Bikes 05 Sep 2008 09:52 pm
bike 5: in which I drag myself onto the bike grouchily
Today’s bike practice was notably mostly for the fact that I really, truly did not want to do it. But I did it anyway. It helped that I bribed myself with an ice cream bar afterwards. Truth is, I’ve been bribing myself the whole time, and mostly with better stuff. Theo chocolate is some powerful positive reinforcement. I’d better stock back up on those coconut-curry bars. And the fig bars. And maybe some other bars. Ahem.
My stopping has not miraculously improved overnight. I’ve been tending to underestimate how fast I’m going and putting a foot down way too soon; then there is hopping. But the last time I stopped today, I nailed it and it was perfect. Not just okay, not just showing promise, not just without losing a kneecap, but perfect, in perfect control. The stars aligned. It can be done.
Now when I yelp in fear and dismay I make actual words. I doubt the young mothers at the playground appreciate the words I’m most likely to come up with, though. Their children, on the other hand, are probably very interested indeed.
Tomorrow I’ll take a one-day break. We’re planning to take the tandem up to the top of Wallingford, so I will be getting plenty of biking time, not to mention hill-climbing practice. Besides, I’m getting the picture: if I don’t build in a day off every week, I’ll be burned out before the end of the month.
on 07 Sep 2008 at 4:02 am 1.Rechercher said …
My stopping has not miraculously improved overnight. I’ve been tending to underestimate how fast I’m going and putting a foot down way too soon; then there is hopping.
Isn’t that more of an indication that you need better brakes than better judgement? (May the bike gods be not angry with me if I am wrong.)
on 07 Sep 2008 at 11:06 am 2.Cam Sculpin said …
Nope, it’s my error in judgment. It’s not an unusual problem.
Or did you think I meant that the bike is hopping? Actually, I’m the one doing the hopping, trying wildly to keep from whacking myself on the bike.