I rode this bike, a Specialized Rockhopper, for 6 months including doing my first organized century on it in 2002. I'd done centuries before while touring in the early 90s on a mountain bike, also a Specialized Rockhopper.



The next bike we got was a tandem and I rode that exclusively for about a year.

Then I got a single bike and I rode that for a while. Then I started doing double centuries. Then I got a second, lighter road bike and did a few more double centuries. Then I got an inflamed hamstring from overuse. I went for a bike fit and that issue went away. Then I decided to do a Half Ironman Triathlon and do a 200K a month. I did 9 200Ks and just got burnt out. I did 4 tris last year and still love that. I bailed on my 10th 200K last December with about 30 miles to go. It just wasn't fun anymore. I've got about 400 miles on my road bike this year. That would have been my monthly mileage 2004 - 2008.

I'm in great shape ( the best I've been in since I was 19 and on a college swim team. I'm 42 now) because I've been doing other things - running, swimming, lifting weights with a trainer, boxing, yoga, plyometrics.

We're going to Vermont next week to do a self guided, in-law supported tour of the Gaps. My in laws are hauling our stuff from one hotel to the next. And I'm excited about biking again.

So in essence, what I did do when I burnt out? I picked something else to focus on, something that still included some biking. And instead of riding my bike to train, I ride my bike because it's fun.

Veronica