Invicible No More

For forty years I've been invincible.  Whenever I fell, I got right back up, right back in the saddle.  I healed quick.  If it hurt, it didn't hurt for long.  John Lieswyn once said I was a much stronger rider than I thought I was.  That may have been so, but it was a long time ago.  1992.

Today I can hardly walk.  Lupine had to help me put on my socks and tie my shoes this morning.  My personal physician says I probably have herniated discs.   After the last two weeks, I think I may never be able to ride fast again.  The Tour de Gainesville on March 27 looks like a pipe dream.  My talk about the Great Divide Race in June looks like a complete impossibility.

Ice, heat, Diazempam.  I'm going to take a nap now.

Bidness

A little bit of snow melted yesterday here in Logan, Utah.  March is just around the corner.  Normally, I'm opening the shop this time of year, when people are starting to think about riding their bicycles again.  Not this year.  Like I've said, I'm done with retail.  However, I still have over a dozen new bicycles I need to find good homes for.  I had them listed on the sidebar, but pulled that for the winter.  I will soon put them back up, so check it out.  All I'm asking for them is my cost.  That means you can buy a new bicycle at the wholesale price.

I am available for repair work.  The garage-shop is just about thawed out.  Just call or email and we can set up an appointment.

A Long Cold Ride

Twenty-five degrees
Tour of Little Bear River
Up Meridian

Cold, frozen, washboard
Flying down the dirt backside
The world white and gray


View Top Of Meridian in a larger map

More Inspiration

Last month I provided a link to Katie Spotz' site, Row For Water.  If she does not inspire you, perhaps Dominic Gill will.  His site is takeaseat.org.  I'm inspired.

The Old Bull

I remember watching a nature show once.  It showed this old bull elk in Yellowstone, defending his harem from the other younger bulls.  He was kicking butt, left and right.  He was chasing and fighting for all he was worth for days; exhaused, bloody, broken antler, but he was still the King.  A few days later, he was lying in the snow, breathing his last gasp.

That's me.  An old bull who knows he's over the hill and plummeting down the other side.  Yesterday I went to play half court basketball with the old fellows, just to finally get some exercise at slow speed.  I was doing well until the third game when my back went out.  I could not get up.  Today, I can still hardly move.  And, tonight, I have a sore throat and a fever.  I'll take my last gasp now.

Simple

Riding a bicycle is just that, simple.  Kids do it all the time.  All you have to do is pedal.  If only it were that easy.

I finally got out for a ride Saturday for the first time in 16 days.  It was well below freezing and I only rode for an hour or so.  What should have been a simple spin was so hard.  I felt old, fat, and cold.  It was all I could do to turn the pedals.

I know if I just start riding more it won't be so difficult.  Today it is snowing pretty hard.  The roads are wet.  Just look at the picture above.  Here is a link to the webcam.  When it clears up let me know.  I can wait until March, right?  April?

Just Eat

No, I did not go for a bicycle ride to day.  It only got up to 24 degrees and there was just too much to do.  Too much, like my north Florida waistline, the one that hangs out and over my belt.  So, for dinner, I'm going here.  It's Greg's birthday.  Greg has the only 69er in Logan.  190 pounds, here I come.  God, I do love barbecue.

I'm Back

I went to the Ibis for coffee this morning.  The sun came out and the air is clear this afternoon.  Logan is not so bad.  Thirty degrees feels warm when you are in the sun shoveling snow to get the car out of the garage.

My posts are so short, they're looking like tweets.  I will try to do a bike ride tomorow and should have more bicycle related things to write about.

Fly Away Home

By this time tomorow, I'll be back in Logan, my other home.  I'm sad to leave.  It's been 8 days without a bicycle ride.  That makes it even harder.  My Tuesday night and Aucilla Sinks rides fell through.  There's too much to do in such a short time.  Goodbye Florida.  Goodbye sisters and friends.  I may be back real soon.

Says She's Homesick

Lupine wants to go home.  Me, I'd rather stay in Florida and climb a live oak tree.

Or, ride my bike.  I've got two more rides planned before I get on the plane.  I plan to do a final TT ride in Gainesville on Tuesday, and a hastily planned Tour of Aucilla with Jimbo on Thursday.  The Aucilla is one of Florida's many rivers that dissapear into the limestone and reappear at the surface miles away.

That's it for the bike rides, then back to the snow and poison air of Logan.  I'll be riding there too.