No really...

Today is the first day in several days that I actually felt like raising my head off the pillow. Seems a little unfair that on a 5 day weekend, I spent most of it glued to the sofa. But today, I was determined to get some kind of ride in..I go stir crazy if I don't get on my bike.

I should have known something was up when I went out to grab the Single speed...the low airp ressure in the back tire should have been some indication. Instead, I air up the tire, and decide to leave my floor pump at home - not really sure why I did that. I mean - I drive an Element - its not like I have to be efficient with my use of space - but I chose to do it anyway.

Off I go - I arrive at the Alpine Inn with such high hopes for the completion of my singlespeed ride - I get everything ready, pull the bike out - and there it was..the full on flat. Awesome - now I am 30 minutes from home, no floor pump, and one spare tube. I race through options. See, the trick is I have to be home by noon today. I am actually trying to squeeze a ride in during the "off hours" as I call them - namely the hours when the family is a sleep and I don't risk missing a "honey do" item...

I race through my options - I could try to change the tube - I have a spare in my camel back - but a hand pump.hmmm...a possibility. I dig around in my camel back only to find that I have no tire tools. The day is getting better by the minute. "buck up Ren" I think to myself - go home, change the tube, get an hour's ride in..not the greatest, but its better than nothing.



When I got home, things didn't get any better. Still no tire tools, and the seat bag for my road bike (always have tire tools there) seems to have disappeared. I start to laugh ..you know that laugh..the one of complete disbelief? "No really..." I think to myself "what did I do to deserve this this morning"... I have 7 bikes in my garage - 5 of them rideable today - so what's the problem you ask? if you are a cyclist, you know that there were several signs this morning that I was unprepared. Not having tire tools is a SURE fire way to get a flat on a ride. and as much as I love riding, I have tried to learn from my mistakes over the years. So, here I sit, typing on a keyboard, cleaning my office, trying to find tire tools, knowing the bike shop opens in an hour, but too late for me to get the ride in today.

Guess I will try again tomorrow....

Age...

Age is an interesting thing...as Children we do everything we can to get older - as adults we do everything we can to stop the process. its a funny thing to watch with Mia - she ages daily - both in years and in wisdom. Pretty amazing child.

My BODY on the other hand, is not aging so gracefully. one day, Mia wanted to count "menay's boo boos.." all but one scar (well two if you count the one where my brother hit me with a golf club) are all from cycling. Bones drilled, plates screwed in..whatever - when I get a boo boo I make sure its a good one.

I have been fortunate that my knees have always held out. Not really sure why or how they have, but they have - until now. They suddenly have decided to show me that I am in fact getting older. This fascination I have with riding my bikes in less than perfect conditions - hopping off, running and jumping over barriers - not exactly what some might call -oh...smart. but I love it - its intrinsic to my happiness - but not to my knees and their happiness.

This morning as I get ready for my next 'Cross race - my pack regimen made me sit down and write...
helmet - Check
arm warmers - Check
Kit - check
Knee warmers - check
advil - Check
Glucosamine- Check
Naproxin - Check

and I tuck everyting into my mouse back and go about my day. Yes - I am sure I will pay for much of what I have done to my body as I get older. ...older than today. Yet another good reason for marriage - I have someone to help me around the house - and I think she knows it.

Growing old gracefully was not something I ever thought seriously about. Oh- I will do the best I can, but I am going to blow it out on my way there.

..now I gotta go race my bike...

Oh...here I am again...

after almost 3 years...I am starting this thing back up again..Why? well - A few days ago, Tif said - "I wish you would start writing" - I laughed it off - but then I rode my bike today, and it all made sense again.

A few days ago, I bought a single speed...not because they are the "in thing", but because I am trying to move as far away as possible from Road racing. anyway - destiny was in my favor, and Lauren was selling hers. Off I went to pick it up.

This morning, I finally got to ride it. yep - I took it to the most perfect place for a 40 yr old body to take a Single Speed - Arastredero and easy hills. At 7:30, I rolled into the parking lot - frost covering the wooden fences. Geese, flying in formation reminded me where the idea of drafting came from. So I bundled up, hopped on my new trusty steed - and headed out.

As adults, right now, there are so many things going on in the world that take us away from being children. I firmly believe that most of us ride our bike (or at least started again) because of that inherent attachment to childhood - cruising down the street or the hill - not a care in the world -just having a great time. no fear of falling - no fear that tomorrow the recession will over take us..no fear that tomorrow - a constitutional amendment will be enacted to discriminate against us. We want that feeling - we want the escape..and while I often lose myself in my ride - today I was truly taken back to what cycling as a kid was all about.

There were no gears on my first BMX bike - I had a pair of Oakley handlebar grips..yeah - I really did. a red Raleigh Rampar Bike, Kusuki Gooseneck...lord knows what handlebars. Dont' even know what cranks, wheels, or pedals I had. how funny is that? - these days, I read the fine print about everything - Shimano XTR, or SRAM XO? Dura Ace or Red? what wheels? blah blah blah.. Today I remembered what it was like just to go out and ride...instinctually at times my thumb did try to shift - but in general - I just enjoyed being out there with nothing to worry about.

Ah..winter mtn biking...sunny warmth..freezing shade...the things that make childhood come back so quickly - and give me so much to write about... :)

its good to be doing this again.