I started commuting to work about 3 years ago. When I first started I was very cautious of what I was doing. If I didn't feel right about the day, I would take the car. If it looked like rain (in San Diego? Ya, right) I would take the car and save it for another day. And as the months past, so did my excuses to not ride. If it was cold, I would tell myself that it really wasn't that cold. If I was running late, I would tell myself I wasn't really running that late. I just got used to the process of riding to work and now it's really not that difficult. Actually, the only thing I can't get used to is the look on peoples faces when I tell them I took the long way to work and I plan to take the same route home, "Oh, I wish I could do that."
Fast forward to my tour from Portland to San Diego. Here I am preparing to ride over 1,500 miles with my wife through the mountains of Oregon and Northern California. I am confident that there is going to be multiple days of rain, wind and a combination of hard ground and cold nights. But to prepare, I have upped my commuting time and have no training rides under 50 miles on the weekend back to back. We have been using Mapmyride to find harder hills and longer rides to parts of San Diego I didn't know existed. I mean really, who would have known that there is more to San Diego than beautiful beaches and wonderful weather? About a month ago we were in aw of these hills, "Oh, I don't know if I have the right gears for that," and "Do you really think we can make it 6 miles at 6% grade?" and on and on and on.
OK the point... that shit really isn't that difficult. I rode a hill that was kicking my ass about a month ago and I did it yesterday with a bike that the wheel was rubbing on the brake. Not only did I do it, but I made better time and felt better. Instead of worrying about hills and distance we are focusing on taking pictures on the way and what we are going to write about on our next blog. I have figured out that if I just keep pedaling, fast or slow (I prefer fast) that I will make it to the top. And once at the top, the downhill is sweet.
So show me a hill and I will climb it. I might not make the best time today, but I'm not going to shy away from it. Because in the end, when I turn back and look at it, I think of how difficult it wasn't.
Fast forward to my tour from Portland to San Diego. Here I am preparing to ride over 1,500 miles with my wife through the mountains of Oregon and Northern California. I am confident that there is going to be multiple days of rain, wind and a combination of hard ground and cold nights. But to prepare, I have upped my commuting time and have no training rides under 50 miles on the weekend back to back. We have been using Mapmyride to find harder hills and longer rides to parts of San Diego I didn't know existed. I mean really, who would have known that there is more to San Diego than beautiful beaches and wonderful weather? About a month ago we were in aw of these hills, "Oh, I don't know if I have the right gears for that," and "Do you really think we can make it 6 miles at 6% grade?" and on and on and on.
OK the point... that shit really isn't that difficult. I rode a hill that was kicking my ass about a month ago and I did it yesterday with a bike that the wheel was rubbing on the brake. Not only did I do it, but I made better time and felt better. Instead of worrying about hills and distance we are focusing on taking pictures on the way and what we are going to write about on our next blog. I have figured out that if I just keep pedaling, fast or slow (I prefer fast) that I will make it to the top. And once at the top, the downhill is sweet.
So show me a hill and I will climb it. I might not make the best time today, but I'm not going to shy away from it. Because in the end, when I turn back and look at it, I think of how difficult it wasn't.
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