JG, you have our most respectful permission to take this current break from cycling! You certainly have enough things going on in your world that you have no reason to beat yourself up about missing time on the bike. And, wow, congratulations that you're still keeping fit and dropping pounds that you want to! Good work!

For me, and people I know, riding (and exercise in general) is a cyclical thing (don't mind the pun). Interest, motivation, time, energy all wax and wane throughout life. I suspect it's designed that way to encourage us to savour the uniqueness of each time of our life...

Do what you can to deal with the stress. Sleep, meditate, do yoga, sneak a bike around the block in, or just don't think about your loyal bike right now. You will love her all the more when you climb back on!

Emily! It's cool that you've been on the mountain bike! yay!! I, too, find I'm much less afraid of what the woods have to offer compared to the roads....good luck with the next road ride. You're going to love it, too!

Namaste,
~T~