Be careful of whose bike you fix...
All right. So nobody told me that when I was working in bike shops. But I could have said something like that yesterday.
You see, I went for a ride with the friend on whose Brompton I worked. Of course, he rode said Brompton and showed me that while my mechanic's skills are still mostly intact, I am really out of shape.
My excuse is, of course, that I did so little riding this winter because of all of the ice we've had on the streets. I suppose I could have gotten myself a trainer or rollers or something. I actually used to ride rollers during the winter. But I found that it's harder to keep myself motivated while riding indoors than it is when I'm in the open air.
Still, even with how few kilometers or miles or whatever I've ridden this year, it's still a shock to me that my condition is as it is. I guess one reason why I didn't realize it until yesterday is that all--i.e., what little--riding I've done this year has been solo. This is the first ride I've taken with anyone else.
The thing that really shocked me, though, is that he was riding faster than I was--and he smokes. Mind you, he's not a chain-smoker. But we did stop once so he could light up. Of course, there was a time when racing cyclists were advised to smoke, as it supposedly "opened up the lungs". But I don't think anyone has made that argument during my lifetime.
And, to top everything off, I deviated from my new eating habits when we stopped at a Korean barbecue restaurant. I mean, the food was good. And I tell myself that yesterday was a holiday, which is a time to let loose, at least a little. Still...
Oh well. At least we rode--about 65 kilometers, after Easter service at the church where we met.
All right. So nobody told me that when I was working in bike shops. But I could have said something like that yesterday.
You see, I went for a ride with the friend on whose Brompton I worked. Of course, he rode said Brompton and showed me that while my mechanic's skills are still mostly intact, I am really out of shape.
My excuse is, of course, that I did so little riding this winter because of all of the ice we've had on the streets. I suppose I could have gotten myself a trainer or rollers or something. I actually used to ride rollers during the winter. But I found that it's harder to keep myself motivated while riding indoors than it is when I'm in the open air.
Still, even with how few kilometers or miles or whatever I've ridden this year, it's still a shock to me that my condition is as it is. I guess one reason why I didn't realize it until yesterday is that all--i.e., what little--riding I've done this year has been solo. This is the first ride I've taken with anyone else.
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| We weren't in Kansas. From 21 Bikes. |
The thing that really shocked me, though, is that he was riding faster than I was--and he smokes. Mind you, he's not a chain-smoker. But we did stop once so he could light up. Of course, there was a time when racing cyclists were advised to smoke, as it supposedly "opened up the lungs". But I don't think anyone has made that argument during my lifetime.
And, to top everything off, I deviated from my new eating habits when we stopped at a Korean barbecue restaurant. I mean, the food was good. And I tell myself that yesterday was a holiday, which is a time to let loose, at least a little. Still...
Oh well. At least we rode--about 65 kilometers, after Easter service at the church where we met.
I recall an elderly cyclist saying that smoking was resistance training for the lungs. I'm sure Yehuda Moon had a cartoon along those lines too.
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ReplyDeleteThank you for a lovely day, bicycle technical support, and breaking fast with me. After 46 days meatless, I needed a binge, and all you can eat barbecue right on our route was too good a chance to miss. We made a burnt offering, and a sweet smell unto the Lord.
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