Something Some Cyclist Once Said...

Hey guys, how you been?

Oh, right...

 

It's been a while...

A lot has happened in the past six years. SIX years... Since I was hit by a car while training for GFNY. SIX years since I competed in anything but OCR. SIX years that included surgeries and mental fatigue. SIX years during which I became a Kayak Tournament Angler.

Oh, and I turned sixty.

The salt and pepper is fast tracking it to the top half of Mt. Fuji...

Some cyclist, and for the life of me I can't remember who, said, "It's easier to maintain speed than to get up to speed..."

Take that pic above, insert that quote and there's your meme ready for posting. I've started riding again and whenever I'm on the bike I feel amazing. But sometimes getting out there takes more effort than the actual ride. Although the actual ride ain't no walk in the park either. Back in the day, I use that term way too often these days, a short ride was an hour before work leaving the days off for the 5 hour distance rides.

Now an hour is about my limit. But I'm working on it. I put myself through a LT Threshold test before the weekend after finally finding my HR monitor strap stashed deep down in a closet I have little reason to go into. 158... That's the #.... According to the experts that # will likely go up with increased activity anywhere from 5 to 10 beats. Test often they say... This one almost killed me.

They also say count all the little victories. Here's one I posted on my IG account @fishfit10k

After a bunch of years I put the rack back on the car. I thought that was a reason to celebrate. I guess it is. I did drive to a local state park and put in a session after getting the rack on. I guess there is some symbolic victory to this.

I texted an old riding buddy of mine and talked about targeting GFNY 2021. The prospect of it is energizing. The reality of it not so much. Sometimes I wish the desire to ride was just no longer there. But it is... I miss it but have no idea where I fit in any of this any longer.

It used to be a community I thrived in and amongst; Clubs, teams, group rides, all of it. Now? I often feel like a cliche... Just another guy trying to relive the glory days.

But when I ride... I'm flying again. That sense of freedom and empowerment at being your own engine and waiting on your bike while a train goes by, feeling the road rumble and the wind rush through you.... Yeah, it's like that.

And maybe that's enough, just to ride for the joy of riding. But that's never been who I am.

I got back into fishing a few years ago and after one season dove into Kayak Tournament Fishing. These contests, competitions always seem to give me a sense of purpose and reason. This stays relevant to whatever I am passionate about.

So here I am. Working to get back up to speed with no idea where I'm going. And maybe that's okay. Riding has always been a way to be with my thoughts and sort things out. I guess that's irony? Riding my bike to figure out the purpose of riding my bike.

And just for old time's sake here's Gran Fondo NY 2011. The inaugaral edition;

Glory Days, isn't it ironic?

May the road rise up to meet you...

Something Ben Kweller said...

Been riding on a semi-regular basis for the past month. Even started on a Training Plan. But necessity, also known as my current fitness level has me doing slow and "steady" time-in-the-saddle rides. Necessity.... A bitch of a taskmaster... But it sure don't have to feel like it.

I've been smiling a lot lately. I've been riding on paths not well traveled by me at least for some time, metaphorically and literally. I have rediscovered a lost joy for cycling, no wait... that's wrong.

 I have fallen back in love with RIDING A BIKE! Yeah, that's the right way to describe the feeling.

If you haven't yet seen "The way, way back" then you need to.

Not going to get into the whole coming of age deal this movie is about. Just going to focus on one pivotal moment in the movie, yeah I said movie not film. I go to see movies... I'm pedestrian that way.


Anyway 14 year old Duncan is in a bad way, stuck in a beach town with his mom's new boyfriend whose a bullying douche. Things look pretty bleak and then...


Duncan opens the shed door to find this:

Complete with streamers.


The next scene is Duncan flying through the streets of this summer beach town with the biggest shite eating grin on his face. Over this plays a Ben Kweller song that is bo·da·cious·ly infectious!

and he says;
"Here I go out the door
I don’t need no more
Here I stand, I got your hand
There’s no need to know which way to go"

Well, he sings it really...



Duncan finds his vehicle to freedom. And that bike is a constant through the movie.

It simply made me smile and reminded me what this bike love is all about. The song reverbs around my head everytime I ride and it has led me to ride off of and away from all our normal training routes. I have not smiled this much on and off the bike in quite some time.

Here, take a listen... http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/benkweller/outthedoor.html 

Now go ride your bicycle...

See you on the road,
Eric J

Old shoes, new bike and exciting announcement!

Old Shoes;

Now this pic is representative but not comprehensive. Yes, I have a stupid amount of running and training shoes. The addictive side effect of having worked for Nike. Though since April 7th 2013 they were little more than fashion accessories.

