Jen on the Swim Bike Run

A love letter to my bike

Dear Bike,

You are the one--my ticket to ride, my youth serum, my speed rush.  I haven't even given you a name and yet I love you.  All it took was 25 miles on a beautiful day to remind me of how perfect we are together.

I remember nearly ten years ago I was cycling through Tuscany on a Women's Quest trip--with a different bike.  It was kind of a hybrid with straight bars (I was trasitioning from mountain biking to road cycling) and it was heavy.  As I rode the hills of Montalcino--grinding all the way-- cycling great Connie Carpenter said to me, "Girlfriend, you need to get yourself a real bike."  Three years ago I was upset when someone stole that bike out of my garage while I was recovering from a broken foot--but then I wouldn't have you.

My aim on Saturday was to take it slow--the Trekwoman Breast Cancer Awareness Ride was just that--a ride, not a race.  And though I tried to take it leisurely, craving the opportunity to chat with friends along the way, I couldn't help but put on some speed--not a lot, just a little.  It is your fault--you make me want to charge up hills.  A 16mph pace feels like standing still--you make me want to find a steady groove at 20mph.  And for a while it was just you and me and the wind--glorious!

As good as it felt, I know that isn't real speed.  I have so far to go in cycling.  It is time to ditch the toe clips.  This winter we are going to get closer than ever.  Once I get the trainer set up again and put the clipless pedals on you--it will be ON!  You and me. 

And I'll be honest and make my confession up front--I have been looking at others.  I know, I know, I've already professed my love, how can I be so fickle?  I think you'd love the Orbea Dama with the compact crankset as much as I do--you can be BFFs or sister wives.  But don't worry--I won't be bringing her home anytime soon, I just wanted to be up front about my fantasies.

So thank you.  Thank you for an incredibly fun year of cycling the roads of Central New York.  For the races and the rides that help me remember how great a two-wheeled ride can be.  And for showing me that all that talk about "being one with the bike" is totally real--I get it.  Other bikes will come and go but know that you'll always be "the ONE that did it for me."

Love always,

Jennifer

Craving bricks

I went to sleep last night craving kale and woke up this morning fiending for a brick--workout that is.  I'm not sure what my body is trying to tell me--eat more veggies?  Get in the pool?  Maintain your fitness?

So I got up before the crack and got myself to a spin class where the hour went by so fast that when the instructor asked if anyone wanted another hour my hand shot up--she was kidding.  I was not.  But I came prepared.  After the spin sesson I traded my bike shoes for my running shoes and got on the treadmill for a quick 20 minute run.  It felt so good!!!  The best part was challenging myself a bit by running 3/4 of a mile at 8:06 pace.  The rest of the run was a very comfortable 8:50 pace at a slight incline.

As good as this morning felt, I'm not ready to resign myself to indoor workouts quite yet.  I've got the Trekwomen Breast Cancer Awareness 25mile bike ride on Saturday and I'll try to hit some of the Fleet Feet Dawn and Dusk group runs.  And while an open water swim is off the table till next spring, I'm so inspired by Mary Egger's swim stroke that I'll be hitting the pool sooner than later.  Can't wait!