Ok, so I don't carry my plastic bottles home from places that don't have recycling bins and I haven't figured out a practical way for me to commute the 30 miles to work yet. But, I have readied my hybrid so that I can take it to pick up the onions I forgot at the grocery store down the street or return the Red Box movie to the local Walgreen's. I thought it was good way to get a few more minutes of exercise in during the week besides my road rides and spin classes, plus it was smart for the environment.
So, today, I wanted to pick up a couple of frozen pizzas for dinner to save the delivery fees. So, after slinging my daughter's old backpack on my back, rubber-banding my right leg of my jeans, I set out to ride the two miles to Safeway. Feeling proud of myself, I make it to the Safeway--a misnomer because the way through's Safeway parking lot was ANYTHING but safe. Filling station traffic was pulling UP the DOWN aisle and because motorists don't expect to see a bicycle, they just dart up and down and in and out without looking. But, because Queen Creek is not exactly the Portland of Maricopa County when it comes to commuters, I forgive them these drivers this.
I make my way to the front of Safeway, looking for a bike rack, a signpost, a railing SOMETHING that I can lock my bike to. There's no bike rack. No railing. Nothing.
After fighting the urge to just walk into the store with my bike, or better yet, just cruise on in ON my bike, I decide to lock it to the line of shopping carts that are not being used. To some unknowing soul, it must have looked like I was trying to steal either the bike or line of carts as I was trying to weave my horseshoe lock through the myriad of spokes and rails whilst maintaining my bike in an upright position. Aaargh!
Finally, I won the wrestling match and headed into the store. I found my pizzas being careful not to choose a brand that would exceed the size of my backpack. After the check-out clerk rang each item, I shoved it into my backpack; Once again, the looks I received brought to mind the expression on a person watching a homeless person groom him or herself in front of a store window or a a teenager in a beat up old car poorly parallel parking in a tight spot.
I offered no explanation to the puzzled clerk, thanked her and made my way out to my bike which, in my absence, must have gotten weary of leaning against the shopping carts and took a tumble onto the sidewalk. Sigh.
It wasn't long though before I was on my way. As I wheeled down the sidewalk toward home, the late day sunshine on my face, I felt satisfied with my little jaunt. Who knows? I may make that commute to work someday afterall!
Next week, I'm going to shop for a basket!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
What does a Happy Baby and a Crow have to do with cycling?
Do you ever have issues with your neck, hamstrings, shoulders or back when you are on your bike for long hours or are riding four or five days a week? Well, I do.
I have developed creaks and snaps that are often calmed a little by massages or chiropractic adjustments but preventing these seems to be the key. And, an elusive element.
I wonder why yoga has not been linked more frequently to cycling. The stretching and lengthening of muscles is not only healthy for your body all the way around, but it just plain feels good. I really believe that yoga can also make you a better cyclist.
True, it's tough, especially in the winter, to find the time to ride your bike AND fit in a one-hour yoga class, not to mention the $$ to pay for another activity, but folks, this one really benefits the entire body.
During a one-hour yoga class, muscle groups are put to the test of lengthening, building strength and stretching out--the exact contrary of what cycling does to them--often constricting them and holding them in a static position for long periods of time.
Another benefit is the breathing work. Yoga is all about breathing and focusing. Lung capacity is grown over time and peace and focus are not just biproducts, but are objectives.
It also benefits the mind and soul...by the way.
I go to LA Fitness in my neighborhood and am always amazed at how completely relaxed I feel afterwards. www.lafitness.com
So add yoga to your regimen of training--Leave me a comment about what YOUR favorite pose is...I love Happy Baby pose.
I have developed creaks and snaps that are often calmed a little by massages or chiropractic adjustments but preventing these seems to be the key. And, an elusive element.
I wonder why yoga has not been linked more frequently to cycling. The stretching and lengthening of muscles is not only healthy for your body all the way around, but it just plain feels good. I really believe that yoga can also make you a better cyclist.
True, it's tough, especially in the winter, to find the time to ride your bike AND fit in a one-hour yoga class, not to mention the $$ to pay for another activity, but folks, this one really benefits the entire body.
During a one-hour yoga class, muscle groups are put to the test of lengthening, building strength and stretching out--the exact contrary of what cycling does to them--often constricting them and holding them in a static position for long periods of time.
Another benefit is the breathing work. Yoga is all about breathing and focusing. Lung capacity is grown over time and peace and focus are not just biproducts, but are objectives.
It also benefits the mind and soul...by the way.
I go to LA Fitness in my neighborhood and am always amazed at how completely relaxed I feel afterwards. www.lafitness.com
So add yoga to your regimen of training--Leave me a comment about what YOUR favorite pose is...I love Happy Baby pose.
Monday, January 4, 2010
TT - Training Time!
I ride all year. I promised myself that when I grew stronger, I would never let myself lose that strength. One would think that after completing not one, not two, but three centuries in 2009, the last one being in October, that strength had come to rest in my body for good.
Not so.
At 48 years old, one can't take anything for granted, least of all the strength one accumulates from training hard, long and frequently.
So having taken the easy paths in November and December, here I find myself once again staring down the next century with trepidation and doubt.
In the next twelve weeks, I will be blogging about my training in preparation for the bike MS: Round-Up Ride held in Florence, Arizona. I will speak about my training successes, failures, nutrition, routes, scenery, pals, training rides, and anything else I learn about or find worthy of passing on.
