Anarchocyclist

Lately i’ve decided that i need to change my lifestyle a bit to be more fit. I stopped cycling so much a few years ago when i had an ankle injury, and then i went off to china and didn’t cycle too much there either. Once i started gaining a bit of a mid-section bulge, i got the hint that it was time to include some more exercise in my daily and weekly routine.

I really hate running, especially since that’s what gave me the aforementioned ankle injury, so cycling was the natural choice. I’m currently getting in contact with some people who do a weekly ride on monday nights. This was the way that i originally got quite fit. It was nice to have some other people that were willing to push my limits a bit. They took me on longer rides than i would have attempted on my own, and they pushed me at a faster pace. At first it was difficult, but doable. I was surprised at how quickly it got easier.

The next step is riding to work more. I rode to work twice this past week and it felt pretty good. I think i just have to get past the mental barrier in the morning, and then everything’s fine once i start. It helps wake me up too, so i’m alert by the time i get to work. This week i’m riding every day. Ya, you heard it here. someone mock me mercilessly if i don’t do it ;)

Today i went on a nice ride with a friend. We circled richmond, a neighbouring city with lots of farmland on the perimeter. about 70km total, which was a bit of a stretch for my current shape, but doable again. My last ride of that size was when C and i went camping at Golden Ears park, which is about 75km from here. C’s biggest ride before that was 18km to the beach, so that was reeeally a stretch for her, but she was a hero and made it all the way there.

Ideally, i’d like to do 1 big ride every week, 1 medium ride with the monday-night gang, and then the rides to work every day. This should be fine, since my work schedule is 4-on / 4-off, so the rides will be spread out nicely. If i can do that, i should be in great shape by next April when the randonneurs club starts up the next season of long-distance rides. Previously i’ve only completed their 100km and 200km rides, but i’d like to move up to the 300km and 400km in 2009….which is why i need to start now ;)

Ride hard, ride free

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 17th, 2008 at 14:38 pm and is filed under Cycling, Front Page. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.