Friday, April 6, 2007

Cyclist? Bike Enthusiast?

Alright. Do I need to define myself? Am I a cyclist if I'm not competitive? Am I a bike enthusiast if I ride for more than just the scenery?
I started riding a bike when I thought that I wanted a leisurely ride on Saturday morning down to the beach. I got a rusty old beach cruiser. Replaced the tires, re-packed the bearings, and got a new seat. Now I call the seat a saddle. I gave the cruiser away when I got my hybrid. I thought that riding to the beach would be more fun if I went a little faster, if the bike held together better, I could go farther. I could explore more. I found that I liked going faster and I got a bike computer to tell me how fast and how far.
Then came the road bike. A co-worker of mine found a Cannondale SR900 among thousands of beer cans in a forclosure property. He got $800 worth of recycling, and I got the bike and a mechanic's stand. I cleaned it, replaced the pedals, and got a new saddle. Now I can go even faster, I feel like I could go farther, and I can really start to build technique and a body that lycra wouldn't embarass.
Is this what I want out of cycling? Can I exist in two camps of bike riding? I want to lose more weight and am well on my way. I want to ride to work, and to do that, I need to build up my cycling endurance. So, is it bad to train on the road bike and then choose the hybrid for commuting?
I can't stand the gym anymore. Being stationary sucks. I think the only way to figure out what keeps me riding is to just keep riding. Not worry about which bike as long as I am on a bike.

I found a new barber. His name is David and cuts hair in Culver City at George's on Sepulveda. He's been racing bikes for years. When I asked him how to train and get better, he said, "Go from where you get on the path all the way down. Pass Manhattan Beach. Go to Palos Verdes, up the hill by Trump's golf course and come back. Do that every weekend for a year, and then maybe you will be ready for a club ride."

I think I'll stop wondering, and just keep riding.