Skip to main content

Return to Dirt Asylum

First day back on the bike was a good one. It's the cure for what ails me.
I dialed it back a lot and took it slow through corners, trying to regain my confidence. Downhills were really conservative and climbs were done in big gears which drove my lower back nuts. Really concentrating on technique through corners trying not to over-steer and using body english. I rode for about 2 hours and could really feel that I had been off a bike for 8 days. My legs were fresh but they didn't have much endurance. I rode about 16 miles. I always forget how much upper body strength is needed for mountain biking. My triceps and shoulders were really screaming today. Trail conditions were nearly ideal after some recent rain. A lot of grip and very little powder.

This morning did some trail work. SORBA Woodstock had a last minute post o Facebook about this party. Helped build a wall ride at the bottom of the new downhill area at Blanket's. I'm not really a downhill rider but it's always rewarding to help out building trails.

That's all for now.

Peace,

-J

Popular posts from this blog

The milk of human kindness isn't spoiled

Something wonderful is happening. I am being serious. For the past year or so I've been developing this sense of love and compassion for humanity.  That sounds like a really broad, general statement but it's true. I'm becoming more perceptive of others and more forgiving. I believe we're all doing the best with the hand we're given. I use these words because I don't know how else to describe this very subtle feeling. It's a swelling in the heart and a sense of well-being and contentment.  Some days it borders on joy. Sure, I still get irritated with nuisances like drivers when they tailgate me or cut me off in traffic but overall, I am developing something here. Maybe my soul is expanding. I'm beginning to feel as though I'm finally a part of the human race.  In the past, I've felt so aloof and misanthropic so this is strange for me. I can't exactly pinpoint when it began.  I wonder if it's just part of the maturation process but I hope...

Week of Mope

So this has been a tough week. My right shoulder has tendinitis from what I assume is overuse with swimming.  I injured that shoulder 4 years ago doing P90x.  I have been building up to a mile swim over the past 2 months. This should be plenty of time for my shoulder to acclimate.  Form issue? Yeah, probably. I'm also feeling a general malaise as summer wears on and there are no races happening.  I think I need to actually be entered in a race to feel alive and viable.  I was looking at the Blue Ridge Tri on Sunday but I'm going to shelf that because I need to rest my shoulder. Mountain biking is dubious because of the shoulder. Pretty much everything except running is out of the question.  I have full range of motion in the shoulder but it has random burn and has a dull ache.  I have tried RICE.  I am on day 5 of rest although I did run/bike on Sunday and again on Tuesday. Soooo...maybe that really wasn't rest. All I can do to stay sane is RU...
Singlespeed bike was fubar yesterday so went for long ride at Blanket's on the geared bike. That bike is such a beater. I've had that bike for almost 3 years so it's been some miles.  While I was out there I had this thought: On a geared bike, I feel like the bike   is the machine.  On a singlespeed bike, I feel like I   am the machine. I don't have to mess with gears or worry about if I'm in the right gear.  I love the way how performance is all up to me.  Like Lisa Randall says, "The singlespeed bike doesn't care if you're having a bad day." I am currently running a 32-20 ratio which is just about right for hilly cross-country.  Earlier this year, my LBS decided to put on a 32-18 setup right before a race up in hilly Tennessee. 18 is great on flats but murder on hills, at least until I get stronger.  I may switch back to an 18 before the race at Lake Hartwell at end of September because it's relatively flat over there in East Georgia.