The Accidental Break

It seems that when you're on a roll, something always breaks the cycle of progress. In my case, it's lower back pain. Yes, as the picture to the left illustrates, it is my leading achilles heel. It's debilitating at times, but within recent years, it's effects have been minimal.

But still, it always seems to happen when things are going good, I'm making progress, and feeling really good, then, WHAM! When it happens, I always baby it, do my excercises, stretch and what not, but the pain is always there, waiting, lurking for that one single moment when I bend over the wrong way or dont lift something right.

I was making good progress riding; a twenty-six miler day before yesterday. I was feeling really good about  training for the MS ride in June. I was thinking "Yeah, I can do this". Now, I'm really starting to question things again. Is it me, is it the bike, or is it that my old injuries are still not 100% healed? I guess I'll never truly know the real answer to that question. I guess my next course of action is prevention.

Two things popped into my mind when I was thinking of prevention: 1) weight training and 2) new bike. And here is the arguments for both.

Weight Training
We renewed our YMCA membership, and they have a weight training program that is customized to my body. You make an appointment, and someone helps you work on your max levels, and then they set up a program in a computer. You use your smartphone to track your progress at each machine. It's pretty cool. And since I am smartphone enabled, I can dig that. Now, I just need to set up that appointment.

New Bike
The bike I'm currently riding, a 1990 Trek 7000 mountain bike, is what is called a "flat-bar bike", meaning the handle bar is flat. I like the bike, it has a triple crank, meaning 3 chainrings, it's all aluminum and it's my bike. I've done alot on that bike. But, for someone who has a bad lower back, this style is not too comfortable, especially on long rides, because of the aggressive riding position. Oh, I can get some time on it, if the back is doing well on a particular day. I can log some serious (to me anyway) miles. I havent really measured the bike to see what size it might be, but I'm thinking it's too small. The new "endurance" bikes have a more upright riding position, and are designed for longer times in the saddle. Though I have yet to test ride one to see if that is in fact the case, I will have to wait for warmer weather to do that.

So, with those things in mind, and new pedals attached to the Trek, I muscle on. Stretching, bending and mending. Hopefully soon I can get back on so I can test out the new shoes and practice clipping in and out, so that by spring, I wont fall over when coming to a stop. 

The falsness of sunshine

Ahh, the sunshine. The warmth on your face. Remembering the days of summertime. It's all for a good cause: my mental health.

But, I did find that the sunshine can be misleading. Yes, misleading. Untruthful, if thats a word. Though it may be sunny out, the bitter cold can still cut through you.

And that's what I hate.

The bitter cold.

It's ok, though, because I know that soon, say 2 months from now, I'll be wearing my lightweight jacket, and looking at the road conditions to get the bike off the trainer and hit the asphalt.

This little picture at the top reminds me of summer's warmth. The events planned. The hopes and dreams of all I have for the summer.

Until the day arrives for the shorts to be worn all the time, and the air conditioning to be running, the extreme temperature of the steering wheel of your car, I'll be waiting.

Patiently.

Keep shining!

Another good ride

Thiis is starting to worry me. Every ride I've had this week has been good. I feel good after getting off the bike. I don't hurt, my muscles are a bit tight, but it reminds me of what I have just completed. Its a glowing feeling.

In the past, I have gotten off the bike sore, tired and wanting to stop riding. So, I'm kind of waiting for the shoe to drop and for me not to enjoy these rides. But, I keep telling myself to stop thinking like that and just enjoy it. Go with it man. Go!

So my intervals are crafty: easy for one song, usually 3-5 minutes, then a hard climb for another song, at about the same time frame. I maintain 13mph easy and 17 hard. I feel it. I really do. And since I've set the resistance level up a notch, I'm really feeling it. But, in the long run, the hills won't freighten me. Ill be able to conquer them!

I hope.

Until then, pedal hard to nowhere, for now, will be the game.

And how do I love this game!

A Look Back

Well, I just spent a few minutes looking through the older postings of this blog. I've seen some changes, good and bad, in me, I've been reminded of God's love for me and I've remembered the goofy things I did (the blind spring). Here is to a new year, new life and new beginning of Dave. I'm excited, nervous and willing.

I can't wait to see what this brings for this blog. I do know that I have made myself a promise to record more of my training and more of my life this year. So let the games begin!

Amazing weight, how sweet ur gone!

This is a mobile entry, so please excuse the mistakes.

Wow. This vegan thing is really synching up with me. Shan made an enchilada bake that was absolutely wonderful! I'm feeling healthier, the pounds are dropping, I just can't say enough.

My whole opinion of vegan awhile ago was based upon no information other than no animal products. The more I have learned in the last few days has been more than enough to want to change mmy lifestyle.

But, man, I gotta say, the food we have been eating has great taste, and the milks, soy, coconut, are so good. We get the vanilla flavored.

I'm really trying to get the riding and eating groove going. Getting the proteins I need means eating the foods I turned away from for so long, like beans and legumes. When I thought of eating those, I always pictured eating them raw. Its a whole different world when they are cooked and mixed. There are a lot of choices out there for eating a whole food plant based diet. A lot.

This has really opened our eyes and minds to a better way of living.

Here's to good health!

Fast Forward 2013

So, the rest of 2012 didnt go like I had hoped it would have and depression reared it's ugly head and knocked me down. I was angry, sad, confused and really thought of giving up on this whole bike thing.

But I didnt Give Up!!!

I talked to the Mrs about what was going on with me. I told her how I was feeling and we discussed what was happening to me. I felt alot better. Like a huge weight had been lifted off of me.

I didnt stop riding, I just didnt ride everyday. And that break felt good. I needed it. I cleared my head, focused more on the diet rather the bike. And speaking of diet, I have stopped eating the processed foods, fast foods and soda pop. I started with a 3 day detox of just plain, juiced fruits and veggies. I lost 3 pounds to boot! The girls are doing the veegan thing, and I havent gotten there yet.

The past 2 rides have been wonderful. Both were 45 minutes, and I felt really good afterwards. I bought a Bontrager saddle from Oswego Cyclery on the 31st. Now that its dialed in, it feels really good. No more numbness in certain areas. I did spend a little from the bike fund for this saddle, but Ill make it up.

RAGBRAI

Google RAGBRAI. It's a wonderful event, and looks like something I may want to do in the future. There are some YouTube videos covering it as well. Shan even said she is interested in it too! That would be a great vacation for the 2 of us!

Peace!