Nowadays I am primarily a runner, but due to some recurring injuries I've been unable to run so have been getting back on the bike lots to compensate and am having a thoroughly good time. Todays ride for me is exactly why I still think cycling is a far superior sport to running, which whilst great is just too much of a 2 steps forward 1 step back sport where you constantly avoid injury and always seem to have at least one thing wrong with you.
So todays ride. I didnt get round to riding earlier in the day and then it poured with rain for a couple of hours so I figured any training was a write off...but the skies cleared and so I decided to get out and get some good work in before dark.
I head to Richmond Park, which is an 11km loop just outside of London after dodging through traffic for a few klicks and do a 2X15 session, most of a lap with some recovery time before starting again. The weather is crap, its freezing cold, the wind batters me all over the place and it's not until after the first interval I realise my toes are frozen. The second interval is naturally harder and ends on an uphill drag into a headwind, but whatever, I've come this far so only a wimp slows down so near the end.
Session finished, I fully grasp how cold I am but otherwise feel good, so chase cars and stomp home completely forgoing any cool down it's cold enough as it is. I make it home, having been out for only 80 minutes, but my legs are ruined, my fingers don't work, and my toes have ice in them.
Once inside, I mope around in my kit for a while because I can't bare the thought of stepping into a hot shower with my toes in such bad condition. When I eventually do and take off my kit the full extent of all the grease from the roads thats coated my legs becomes obvious, with clearly defined lines of spotlessly clean and filthy. I'm tired enough that I can barely do anymore than stand uselessly in the shower, clenching my toes the entire time because the hot water burns them so much.
As soon as I'm out the shower I am clean refreshed and feel great. So why does this make me feel overcome with my love of cycling? Because that was one of the crap days, but it's still a helluva lot more fun then almost any other sport I've ever done. Very little beats the feeling of getting home after a hard bike ride there is almost nothing better.
So yeah that's why cycling is awesome. After riding in the mountains, brutal races, those days where you feel like there is no chain on your bike, even a boring interval session in the rain and cold brings a smile to my face.
Yeah. I'm almost glad I'm injured and can't run
So todays ride. I didnt get round to riding earlier in the day and then it poured with rain for a couple of hours so I figured any training was a write off...but the skies cleared and so I decided to get out and get some good work in before dark.
I head to Richmond Park, which is an 11km loop just outside of London after dodging through traffic for a few klicks and do a 2X15 session, most of a lap with some recovery time before starting again. The weather is crap, its freezing cold, the wind batters me all over the place and it's not until after the first interval I realise my toes are frozen. The second interval is naturally harder and ends on an uphill drag into a headwind, but whatever, I've come this far so only a wimp slows down so near the end.
Session finished, I fully grasp how cold I am but otherwise feel good, so chase cars and stomp home completely forgoing any cool down it's cold enough as it is. I make it home, having been out for only 80 minutes, but my legs are ruined, my fingers don't work, and my toes have ice in them.
Once inside, I mope around in my kit for a while because I can't bare the thought of stepping into a hot shower with my toes in such bad condition. When I eventually do and take off my kit the full extent of all the grease from the roads thats coated my legs becomes obvious, with clearly defined lines of spotlessly clean and filthy. I'm tired enough that I can barely do anymore than stand uselessly in the shower, clenching my toes the entire time because the hot water burns them so much.
As soon as I'm out the shower I am clean refreshed and feel great. So why does this make me feel overcome with my love of cycling? Because that was one of the crap days, but it's still a helluva lot more fun then almost any other sport I've ever done. Very little beats the feeling of getting home after a hard bike ride there is almost nothing better.
So yeah that's why cycling is awesome. After riding in the mountains, brutal races, those days where you feel like there is no chain on your bike, even a boring interval session in the rain and cold brings a smile to my face.
Yeah. I'm almost glad I'm injured and can't run
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