Epic Bicycle Trip:What it means
The name of this blog refers to a bucket list item of mine: an epic bicycle trip, riding from my home in Venango County Pennsylvania all the way to Washington DC using as much of the Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Canal Path as is available.
This year was supposed to be "the year of the ride" but the possibilities are slipping away, the money is going to other places, and the ride is no longer looking like a sure thing.
That said, I had an experience today that has caused me to rethink my definition of "epic bicycle ride."
You see, I've been very sick for the past week. Nothing life threatening, but I'm sure you can all relate: sniffles, sore throat, fever, frequent "potty runs" and EVERYTHING hurts.
Today at my house it was sunny and 60 degrees. Finally, a break in the weather. I was up several times during the night with sweats and chills, but looking at the day, all I realy wanted was to be on my bike. There were two voices in my head, one saying "Just do it!" And the other one saying "Are you crazy? You're 58 years old, sick as a dog, you can barely make it to the bathroom - don't be stupid!"
Being the rebellious type that I am, being told (even by the voice in my own head) not to do something made me mad. I shuffled into my bedroom, donned my riding gear, tucked a few wads of toilet tissue into my waistband (just in case) and rolled my bike out of the garage into the sun.
The ride was not long (about five miles) and it was not a workout; in fact I confess resorted to my smallest chain ring and biggest sprocket at one point during a relatively flat ride.
But the feeling of just being on the bike was exhilarating. On a small down hill where I could use my top gear, I realized that being on a bike is the closest to the sensation of human powered flight I am ever likely to experience. I thought about my earthly father, talked to my heavenly father, pondered the scenery along the way, and found thankfulness welling up inside me.
I don't know what it is about being on a bike, but for me, it feels as neccesary as food. My definition of "Epic Bicycle Trip" changed today from that "biggest, most endurance demanding week long trip I can survive" to the moment when I crawled out of my sickness induced fog and, for a just a little while, experienced once again the feeling of true freedom. It was, truly, "epic."
This year was supposed to be "the year of the ride" but the possibilities are slipping away, the money is going to other places, and the ride is no longer looking like a sure thing.
That said, I had an experience today that has caused me to rethink my definition of "epic bicycle ride."
You see, I've been very sick for the past week. Nothing life threatening, but I'm sure you can all relate: sniffles, sore throat, fever, frequent "potty runs" and EVERYTHING hurts.
Today at my house it was sunny and 60 degrees. Finally, a break in the weather. I was up several times during the night with sweats and chills, but looking at the day, all I realy wanted was to be on my bike. There were two voices in my head, one saying "Just do it!" And the other one saying "Are you crazy? You're 58 years old, sick as a dog, you can barely make it to the bathroom - don't be stupid!"
Being the rebellious type that I am, being told (even by the voice in my own head) not to do something made me mad. I shuffled into my bedroom, donned my riding gear, tucked a few wads of toilet tissue into my waistband (just in case) and rolled my bike out of the garage into the sun.
The ride was not long (about five miles) and it was not a workout; in fact I confess resorted to my smallest chain ring and biggest sprocket at one point during a relatively flat ride.
But the feeling of just being on the bike was exhilarating. On a small down hill where I could use my top gear, I realized that being on a bike is the closest to the sensation of human powered flight I am ever likely to experience. I thought about my earthly father, talked to my heavenly father, pondered the scenery along the way, and found thankfulness welling up inside me.
I don't know what it is about being on a bike, but for me, it feels as neccesary as food. My definition of "Epic Bicycle Trip" changed today from that "biggest, most endurance demanding week long trip I can survive" to the moment when I crawled out of my sickness induced fog and, for a just a little while, experienced once again the feeling of true freedom. It was, truly, "epic."
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