I hope you will comment, leave feedback, add two-cents or more as you see fit.
This past weekend, I decided to ride with a new group. When starting out, riding with a group was painfully frightening for me. Will I be able to keep up? What if I fall behind? What if I can't clip in at a red light? What if I bonk? What if someone shoves me and I fall? and on and on ad nauseum. I joined this beginner group to meet some folks and to just get back on the bike after a week of not riding. I recruited my friend, Peggy, to ride with me. She is someone I drag along on my exploits and she's a great sport. We met with the group of about 12 and although I glanced at the route, I didn't know it by heart. It was short and flat so I wasn't worried about staying with the group. Arizona's sun has decided it would shine this day after hiding much of the last previous week so the weather was a perfect 70 degrees. We took off from a store in Gilbert called Global Bikes and rode in a group for the entire 20+ miles.
As always there are people who amaze me. This ride was no different. In front of me was a young boy of no more than 10 years old. He was on a Giant road bike and had full gear, including Look clipless pedals. Because it was a beginner ride, I expected we wouldn't be travelling any faster than about 13 but after the mid-point, the leader took off a little faster to average about 14 or 15 mph. This young man kept up without a hitch. He used all of the proper hand signals, was good at maintaining his pace without lunging forward or dropping back and was an overall awesome example of a strong beginner cyclist.
As usual, I had issues. If it's not one thing with me, it's another and this time, it was my chain. I had remembered to clean my chain as I had learned from Mike Cox at a recent clinic, but forgot to lube it afterwards. So, my chain slipped and I had to stop to put it back on. It was then that I met Ladonna, a woman beginner cyclist who looked at me with wide eyes to ask what happened to my bike when I stopped. After catching back up to the group, I explained my chain had fallen off. "And, you know how to fix that?" She asked with amazement? There was certainly a time that I would have thought my ride was over with this tiny act. Thankfully, most times, I can get it back on without stopping. This time, however, I had to maually put it back on.
Later on, we talked about changing tires, chains falling off, missing clip screws etc. Thank goodness shops like Global Bikes hold organized clinics to teach newbies these things. They are essential to feel independent, capable and competent during solo rides or rides with groups of any size.
It is doubtful that I will be on a slow, small ride like this in a group again soon as I will be ramping up my miles. But I sure am grateful for patient ride leaders such as Chris on this ride who really help new riders gain that confidence needed to move forward.
Until next ride...
TTY
Tailwinds to you...
Not so.
At 48 years old, one can't take anything for granted, least of all the strength one accumulates from training hard, long and frequently.
So having taken the easy paths in November and December, here I find myself once again staring down the next century with trepidation and doubt.
In the next twelve weeks, I will be blogging about my training in preparation for the bike MS: Round-Up Ride held in Florence, Arizona. I will speak about my training successes, failures, nutrition, routes, scenery, pals, training rides, and anything else I learn about or find worthy of passing on.
I hope you will comment, leave feedback, add two-cents or more as you see fit.
This past weekend, I decided to ride with a new group. When starting out, riding with a group was painfully frightening for me. Will I be able to keep up? What if I fall behind? What if I can't clip in at a red light? What if I bonk? What if someone shoves me and I fall? and on and on ad nauseum. I joined this beginner group to meet some folks and to just get back on the bike after a week of not riding. I recruited my friend, Peggy, to ride with me. She is someone I drag along on my exploits and she's a great sport. We met with the group of about 12 and although I glanced at the route, I didn't know it by heart. It was short and flat so I wasn't worried about staying with the group. Arizona's sun has decided it would shine this day after hiding much of the last previous week so the weather was a perfect 70 degrees. We took off from a store in Gilbert called Global Bikes and rode in a group for the entire 20+ miles.
As always there are people who amaze me. This ride was no different. In front of me was a young boy of no more than 10 years old. He was on a Giant road bike and had full gear, including Look clipless pedals. Because it was a beginner ride, I expected we wouldn't be travelling any faster than about 13 but after the mid-point, the leader took off a little faster to average about 14 or 15 mph. This young man kept up without a hitch. He used all of the proper hand signals, was good at maintaining his pace without lunging forward or dropping back and was an overall awesome example of a strong beginner cyclist.
As usual, I had issues. If it's not one thing with me, it's another and this time, it was my chain. I had remembered to clean my chain as I had learned from Mike Cox at a recent clinic, but forgot to lube it afterwards. So, my chain slipped and I had to stop to put it back on. It was then that I met Ladonna, a woman beginner cyclist who looked at me with wide eyes to ask what happened to my bike when I stopped. After catching back up to the group, I explained my chain had fallen off. "And, you know how to fix that?" She asked with amazement? There was certainly a time that I would have thought my ride was over with this tiny act. Thankfully, most times, I can get it back on without stopping. This time, however, I had to maually put it back on.
Later on, we talked about changing tires, chains falling off, missing clip screws etc. Thank goodness shops like Global Bikes hold organized clinics to teach newbies these things. They are essential to feel independent, capable and competent during solo rides or rides with groups of any size.
It is doubtful that I will be on a slow, small ride like this in a group again soon as I will be ramping up my miles. But I sure am grateful for patient ride leaders such as Chris on this ride who really help new riders gain that confidence needed to move forward.
Until next ride...
TTY
Tailwinds to you...
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