[dc]H[/dc]ow many times have you heard the expression "a penny for your thoughts?"
While it's true that life can be complicated, the idea of paying for someone's thought process (especially the valueless penny) seems odd to me. No, I propose an amendment to that phrase, offering up a pedal for your thoughts. But what can a pedal give you that a penny can't?
How about solace and freedom?
Recently work and life has taken me on a move from the Hudson Valley to northern New Jersey. Throughout the month long frenzy of real estate agents, closings, packing, driving, more packing and moving, there was little of substance to lean on. Little, except for the one singular constant that has defined my free time and my life for the past half dozen years. Even with the weather being damp and unforgiving, a ride on the trainer was like an hour long escape from reality. Somehow, the simplicity of losing oneself within a bike ride is the perfect escape from reality.
Aside from the saddle, one of the most intimate and tell-tale parts of a bike are the handlebars. Not only do they mount the “brains” of the transmission (the shifters,) but they are always wrapped in some sort of ribbon like material that gives away some key parts of the rider's personality. Is the rider single-mindedly obsessed with speed or is comfort a concern? Are aesthetics an important part of their values? Where does cleaning and neatness fit into their persona? If you stop to think about it, bar tape is an expression of ourselves as riders, as well as your bike's way of telling stories. No part of the bike is more visibly affected by daily use and the moments, both good and bad, that stand out in a season's worth of riding.
The importance of base building is often overlooked by many cyclists, especially those who have ignored or ill defined their season goals. Your aerobic base is the foundation for all future interval workouts, and without it, the risk of injury and/or burnout is distinctly higher than in a cyclist with a proper aerobic base. More importantly, poor endurance will ensure you falter before the end of your chosen events, so while it may be boring and redundant, it is one of the most important parts of your training.
[dc]P[/dc]art of the problem with the winter/off season is that most cyclists suffer from withdrawal. There's a dearth of riding outside in the fresh air, sunshine is distinctly lacking, our well earned tan lines are fading, people are missing their mid-ride social stops with their buddies and miles are generally of the long, steady distance and are performed on a trainer. While some take to the sofa to put on their winter weight (much like a hibernating bear,) some take to online forums to discuss the latest news and gadgetry and some hit the slopes or the gym to get their endorphin fix, you CAN spend time with your bike and not hate it. This time spent can be of the intimate type (get your mind out of the gutter) that will let you appreciate your bike more when the time comes to climb back on and shed those accumulated winter pounds.