Why April 7th 2013 you ask? Yeah, someone asked.... That's the day a BMW turned missile hit me from behind trashing me, my bike and most of this past year. That was the year I was going to win GFNY by the way. True story. I was ready. A legend in my own mind... Well at least I trained that way.

But I am outrageously happy, ecstatic, blitheringly blissful even, to be able to say that is all behind me. I am out from under the shadow of any and all accident related tomfoolery, (tomfoolery is not the word I was looking for but we're trying to keep this PG).

Yesterday I put on a pair of those fashion forward running shoes and went out for a run. It hurt, and was a chore at a short 18 minutes. But it was wonderful and full of promise and had nothing to do with a therapist (Frank Nanni btw who is amazing!) telling me I had to!

So what's the logical next step? Go on ask me.
Well, a NEW bike of course. And here she is just ordered yesterday;

A Roubaix SL4 Expert in Satin Charcoal with blue accents, 11speed of course. Yeah.....I'm excited. Decidedly a switch from the ultra aggressive bikes I am used to but a switch I am happily looking forward to.
I can't do GFNY this year but I am training towards Gran Fondo NJ in September. Oh, how good it feels to have a target to shoot for again.


Here's the exciting announcement part. Don't bother asking, I'll tell you anyway;
I'm starting up a new Blog that should see digi-print by next week. It will be everything multisport related going on here in Rockland County and the surrounding areas. I'll be looking for contributing writers, photos, info on events, happenings, rides, races any and all related to riding, running and swimming.

Email me or post up interest here....

Hoping to see you all on the road....

Be safe,
Eric J

I'm back baby, I'm BACK! Four months ago while out training for a Gran Fondo after a winter of Sufferfest training I was creamed by an 83 year old driver and his BMW going about 50 mph. The quick list; Fractured Fibula, torn rotator cuff, lacerations, hematomas etc.. etc...

My beloved T Mobile Formula Pro frame is toast! I have not had a day without pain or discomfort in four months, 8 weeks ago I had shoulder surgery, 8 screws and 2 tendons reattached. The swelling in my leg disallowed wearing most of my shoes and any socks for more than a few hours at a time. 3 weeks ago my PT started and that's a whole new world of pain.
It has been a brutally tough 4 months.

BUT... Today my Doctor gave me the okay to start riding on the Trainer!!!! YEAH BUDDY!!!!!!
It will be a while till I can hit the road again but today I celebrated with my old Giant TCR Ltd, rebuilt by my bike shop until my new 2014 Roubaix arrives and of course a Sufferfest video, "Hell Hath No Fury."

I only managed 35 minutes but the suffering was beautifully redemptive and welcome!

I'll be touring Sufferlandria quite a bit over the next few months... Good to be back!
Eric J

Something Eddie Merckx once said...

Hey all! The time has come to choose the new rocket and I welcome your thoughts and opinions. Not sayin' I haven't made up my mind 90% wise but still would like to read your thoughts.

I am definitely going with a 2014/ 11 speed but have a semi-difficult choice to make. At 53 years young I can say with surety that I'm done with pack racing. Been there, done that. It was swell but the swellings gone down. I'm looking to do more distance events ala Gran Fondos and such, maybe back into Tri and likely a few Time Trials which I have always enjoyed.

I own a:
1981 Fuji Royale II 12 speed; My nostalgia bike.
A Dawes touring bike, very basic 9 speed economy bike.
A Bianchi Pista track bike that has been customized with a rear brake and carbon riser handlebars into a hipster dufus fixed gear.
A Guru Trilite Tribike
and a Giant TCR Ltd full carbon road racer.

The TCR is the frame onto which I flipped all the useable components from the Giant TCR Formula T Mobile frame that got trashed in the accident. The T Mobile was a super-aggressive racing frame.

I am looking at a Specialized Roubaix Expert or a Tarmac of the same level. Basically full Ultegra. I've debated DIU ( the DI2 version of Ultegra) but don't think I need it and on the fly repairs would be easier with regular Ultegra.

So, with the sort of longer distance riding I have in mind should I forego the aggressive frames like the Tarmac and opt for the less rigorous Roubaix? I still fancy myself a speed demon but I hear the new Roubaix's, with 6 more years of bike technology on my TCR will be lighter and super fast.

Part of the issue is misplaced ego/vanity, to be sure. But with the climbs we all know are inherent to our local riding maybe the Roubaix is the way to go. So post up, let me read what you think. I plan on getting mileage in the mega range because as the great Eddie Merckx once said, "RIDE LOTS..."

Eric J

Something W.W. Jacobs once said...

I've been wanting, waiting, wishing for the time when I could start training again... and for my sins that time arrived this past Monday.

My first Physical Therapy session started with assessments and a heat treatment. Fairly benign despite the weight of the heat blanket on my sore shoulder causing some pain. "No so bad." Thought I, "When does it get as rough as I've heard?"

