Yo. After such a triumphant accomplishment that was the MS150, I let myself go. Haven't biked to work in months, blamed it on the rain, and worst of all, I neglected my bike.
Friday night I got off my 15lb heavier ass and gave the bike a good once-over. It didn't even seem mad at me. Took the (very) light layer of grime off the bike. Lubed the chain, cables, pedals, and dérailleurs. Greased the seat tube, and pedal threads. Wiped the whole thing down. Checked the tires.
Found a couple of punctures, but the sidewalls are holding up fine. I have these Slime tubes which make the bike ride a bit heavier cause you're spinning goo within the tires, but I know it's saved me from a couple of gnarly flats. Dunno. Maybe replace the tires and put in normal tubes? Eh.
The thing I need to get back is my motivation. After last year's Acura LA bike tour, I was so jazzed about going 22 miles and getting a medal, that I formed a team and signed up for the MS150. Train, train, hate, train, love, train, train, love, hate, indifference, love.... MS150.
After it was all over, I went into my LBS and saw what would be my next bike, a Torelli Countach. Italian steel. Lighter than my aluminum Cannondale. Ahh to dream.
Then...
I sat down on the couch.
The next few months will be retraining my body to love the bike. Retraining my brain to love 6:00 am. Retraining my motivation to know that 40 miles is a nice Sunday ride.
Stay tuned...
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1 comment:
Hey Bob,
Cool blog! Thanks. So I bought a bike this past year with the intention of occasionally riding to work (about six miles each way -- not too many hills) and of course I haven't "yet". I realized that with the hours I work I'll be riding home each night in the dark -- why I didn't realize that it gets dark at night BEFORE I bought the bike, I don't really understand. It's not that I'm afraid of the dark per se, it's just that I'm afraid of cars in the dark. It's been a good excuse for me so far, so please don't burst my bubble. Anyway, I thought I'd add to your mathematical explanation for not biking: Rain + Malaise + Good Intentions = FAT + Guilt.
Thanks again,
Bob
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