|
|
Tuesday, May 13th, 2008
Back in the day, Steph and I could bike all day, everyday. Not terribly far, but the back and forths added up. Over Eel River and through the woods connecting the Plantation to the cemetery, we would get to Bramhall's for Airheads and Reese's Cups, and then go back to her house for peanut butter sammiches and Mario Kart.
Today, for what is very likely the first time since the days when I had no reservations about acting out Animorphs in the front yard, I rode my bike for 5.0 miles, and consequently, everyone can go to hell.
I planned on just dusting the old Schwinn off and taking her for a spin, maybe letting the dog tag along (as it turns out, Gretty hates the whole idea of the bicycle, just as she hates the whole idea of democracy). I felt pretty goofy turning circles in my driveway, attempting to stop by backpedaling, which hasn't been a feature on my bike since I was on training wheels. Upon realizing that someone had fixed my chain and the thing actually worked pretty well, I ran upstairs and tried to figure out what I--a notorious sweater--should wear in 60 degree weather. I settled on the douchebaggiest ensemble I could throw together:
I unfortunately couldn't find any Spandex pants, but you should see it with the helmet on. It goes so well with the mock-turtleneck Under Armour.
An important thing to note is that Steph's new house is not nearly as close as her old house. It would normally take me less than five minutes to pedal to her old house, but I think it may have taken an extra half-hour this time. That was partly because it was an extra mile and a half, and partly because I am a lazy sack of shit that had to walk after the first mile. Or rather, that's what it must have looked like to everyone passing by, because these were NOT difficult hills I was hitting (or hills at all), and yet there I was pushing the bike and panting like a rabid dog. I kept having visions of how things used to be, how yeah, we used to struggle a bit and usually stand up to make it to the top, and it would hurt our lungs, but would we ever get this dizzy? Did we ever have to get off to walk, and did our legs always feel so impossible to control? Didn't we used to have fun going down this hill? It was always a relief, but I remember hitting the top and seeing if we could propel ourselves forward without our feet, only making it past the Eel River Bridge once or twice. This time, I prayed that I could just glide home, or that maybe someone I knew would drive by and offer me a ride, or that my bike was actually a portkey. None of it was the case, and I made it back to a large bottle of water.
My body is so changed. It may still look like a twelve-year-old's, but it can't handle things the way it used to. I know that these are the steps that I have to take to get it back into a functional state, but it was an awfully sad sight that when I got home and grabbed the mail, I tripped over the pedals and twisted the handlebars and lay there in a heap of strong bones and zero muscle, hardly able to stand without crossing my ankles over each other and shakily catching a pedal. I don't feel nearly as bad as that fateful time I took to a stationary bicycle, but I'll send you all a urine sample in the morning for the final verdict.
In the end, I am happy that I rode five miles today. I am less happy that I chose to do so when I have to now stand up at work for a few hours, but you win some, you lose some.
Replies: 1 Comment
Ryan said at 07:30 AM, 5.14.08:
I can't wait to start biking again this summer. I've been looking for bike racks online for the car, and I think I've got one picked out!
Love the picture too! And a bit delayed, but also the one you took of your hair curling on the sides.