Moving On

The original purpose behind The Fourteen Percent Ride has long since been fulfilled. So, I've decided that Mighty Proud will be the last posting. It just seems right.

But, don't worry. Or maybe you should. In any event, I plan to continue. I'll keep riding. And writing. Click here to come along in my new blog ~ The Long White Line. <-- check it out!

Thanks

As I've ridden for the last two years, I've picked up on the fact that Shirley, my darling wife, has been more worried about my safety than impressed with my "accomplishments." How do I know this? Well, when I'd come back and tell her, for example, that I'd hit 53.6 mph going down FO, she'd reply, "I don't want to hear it." Being the sensitive sort I figured out, after many such comments, that just maybe we were not on the same page here. But last week, she told me that she would "greatly reduce her focus on the 'fear for my safety' issue." We talked about the tour, looked at some maps, researched nutrition suggestions on the internet, and so on, just enjoying the idea of the ride. How nice is that? Thank you, Shirley!

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Listening

I've heard it said that you should listen to your body. So today I listened. It was saying, "Don't even think about getting on a bike." "OK," I replied. Then I heard another voice. "You've been talking about getting back to hill riding ever since you had that problem with your bike. Now that you know you can shift, get out there and ride up a hill." "Yes, dear." That's what I always say when Shirley offers me a suggestion. So I dressed, warmly as dictated by the cool, damp weather, and sought out the nearest hill -- Bliss Road up the bluff. It was fitting that as I started the ascent on my blue angel, the blue and yellow Bianchi, the Navy Blue Angels roared overhead. The ride wasn't bad at all. In fact, I did the climb three times and rediscovered one of the things I'd missed in the last two weeks. No, not the climbs -- the descents. It is a rush, dropping down on the handlebars and negotiating the winding road. It's nice to be back on the hills.

A total of 24.7 miles with 3 climbs. And as I finally headed home, I listened to the sound of the Blue Angels' F/A-18's as they took off, one at a time, and headed for their next show.

I had not planned to ride today. But my personal trainer had other ideas. I'm glad I listened.

Total ~ 1353.7 miles

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

One should listen to one's bike - ride, ride, ride.

May 22, 2007 at 10:53 AM
Anonymous said...

A song when biking a "blue angel" up the hills with the Blue Angels overhead: Those magnificent men in their flying machines with their upity, up, up and their downdy, down, down . . .

May 22, 2007 at 10:56 AM

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