If you can't tell by the lack of blog posts, I've been off the bike for a while. For the first time in my life I stopped riding...on purpose! I just didn't want to do it anymore. For me this has been a really big deal, possibly even a crisis. Luckily it seems to be over.
I came to the realization, with the help of my wife, that I don't have to ride a certain amount, or a certain distance and that I am not training for ANYTHING! All I have to do is ride my bike and have fun. That's it. Just have fun! I thought that had been my mantra since finishing the Centurion in 2009, (
http://www.moabcenturion.blogspot.com/) but somewhere deep down I was still trying to get faster, to go longer and to be stronger.
I'm calling what I'm gonna do now,
anti training. Ride when I want, where I want and with who I want. I also don't have to ride at all. Which is a huge load off my mind. It's funny it never occurred to me before.
With a month or so off the bike, fresh trails, and new mountains in the distance my flame seems to be rekindled.
It would be hard to keep me off my two wheeled adventure machine for long. My bike has taken me to so many amazing places that it was only fair to give it a month off. Thanks bike! You're awesome!
And to the guy who puts fake snakes in the trails....you are NOT awesome! I'm sure this is HILARIOUS for you.
But for me....not so much. To whomever you may be- I leave you a FREE
Fruita USA sticker.
Now your on the program I've been on since I first got on the bike way back in the 90's. I refused to race or anything like that cuz as soon as you do that you turn riding into a job and this is what I do for fun. I also refuse to ride with people who don't stop once in awhile and look at the view or flowers. What fun is it to ride in amazing places with your head down non-stop and never look around ???
ReplyDeleteSo true. Ride because you want to. Sure, some days you need to drag your keister out of the house just to get going, but that's just life. I don't think a race is a bad thing, but being pegged to the 'gotta train' mentality seems a bit of a waste in the long run. Be fit, be active.
ReplyDeleteScott
I've been riding for a long time, burn out was coming on slow and steady for awhile and I finally looked it in the face this past winter. I started trail running to mix things up and found some new excitement/energy for being out on the trails. And it's made me a stronger rider. Bottom line, I just want to be out there moving around in the dirt and like you sometimes you need to do something different.
ReplyDeleteNice.
ReplyDeleteI inadvertently took the winter off myself, mainly due to record snowfalls and work. But the summer riding season is somehow now looking a lot more fun and Im anxious to get out there and just ride, for the fun of it.
Vernal! JBOY/Jazz...that fake snake scared me too!
ReplyDelete