The answer came swiftly...

The Therapist entered after an assistant was kind enough to remove the heat blanket and went over what we would be doing. Again I thought, "No so bad.When does it get as rough as I've heard?" Then came the first exercises...

"Remember", says the Therapist, "Passive! You must not use your shoulder to rotate your arm, just inertia."

So we start;
30 clockwise, 30 counter clockwise.

30 side to side... repeat

Hhhhmmm... I'm a bit fatigued and in some discomfort...

Lie down, use your good arm to raise you injured arm, but do not use the injured arm. Relax it completely.

10 reps, hold the stretch for 5 seconds... Okay.

Holy crap! This is PAINFUL!

"Doing great, " Says he. "Remember p-a-s-s-i-v-e"

Last exercise; Grab the bar in your good arm while holding the end with your right and push the injured arm at a right angle, hold for 5 seconds. 20 times.

Arrrrggghhh.... What the hell??? I'm exhausted already!

Then I'm done. Time for some ice and electro-stimulus. Had this before with my knee, no biggie...

After a few minutes my shoulder started feeling like a milkshake, in mid shake! The muscles, so long unused, now felt as if in a blender.

Breathe.... Breathe.... Breathe...

Finally an assistant came in saying I was almost done. Just over a minute left.

A MINUTE IS A LONG TIME!

Finally I was done, freed from that infernal draconian contraption!

I was glistening with a fresh coat of sweat, sodden from the workout... exhausted... but satisfied.

I now have a training schedule; At the Therapist 3 times a week and must perform the exercises 3 times a day. On three of the off days from the Therapist I walk run until I am allowed back on a trainer. To say its getting tough is an understatement.

So... As W.W. Jacobs once said in his wonderful, "Tale of the Monkey's Paw" from 1902;

"Be careful what you wish for..."

Eric J

Something the Gimp once said...

This is me on the run in my first tri up at Westpoint some 6 years ago...

I was close to peak fitness. Not quite there but stronger than I had been in years. Whatever pain I felt was the pain of the endurance athlete;
The fire in your quads when the pace becomes close to unbearable and you fight for which part of you makes the choice as to slowing or pushing ahead, your head, your heart or your lungs.

We, all of us for whom a ride, run, swim is more than a casual Sunday pastime know the pains of searing lungs, flaming legs and roaring hearts. But these are pains we endure, if not welcome with enthusiasm born of the knowledge that the more we endure the better we become.

It brings with it, also a kind of narcissism. We are fit, and hard and part of a community which prides itself on pushing limits.

And so it was with all this in mind that I would train out on the road and would sometimes pass another athlete or ride with a fellow cyclist in some sort of distress from injury or illness. I would think to myself, "Wow, poor bastard. That must suck." Safe and secure in my armor forged by training and more training. We are so easily detached from what might be...

But at work last week, a day or so before being released from my sling a customer, mistakenly thinking he was funny asked one of my employees to, "Go tell the Gimp to come talk to me."

I was so incensed, so angry and indignant that I walked off the floor asking another manager to deal with the pigeon brained customer as I was in no state to do so properly.

Yeah, I was P-I-S-S-E-D!

A day or so later I was out of the sling and went out for my morning walk/run. On my worst race days I would end up running for 5 minutes and walking for 30 seconds. On this day I walked 5 minutes and ran staccato like for 10 or 15 seconds.

The scar tissue in my leg keeps me hopping/limping along while I have to keep my right arm close to my chest so as to minimize shoulder movement. I hop along keeping eyes down or on my GPS watch so as not to see the faces of any I pass or the cars shooting by as they stare at the gimp.

I am self conscious for the first time.

I am angry at the hurt, ashamed of my progress and the staggering impact of the pain that limits me to a degree I have never before accepted. I'm the guy who starts trouble on the ride by going off the front while the others talk about last night's dinner. I'm the guy who rushes to every town line sprint! I am the guy that pukes rather than stop no matter how tough the climb.

I am dangerously close to the abyss. And then perspective slaps me hard across my self indulgent face when I come across a book about Mark Zupan who said this;

 “Most people fear pain. I've learned that not feeling pain is a much more frightening proposition than feeling it. In fact, there are times when I'm playing when I actually enjoy it.”
― Mark Zupan, GIMP: The Story Behind the Star of Murderball

Oh, he is a former Olympic level athlete who was paralyzed in an accident and went on to become a Murderball champion...

It is tough some days. Every day that I drive to work and pass a cache of cyclists on the road I feel the hole in my heart and miss it. Every single minute of it...

But my condition is temporary. And as when we train for Gran Fondo, Lake Placid, West Point or a swim around NY, I will endure this pain as well. And be stronger for it...

Eric J