Saturday, August 9, 2008
Todays ride.
No camera the last 2 rides. Just want to ride hard and get my muscles ready for climbing mountains. The other day we rode 11.6 miles. Did Adams and the long loop from over climb to over climb. Today we rode to Leeds and back. It was a lovely ride. Beautiful weather and wouldn't you know it a head wind all the way back. I drank the Cytomax and it seemed to help. My IBS kicked in though so hope its not from the drink. Would hate to be in the boonies and have to go. Note to self. Bring biodegradable tissue, LOL. The ride today was short. Only a little over 7 miles. We are not practicing enough but I had plenty of reserve today, just not enough time so we will be OK. We don't have to break speed records. Just have fun.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Todays ride
It was so hot. We are always so slow to get started in the morning. Which means we ride during the hottest part of the day. I have the burn to prove it. I burn, then it goes away, burn etc.... It never turns into a tan. I really need to get some sun screen.
Today we went 12.9 miles. I am getting discouraged at how slow our progress is. Yes I am riding in 3rd gear most of the time. Yes I am going further but I had to use my inhaler again and it is slow going getting my body in shape. I truly wish I had never ever smoked. 30+ years of being a heavy smoker have come to haunt me. I think with my leg muscles I could ride forever but my lungs give out after about 11 miles and it is a struggle. I hate using my inhaler because it gives me mouth sores. So seriously, if you smoke quit. You will so regret it when your my age.
The positive part of the ride today. Our average speed is better. Over 12 mph which isn't bad considering we were 8.7 last week. If it hadn't been so hot today I could have easily rode another 10 to 15 miles. Unfortunately my head is so burnt I feel terrible with a hangover type headache. My legs feel strong and ready to go the distance. My toe is throbbing and I have been having charlie horses in my broke toe which has been a small not so silent hell for me. Have you ever felt the ends of bone rubbing together. I need to tape them better so the bone doesn't move. It will never heal at this rate.
Of course we ended with a very cold wheat beer. Yes I know. I was giving them up. But it did make the toe feel better and wheat beer goes great with my sunburnt face.
I am thinking of starting a bike riding club for plus size people. Children, men, women, you name it. Loose and without weight loss being the main objective. Just riding and getting healthy. I know lots of people who would ride more if they had someone to ride with. I probably wouldn't ride as much without Rick to go with me. It would motivate me. Plus the more I rode the more calories I would burn. So I am giving that some serious thought. We can get tee-shirts and the whole thing if it goes over well. If I had to lead a group I couldn't come up with any excuses not to ride, right!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Broken Toe Ride
I decided to see how riding would go with my broken toe and was pleased to see that riding is much easier then walking at this point. Since I wasn't sure how it would go we planned a short ride today. We rode 9.5 miles. Today I want to go much further. We started in South Dakota at the park.
The weather was perfect for a ride...well it could have been slightly less windy but otherwise just great. It was wonderful to be moving without pain from my toe. You start out in a neighborhood but after a mile your in cool tree lined trails.
The path is crushed gravel which is OK to ride on but my tires were a little overfilled and the front tire wanted to slide out on me around curves. So I had to watch my poor little toe. There are a couple of places by the river to rest and adjust your bike.
And you can see Chief War Eagles Grave on the bluff.
The next stop has a small building that I think is for taking pictures or just watching wildlife. I don't think it is for hunting as there is a campground right across the river. Anyway it is pretty cool.
All the windows had spider webs.
There are all kind of plants and flowers by the river including our local marijuana plants. They don't bother to cut it down as it is known as ditch weed and isn't the kind anyone would want to smoke. Neat leaves though and some pretty flowers on the other plants.
Since the weather was so nice people and cattle were enjoying the river
On the way back we saw a path down to the river so did some off trail riding. Bumpy and since I went first I had the unpleasant task of breaking down the spider webs. Going down wasn't bad but it was steep going up. At the bottom was just a couple of shots that looked pretty but would be great for fishing.
We then drove to town and went to an antique car show. Ricks relative was showing his old car that Rick laid carpet in. I had left my camera in the car and didn't want to hobble back and get it so no pictures but there were some great cars and live music. After that we went home and Rick grilled me some chicken and we sat outside and had dinner and wine. A good day. Zoey of course was begging the entire time.
