jules57's Post

Days Thirty Nine & Forty - Jello Legs

4/27/2020 11:14 PM

The final finishes were finally done on my bike late Sunday afternoon. When it's William doing the favor you just bide your time till William's ready. So the assignment he gave me for today was to ride it, check brakes, shifting, handlebars and so on. Also went and bought a bike pump. A floor model. I had a hand pump coming that was supposed to be here last Thursday. It didn't show up. When I went and checked, the delivery date had been changed to tomorrow, Tuesday. I was worrying about my bike sitting on flat tires so I found a floor pump at Pep Boys and went and got it. Got home and guess what had been delivered? The hand pump. Couldn't believe it. Silver lining is the bike tires got pumped up. All that really mattered.

Got up this moring full of anticipation. I took my shower, grabbed my owners manual, grabbed my bike oil and made sure all was lubed as it should be. Got my basket on and the bell. Sat for a few minutes contemplating my first ride in over 12- 15 years. When living at 8000 ft. in the Sierras, I rode my mountain bike everywhere. As soon as the snow melted I was on my bike and would ride till the snow fell again. I was in good shape in those days. Time has been rough on the body and I more or less stopped exercising all together. The muscles aren't what they used to be. I pushed the bike from the back yard to the front, threw my leg over, popped up on the seat and although it was a bit shakey at first, I was riding. Up and down the block .... twice. Stepped off the bike and my legs were jello. I had literally ridden nowhere and my legs were jello. Maybe this was a mistake. Came in feeling a bit defeated. Downed a huge glass of water and felt pretty damn sad really. After feeling sorry for myself for about 30 minutes, I decided I'm not gonna give up that quick. Back out I went. A longer cruise around the immediate neighborhood. Legs would scream every now an then. Push through. You use to love the burn. You will again. Got home, popped off the bike to legs that we even more jello than before.

This is gonna be fun. I'll go a bit further every day making sure the legs are burning. The pain will once again be my friend. I'll get stronger and that would be a good thing. My goal is to make it to the levee. Once there I have miles and miles to ride. It's not that far, really. Maybe this time next week or within a few days of that I'll be there.

Stay safe everyone.

Peace.

2 Comments

SaikotikGunman

9:06 PM

I hate bicycle seats, but we have a recumbent exercise bike in the basement. I'll occasionally hit that in the winter, for half an hour at a time, cranking the resistance the last half until I've got myself shaking. I've abused the heck out of my body, I can't believe I haven't killed myself that way. I get more exercise than a body wants or needs, but I could definitely benefit from more cardio.

jules57

10:32 AM

Cardio is a good thing!