Uncomfortable and loving it
It has been a big weekend for me cycling-wise. Saturday I went out on a long hammer-fest, and Sunday I did a slightly shorter cruise to get the venom out of my legs.
I was talking with someone recently who was having trouble grasping why I like riding. I tried to explain the joy of a challenge, and the satisfaction one gets from earning a recovery ride. "I am most happy when I am outside of my comfort zone", I told him, but he was lost. "That is how you cause your body to build; ride harder than your comfort zone to induce a response, other times ride easier than you would like to let it build", I tried again.
He asked, "do you ever ride simply to get somewhere?" I told him, "not usually, most of the time I just go for a ride that ends where I started". He said, "So you have that expensive bike and you only ride it in circles?"
I guess it was a pointless conversation, but for some reason I kept trying. I can understand why others sometimes can not see why I ride. After all, it does seem silly to buy an expensive bike (or 2, or 3, or...) and ride it in circles while trying to make yourself as uncomfortable as possible, but that is really what a lot of us do. If it was easy I doubt it would be any fun. If I had a destination, I would always be late. And if I rode for any other reason than to improve I doubt I would enjoy riding where I do so often.
I have been playing with my position on my bike a bit lately, and I am happy to report it keeps getting better. I think that is how the conversation started (the guy could not understand why we ride on such uncomfortable-looking seats). Anyway, I have been adjusting my position and I think I have it right now. I am now more comfortable on my bike than ever. I am now able to make myself uncomfortable for longer periods of time so I can enjoy the sport more!
On another topic, we rode to the ford again this weekend. The water level had dropped just prior to our arrival. I snapped a couple images in case anyone cares how it looks without a million gallons per minute flowing past.
I know what you're talking about
most folks I talk with just don't get it. They think riding close to, or deep within, the pain cave doesn't sound like much fun. They also don't understand the mental or physical release one gets from 'the ride.' To them it's all about nothing.
I still have fun when I'm on a bike, but to amble along with not much to do is about as appealing as watching paint dry.
Yup
When I am really training I am always riding uncomfortably slow, or uncomfortably fast.
Only the very worst rides end somewhere other than where they start (due to crash, or technical failure).
OTOH, I have done a handful of bike vacations where I travel to a destination for the sole purpose of riding in cool places (Colorado for example). Even then I found myself riding at a "comfortable pace" only a portion of the time, but the destination was usually not the starting point.
A point I meant to bring out. I think I would like to try riding in an area so incredibly ripe with beauty that I could enjoy a comfortable ride peppered with frequent stops to capture views and photographs. That sounds nice.
Word up
Word. I mean really, who has time for ambling along pointlessly?