The weather was perfect for a ride...well it could have been slightly less windy but otherwise just great. It was wonderful to be moving without pain from my toe. You start out in a neighborhood but after a mile your in cool tree lined trails.
The path is crushed gravel which is OK to ride on but my tires were a little overfilled and the front tire wanted to slide out on me around curves. So I had to watch my poor little toe. There are a couple of places by the river to rest and adjust your bike.
And you can see Chief War Eagles Grave on the bluff.
The next stop has a small building that I think is for taking pictures or just watching wildlife. I don't think it is for hunting as there is a campground right across the river. Anyway it is pretty cool.
All the windows had spider webs.
There are all kind of plants and flowers by the river including our local marijuana plants. They don't bother to cut it down as it is known as ditch weed and isn't the kind anyone would want to smoke. Neat leaves though and some pretty flowers on the other plants.
Since the weather was so nice people and cattle were enjoying the river
On the way back we saw a path down to the river so did some off trail riding. Bumpy and since I went first I had the unpleasant task of breaking down the spider webs. Going down wasn't bad but it was steep going up. At the bottom was just a couple of shots that looked pretty but would be great for fishing.
We then drove to town and went to an antique car show. Ricks relative was showing his old car that Rick laid carpet in. I had left my camera in the car and didn't want to hobble back and get it so no pictures but there were some great cars and live music. After that we went home and Rick grilled me some chicken and we sat outside and had dinner and wine. A good day. Zoey of course was begging the entire time.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
another ride
I didn't take pictures today. I am just training now and trying to ride as hard and fast as possible and get my legs muscles built up. But we did good. Twice as far and in the hardest speed as that builds up the muscles.
I was just bragging about how I thought my asthma was cured. I think my lungs are as good as they used to be. Wham, wheezing and gasping for breath. Of course as soon as I rounded a hill there were people at the top. When your heavy you do think about the impression you make, and you don't mean a good impression. So I rode on puffing on my inhaler and soon was able to breath again. Good clean air, deep grateful breaths.
I was just bragging about how I thought my asthma was cured. I think my lungs are as good as they used to be. Wham, wheezing and gasping for breath. Of course as soon as I rounded a hill there were people at the top. When your heavy you do think about the impression you make, and you don't mean a good impression. So I rode on puffing on my inhaler and soon was able to breath again. Good clean air, deep grateful breaths.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
A better ride
I must admit it has been slow getting started on our riding. But I think we are getting there. Today's ride went better. I didn't get rubber legs this time and we doubled our distance plus more important I am back riding in the gear I was in last year with is the 3rd gear usually around 3 to 5. I can tell my legs are stronger. We rode the South Sioux bike trail which I must admit isn't that hilly but it was very windy. The head wind is a killer.
We like the trail though town as it goes right down the middle of neighborhoods.
Poor Rick as usual gets slowed down by my pictures.
When we cut through the high school I saw this poor hawk getting swooped on by these 2 birds. They were probably protecting their nests.
It looked big enough to take care of itself though
They have this weird trail by the school made of recycled tires. Spongy feeling and smells.
It was hot today and I forgot my sunscreen. Since I have had to have some pre-cancerous moles removed that wasn't the brightest thing and I could tell I was burning already. Still I was having a great time. I have mentioned I love to ride?
This trail ends at the lake. We stopped at the dock.
In the water you could see all these small bluegill.
They are a pain when your fishing as they nibble your bait off and aren't any fun to catch. Except for the kids love it. They hide in the seaweed.
We took the long way back and looked for some sprinklers to ride through but no one has to water with all the rain we have been having. Bummer. So we stopped by the river at one of the sand beaches.
We left our bikes on the grass and went down to soak our feet. I love riding in croc's because you can just walk on in.
Then we sat on the bank and rested while my feet dried. It was lovely out.
So that was our ride. 2 months to get ready for the Black Hills. I can't wait.
We like the trail though town as it goes right down the middle of neighborhoods.
Poor Rick as usual gets slowed down by my pictures.
When we cut through the high school I saw this poor hawk getting swooped on by these 2 birds. They were probably protecting their nests.
It looked big enough to take care of itself though
They have this weird trail by the school made of recycled tires. Spongy feeling and smells.
