I have had a couple of down days lately; just feeling a bit more tired and needing more nap time. At the same time I am starting to work into an exercise routine. I have been taking the girls to the park. While they play on the swings and slides, I walk loops around the playground on chipped bark. It is great for me since it is soft and irregular. Padding and balance work, perfect. The legs are getting stronger but my feet are starting to feel a bit hammered. Also I have some more rib pain creeping back.
Despite all this yesterday, I threw my leg over my spin bike. For those that don't know, that is a sort of a stationary bike that is used in gyms for "spin" classes. I only pedaled for about 3-5 minutes to try it out. I was wearing jeans after all. But it felt great. I set the resistance at nil and just did circles with the platform pedals. Uncle Mike D. was there to spot me but I was really OK on my own. The bike is very stable and the stand over is really low, so it was easy to get on and off. I can't tell you how good it felt to do that oh so familiar motion. You cyclists out there know what I am talking about, the zen feeling of moving your legs around and around. It was a real spirit booster.
My last real bike ride was on winter solstice Dec. 21st of last year. I am not sure if it is realistic and I am going to talk to my docs about it but I think that I am going to set the goal of that anniversary for my first day back on the bike. I am thinking one lap on the side walk around HLP .
So it is official, I just broke months long silence, this is a blog about biking again, well, at least me biking. You've got to know that I think about riding all the time. I have been craving Mountain Biking at Cronan Ranch but that is still far away. Maybe in the spring. I daydream a lot about some of the great rides I've done. This morning I was thinking of the time that Curtis, Tom and I rode to Coloma from Jackson on a bluebird fall day. One way shuttle rides are the best! I am really looking forward to having enough endurance to do a 20 mile ride. I would love to go down to Lincoln and ride the flat country roads down there. Of course, there would be a stop at that great taqueria just off the main drag for a super burrito with extra guacamole.
The transition is happening, I am talking and thinking about things other than cancer more and more.
Got a favorite ride of ride memory? I'd love to hear it! Chime in.
8 comments:
Favorite one is for sure my first Death Ride with you buddy!
Just after that comes Grasshopper's Kings Ridge. Check'em out online, great road and mountain rides barely organized and super grassroots.
So exiting to hear you talk about exercising.
Your first ride: I wanna be there; pretty amazing for a 1yr old!
Un abrazo, pantani.
Hmmm, Henningsen-Lotus IS a good first ride place - January I took Jordan's training wheels off her bike the day she turned 5 (at her request). I anticipated a lot of falls and shakiness, but she just hopped on and rode while I ran my tail off behind her! You could have quite a peloton riding with you if you want... I never get tired of watching or riding with the peloton of tiny folks at the park.
One of my favorite riding memories is when I lived in Chicago and was a bike commuter. I lived on the north side on the lake and rode along the shore into the city, going from parks and neighborhoods into that forest of concrete and steel. I loved that transition, feeling energized and in touch with the season and the weather, not frazzled from traffic or an over-full train. I loved the nods or waves from fellow riders, feeling a part of this group that lived just a little outside the rest. It was a great way to start and end the day. Thanks for bringing it back!
love you, Spence!
H
spencer back on the bike!!!!! great to hear! I think my favorite riding is when I do it in conjunction with my work-setting shuttles or retrieving shuttles from the nugget. just me, combining work with workout, being efficient and saving $50 to go on a bike ride-pretty cool.
tom f
...said it before; "you are a cyclist, sir", so i fully agree w/ the others...how wonderful that the opportunity for the interest & desire is again starting to predominate...
...your velo loco boys, jerry, patrick & matt plus matt's dad stan dropped into the bay area, today, sunday for some serious cyclo-cross action in golden gate park...
...great to hook up w/ 'em...
...they can tell you about results but i saw 'em all workin' it & i was glad to yell, cheer & give props to velo loco...& remind 'em to dig a little deeper for our buddy spencer rubin...
...anyway...glad you're starting on the trainer & glad you're focusing down the road, both literally & figuratively...
...if anyone is gonna make the best of their situation, you're that man...
...my best, sir...
At the cross race mentioned above, Jerry and I both remembered one of our firs and most favorite outings with Velo Loco. I don't think I had done five rides yet with you guys and I showed up for a ride around Folsom Lake. Well we were doing the standard LoCo thing heading down Auburn Folsom Rd. Come to think of it that may have been the ride that I flatted like four times in the same spot and then broke the pump of the nice guy that stopped and helped. But anyway back to the ride. We were coming down Auburn/Folsom Rd and absolutely ate up a Cycle Training dot Com group (all in full kits). We were pretty hodgepodge and I felt pretty happy to be part of that group. You will get a full CX report in tomorrows Tues Ride email!
MB
From Napa out to Pope Valley, helping tip the motorcyclist back upright after he wiped out in a corner descending to Lake Berryessa, then climbing back up the Ink Grade, descending into St. Helena and the Silverado with you and Adam, who was suffering like a mad monk. I have a picture of Adam lying flat on his back on a picnic table bench with 32 miles left to go while you are smiling and eating one of the biggest cheeseburgers I've ever seen. That was a great ride. See you soon!
-M
I have had many great rides, but have to say I love riding the bike so much that every day I get to ride is a great ride. Today that would be a mountian bike ride with my friends Lous, and Dieter in Nevada City. Look forward to riding with you soon Spencer. Randy
My favorite ride ever was the one I fell in love with Seth on in the Santa Cruz mountains. I'll never forget the day. Now we have these little grommets that are riding Magnolia/Cronan Ranch/Dave Moore. Can't wait to get out there & go on some family rides, we sure are lucky to have kiddos that love the bike as much as we do! XO Noel
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