Back In The Saddle

[Black_Fly]

I don’t understand the e-bike craze. 10 year olds riding those things. No wonder we live in an obese culture. Some restaurants have nothing green on the menu at all, yet 4 different fried sides. Our culture seems to be allergic to healthy choices.

I recently got back on the road after a 3 year hiatus. My speedy carbon fiber road bike still hangs on the garage ceiling, I got the hybrid that’s easier on my damaged parts, although I may add a shock absorbing seat stem. No need for speed or distance - I’m limited by the trails around here to 8-9 miles round trip. I’m staying on the bike paths mostly, although I’m hitting the low traffic country roads in May immediate neighborhood occasionally. Blinkers on my bike and high vis clothing. Wife and I will be hauling bikes to ride farther occasionally.

All this gets a little boring, seeing the same scenery over and over. The trail shown here follows a horribly polluted creek, passing an old cemetery, municipal sewage plant and landfill, but offering plenty of deer sightings in the mornings. My hope it will help my stamina for tripping. Hopefully, I’ll lose the love handles by Fall.

Can’t really use it much for shuttling because Bogan is too old to keep up. I may try an occasional true solo on the Little Miami since there is a bike path adjacent to most of it. I feel guilty leaving my paddling buddy behind.

I avoided buying a bright colored frame so it stashes in the woods more discreetly. Dorky brain bucket is a must.

 

[ppine]

We got 4 Washo native Americans horseback this week for the first time.
I was close to tears twice sharing in the their joy and pure unaltered fun.

 

[stripperguy]

Mr Fly,
Glad to see you're back on a bike. It's amazing how the excess baggage just melts away as the miles pile up.
In my case, MDB is adamant that I not ride the roads again, even though I would only see a dozen cars on my typical 20-25 mile loop from home.
I'm anxious to get back in the saddle too, but my first 2 rides (on a stinkin' bike path) resulted in aggravating my yet unrecovered shoulder separation (A_C joint) for weeks at a time.

I hear you about getting bored with the same scenery...Years ago, I had an employee that would paddle and camp at the exact same site, year after year.
When I mentioned that I would prefer to trip to newer places, he simply replied " The experience is different EVERY time."
I've often thought of his attitude over the years, maybe not such a bad idea to adjust my attitude to suit the situation.

 

[Sedges]

Good that you are back riding. We are about on the same level. I ride several out and back routes from my driveway on roads with very little traffic. Shortest is about 10 miles and I can do 22 miles with a few hills. Getting off on gravel Natiinal Forest roads can be an option as well. As nice as that is I still load up the bike and head to a rails-to-trails path occasionally.

I can ride the same routes day after day and enjoy them. I am looking at birds and roadside wildflowers which are constantly changing with the seasons. People think I ride for the exorcise, but really it is just fun. I have the same feeling I had when I would take off exploring on my bike when I was 10 years old. So yeah, the exorcise is good, especially for my knees, but it is good for my mental health, too.

74 and still rollin'