It was hot today and I forgot my sunscreen. Since I have had to have some pre-cancerous moles removed that wasn't the brightest thing and I could tell I was burning already. Still I was having a great time. I have mentioned I love to ride?
This trail ends at the lake. We stopped at the dock.
In the water you could see all these small bluegill.
They are a pain when your fishing as they nibble your bait off and aren't any fun to catch. Except for the kids love it. They hide in the seaweed.
We took the long way back and looked for some sprinklers to ride through but no one has to water with all the rain we have been having. Bummer. So we stopped by the river at one of the sand beaches.
We left our bikes on the grass and went down to soak our feet. I love riding in croc's because you can just walk on in.
Then we sat on the bank and rested while my feet dried. It was lovely out.
So that was our ride. 2 months to get ready for the Black Hills. I can't wait.
Monday, June 30, 2008
yesterday's ride
When I was young my mom used to tell me to get my nose out of my book and go out and play. Life goes by to swiftly she would say to just read about it. Go and live it. I couldn't really understand that as a child but as an adult I can. It both frightens and stimulates me now how fast time goes by. I have trouble sitting idly by not doing anything because what if...what if this is the last day of my life and I wasted it not smelling flowers or looking at the blue of the sky reflected in the darker blue of the water. What if I missed that infectious laugh of a child chasing a kite or the tender look exchanged by a long time married couple. What if this is the last nice day to ride my bike.
It has been raining and storming off and on for days. I am tired of waiting for a perfect bike riding day. Any day will have to do. Today will have to do. High winds, cool breeze. Maybe get rained on. Maybe get really tired. But I want to do it regardless. So I am loaded up on water, my batteries to my camera are loaded. I have checked the air in my tires and I will soon be off. See ya all later.
We rode out at Adam's and it was perfect. Windy but perfect.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
First ride of the year
Bike riding tip number 1. Never...and I mean never take months off without doing any sort of exercise and expect to ride like you used to. Yikes. I was sure I was having a heart attack a couple of times and we only went 7.6 miles.
The weather felt warm until we were actually riding. I was not dressed warm enough initially. I needed a hat, gloves and something around my neck. Fortunately.....well maybe not, being in such terrible shape I soon worked up a heck of a sweat.
Why is you always meet people on the trails when you are climbing an incline. Gasping for breath and beet red in the face I breathlessly gasp out....to your left, and ring my bell. What?, they ask, as my voice was barely above a whisper. Left!, I wheeze and that is all I can manage. With a look of alarm they leap to the side....visions of how to do the CPR they learned 10 years ago running through their brains. I am always a vision when I ride. Of what I can only imagine. Being fair skinned it doesn't take much to turn me bright red.
I am doomed I think. Visions of climbing huge massive mountains in the black hills loom darkly before my eyes. Why oh why did I slack off on my working out. What was I thinking about? Why did I let myself gain some weight back?
Behind me Rick happily chatting away and asking me questions. Questions.... as if I can truly spare the breath to gasp out a reply to him. Reason number 856 why it doesn't bother me to steal the covers at night. Darn man.
Finally I get to the end of the trail. Not the entire trail, just the first half. I still have to go back. I climb off my bike on wobbly legs which instantly want to cramp up on me. Sadly I look at my speedometer to see we have only gone 3.3 miles. How could this be. How could I have slipped so far.
I am happy to see, yes I am terrible, Rick sag to the curb and voice my sorrow. Gee, I really let myself go this winter.
Evilly this makes me happy. I am not alone. After all if he wasn't such a great cook I wouldn't be in this bad of shape to start with and strangely enough it give me the incentive I need. OK I say, lets start back. And it is time to start the gym again. By this time I realize I will need more then riding to get back to the shape I was in. I need to pump some iron and use that stupid treadmill. But you know what? I am pumped about it. I contacted the place we are thinking of renting and made reservations. At Forest Haven. I am not quitting. I am going on a bike ride. A great bike ride.
So we rode back. It wasn't easier, but for some reason that gave me the push I needed. I vow to get it back. I want to get it back. We pulled up to the van and I felt great. The first tiny step to going on our ride.
Pulling up to the Lewis and Clark building where we had parked our van I even felt I could ride more. But I am not pushing it. 7.6 miles today. 10 the next time, then 15 and so on and so on.
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