Ugh 1.0

I took about 2 months off, riding my bike. I didn't intend to, but I was feeling burnt out, and I was hiking and backpacking too. My original intention was to get on the bike a few times a week, to make sure I maintained my fitness. Well, it didn't work that way. Then 2 months later, getting back on the bike I felt like a .... Let me not be delicate, Like a tub of shit on the bike.

Parts of me have shifted, my muscles don't have that good flowing motion that they had. When your on the bike, and things are correct, both legs work constantly, in a nice flowing motion. One leg pushes down as the other pulls up, then they reverse in a nice smooth motion, applying even constant pressure to the road.

Furthermore, during my first week I realized that hiking wasn't pushing my cardiovascular system like cycling does. Seems like you just don't make your Heart pump and lungs bleed like you do when cycling.

I've also had a difficult time getting to the proper pace with my diet, I'm not sure why. I don't seem to like to eat, Also I consume so much protein, that it's messing with my digestive tract...

Point being, I'm out on the bike and I just suffer......

for the first 10-20 minutes you just warm up, your legs are stiff, you get settled in your bike shorts, feel like your properly dressed for the weather. Then at about mile 2 or 3 you start working, your legs become flush with blood, you shift up or down in gear depending on how steep the road is and how bad the cross wind or head wind is. Always trying to maintain a constant pressure with the road. Until you find yourself in the flow..... Well at that point hopefully your body just maintains and you mind starts to wander. Thinking about all the things going on. Certainly you can focus on your biking, obsess about if you could be putting in a little more effort or should be putting in a little less.

On one of my routs, at about 8 or 9 miles, that is where I just ride this long slow road, it's uphill, lonely just a long white line leading on for what seems like forever. This is new for me, I've ridden this route a thousand times, and usually I can just zone out for this entire stretch. but not lately. these days I tend to suffer. constant suffering, sore hands sore shoulder, sore core, twitches in my knees...... It's like that road just goes on forever. Somewhere at mile 12 or so this road finally gives up and I hit the base of the oquirre mountains, I turn and follow the base of them around until finally I turn down hill for a fast decent for about 8 or so miles, back down into the city. at roughly mile marker 25 I have to cut across some very serious traffic for a left turn. then it's a fairly flat return of about 10 miles..... Once I get back, I'm done. I have a glass of juice with protein powder in it, drink half a gallon of water, shower..... Which involves giving my head a good thump about why I do this to myself, and I nearly weep with all the fatigue. I'd fall to my knees and just lay there if I didn't know there was a comfortable bed about 15 feet away that would be by far more comforting.... Then after about 30 minutes, I can eat, and over the course of about an hour and a half, I finally start feeling like I'm not going to die, and may just feel better.

Ya!! super fun...

and now the truth is, that is a typical 2-3 hour ride. and I need to start extending that to 3-5 hours...... Those are the ones that I fall down and cry in the shower. and can barley stand or use stairs.