Back to start over for the 3rd time.

[maillotpois]

You're on Mt. Veeder, right? I think I remember you form one of your prior visits here. Beautiful place!

[HermitGirl]

You're on Mt. Veeder, right? I think I remember you form one of your prior visits here. Beautiful place!

Yes, and I am flattered that I'm remembered ! Third time is a charm, right? I came back to beg support for the last and final time. I'm so itching to ride right now AND exercise my dog, that I've decided right now, to try to ride my mtn bike as much as I can of my hiking route. Nothing wrong with pushing the bike where I can't ride. Great way to get back int he saddle, though not the easiest, but it's like, the dog needs to run. Like... DUH ! Tomorrow I'll have all day to myself, and I can hike AND ride road.

[HermitGirl]

I did it ! I just got my mtn bike out and geared up and rode her where I could (which was almost the whole way) where I usually hike, with no real steep sections, sort of two different areas, back to back. It worked ! In fact, I feel worked out. and the dog is worked out as much as a long hike, because of course, she had to run faster . Smart thinking. I think this is going to be my happy medium by which to start back into riding. And, for a while, I'm going to just do the bike in the day, rather than the walking, and if I feel like hiking, well, I can do both in one go (lay the bike down, and walk up some steep areas), or go out a second time later in the day by foot. I'm really psyched. I wonder why this wasn't working before. Sometimes we can't see clearly until we've hit bottom and dwelled there a while, I guess.

ps. I'm trying to post a photo of my bike on my profile page, documenting this morning, coming back to riding.

[redrhodie]

Congratulations! Enjoy the feeling, and give yourself a huge pat on the back.

[HermitGirl]

Congratulations! Enjoy the feeling, and give yourself a huge pat on the back.

Thank you. I actually do feel puffed up proud of myself, even though it is relatively a very small ride, it's huge in my recent outlook. Now I'm thinking about .... tomorrow, and the next chance to ride !

[staceysue]

Congrats on getting back on the bike! I'm looking forward to following how you do. Third time's a charm, you know.

[Miranda]

Yep, congrats on getting back in the saddle. Sometimes you just gotta do it.

Keeping the gear ready to rock helps too I think on making getting ready to ride minimal work.

I keep my bikes in the house w/the gear right next to it. The carbon roadie sleeps upstairs right at the foot of my bed. The mtb sleeps in my formal dining (looks lovely on the white carpet and next to the floral victorian drapes lol).

Anything I need to take with me where I will drive to ride w/a group etc. just stays in the back of my suv. My mini bike gear annex.

Oh course here on TE this is all normal behavior lol.

Happy riding tomorrow.

[OakLeaf]

Yay!

+1 on keeping the gear ready to go. Less of an issue when you're riding from home, but when you're driving to ride, it's harder to forget something when it's all in one place.

I keep all my gear in a mesh backpack, which is really nice, because I can throw my sweaty helmet, shoes, gloves, etc., right into it after a ride, and there's plenty of airflow through the mesh so they dry without getting gross. It lives in the house next to my bike, so I can pull my things out of it if I'm riding from home, or pick it up and take it with me when I drive to a ride, or transfer it into someone else's truck when we carpool to an organized ride.

Plus, if weather conditions change (or I just change my mind about them) between the time I get in my car and when the ride takes off, I have my clear glasses and sunglasses, my arm and knee warmers, FF and fingerless gloves, shoe covers, sunblock, whatever I need.

[HermitGirl]

Thanks everyone. I like the mesh bag idea. Hm... gotta make one. Miranda, you describe a life rooming with bikes as i had when i was single lived in a tiny little cabin in the woods. I had my road and mtn bike hanging from the cieling, swagged to the side, over my bed, (oh how the chains glittered in the candlelight) and my commuter hung and swagged in my kitchen. swagged because of low ceilings, and gear everywhere. I think I kept a big laundry basket full of my riding clothes, and well, there was just gear everywhere, and electric sockets charging lights in the kitchenette counter, etc. At the time I was working at a LBS, and it was just natural. Good old days. ::sigh:: Now I live in a real house (but in the same woods), with a DH, and I have to keep the horses out in the stable. lol. But right now, as I write, I have my jersey flung over a loft balcony railing, from yesterday's little ride, that is a little reminiscent of old days. I will soon start letting gear sprawl out, and then I will be reminded all the time about how my love affair with bicycles is still alive. I just have to fan the ever-so-faint embers, and there's going to soon be smoke .

[malkin]

Sounds like you are working it out.

Chop wood; carry water. Or in your case, ride your bike; walk the dog.
Breathe in and out; note the distraction and resume breathing.

[HermitGirl]

Sounds like you are working it out.

Chop wood; carry water. Or in your case, ride your bike; walk the dog.
Breathe in and out; note the distraction and resume breathing.

Actually, I just came in from restocking the woodpile.. so the wood chopping still is a part of life. Water, we have on tap . But yes, breath, and learn to ride all over again. It's like I had a big injury (emotional?) and I suppose in total my being off-kilter with cycling will have taken nearly 8 years to heal. Once I put it in that frame of thinking, I feel apart from *it-the injury* and more able to visualize Being A Cyclist again, very soon.

I love the saying "choose for friends, those you wish to emulate". That is precisely why I am going to make a pest of myself on TE.

[staceysue]

I store my bike in the wood shed. I tried the garage (aka DH's woodshop) but the chain got all full of sawdust. I tried the rabbit shed and realized rabbits can pee really far - they must get bored and aim at things. The chicken coop is out of the question. If DH ever takes the "temporary" greenhouse out of the dining room, I could store the bike there. . . .

I like the mesh backpack suggestion. Today I was riding down the road and thought "why am I suddenly having such clear memories of what it was like riding my bike back from swimming, as a kid?" It was the smell of the sunscreen I finally bought and the feel of wind blowing through my hair! I can't believe I actually forgot my helmet . . . . better put it in a backpack with the sunscreen.

[HermitGirl]

Stacey ~ That's crazy about the rabbits ! Hey, I rode again on Friday, very short, I was *very* sore from Thursday. Two days in a row. I think I'll rest on the weekends (just hike) and start up on the MtnBike again on Monday. My bike is perched on our deck, there everytime I look out, I won't forget about it !!!!!!

[HermitGirl]

Okay, so the weekend and Monday have passed. My saddle soreness almost nonexistant now.

I remember about 20 years ago, after I'd been off my bikes for a few years, right before I got into riding and got a job at a LBS. I was 32 and felt I'd let myself go so far out of shape, and truly believed I could never get in shape again. I recall some encouraging words from a friend who was a rider, said " It only takes a couple of weeks , like, to make a big difference and then it all comes back " Not long after than, I trained hard in the cycling crowd and got in tip top race shape, far, far better fitness than ever in my whole life. I was about 33 and held on to that for about 5 years.

Well, I'm 48 now, and I have no expectation as to where I could go with this, but I know I could surprise myself. I just got off my mtn bike for the third time since starting up again last week. Just little tiny rides around my house, with my dog running along... and today i feel much stronger. It only takes a little bit, baby steps indeed, then I remember how my bliss lies in riding hard. I know I'll get there again.

[staceysue]

I had forgotten I ever loved to ride, but when I was a kid I rode my bike everywhere. I remember at the beginning of the summer how my butt would be so sore and I could barely make it up the hills and then a couple of weeks later I'd be so happy because I "got used to it" again.

It's funny how, as adults, we tend to beat ourselves up when it hurts. As kids we just said "that's enough riding for today" and never pushed ourselves at all. We just kept doing more and more because it was so much fun.