Share the Road - Training #19

June 9, 2005

The gear has arrived...and all that entails. The bike is now fully loaded with computers (two ride monitors that gauge time, distance, speed, heart rate and probably about 10,000 other things I don't understand yet), v-bars that stick straight out -- giving me the opportunity to ride forward -- though in my first attempt at it today it didn't do much for me -- new water bottle holders and I had my new shoes that clip in (as opposed to the slip-ins I had before). So today was...experimental. I had a hard time at first as much of my equipment didn't seem to be working. There were just a few adjustments that needed to happen in order to make them go. By the end of the ride, all was well...I think. The shoes are nice -- not as big of a change as I thought they might have been. I've been told I will fall. That's nice. The biggest thing of note for me was my fatigue. I've had two days off this week (sandwiched around a short ride) and I felt sluggish. I had some sort of illness yesterday and we've been on the road quite a bit -- Vegas turnaround trip plus the excitement when sis was here. All that adds up to...take it easy on m'self. I'll get out again tomorrow for a better ride I'm sure. Not sure where I'll go yet. I am taking the bike up to the Bay Area this weekend. That will be good as I can test some roads like Mt. Diablo again and see what they feel like this time around. All good -- spin on! June 10, 2005 Took a nice two hour, 35 mile spin up to San Ramon from my folks place today. The technology on my bike is becoming more familiar to me, though this thought came to me today: regardless of technology, you still have to sweat. And that's the truth, Ruth! Tomorrow I might give myself a little longer stretch -- we'll see. Could challenge Mt. Diablo again. I was near the back (south) side entrance this morning, but didn't want to over do it as there are things to take care of this morning for the Boys of Summer screening. In fact, I think it's time to hop on some of those right now. June 12, 2005 A short jaunt through Pleasant Hill and Lafayette this morning. I got a late start and, frankly, wanted to spend time with my folks and my Uncle Bill -- he's a "pisser".  I felt a bit disoriented today, actually. I think the biggest part of that has to do with time -- when I can't connect with my ride because I'm so concerned about where I'm going, I get lost (in my head). When I release time as an important factor and engage in the moment -- ride for the sake of riding, that's when things are zen. June 13, 2005 We're down to less than two weeks before we hit it. Got in 35 this morning down to the beach -- felt good once I got going. There's a definite difference between logging miles and adventuring. Logging miles is doing the work for the sake of the work. Necessary sometimes as I only have a restricted amount of time and my body needs the work to have me ready to achieve the higher goal, cycling as part of the Health Awareness Team. Adventuring is where my heart is. That's when time goes away. That's when I see everything for what it is and "the road" opens up in front of me incredibly. That's what I want to share with everyone with this documentary -- possibility! That lends to inspiration -- and if I can offer that, I feel great.