck once we got going. As I tried to steer the pain got worse and was making me wobble as I seemed to be pulling on the bars because of the pain. I also wasn't in the right gear (trail is pretty much dead flat) and DH said I was working too hard on the pedals, which because of my neck/arms hurting meant when I tried to push harder with my legs, I started swaying from side to side. Again, the first time out I could hammer on the pedals and stayed pretty straight and it felt good. This time even the slightest bit of something extra felt like I was on top of a uni-cycle riding on Jello.

My position on the bike was all wonky as I kept clipping/rubbing something with my right foot every pedal stroke... NONE of these dang ducks would mind me last night so.. I.. went.. home.

Anyone else ever had a "bad" ride? I'm still encouraged as I did do four miles when I felt the worst I've ever felt on a bike. Six miles was a breeze when I felt "good"-- could have gone further as I had lots of gas in the tank, but was getting nervous about how crowded the trail was getting.

Here's to Ibuprofen!!
Shannon