The last time I cycled properly was last year January for the PnP Fast one. I was in a hectic car accident in February last year, was out of action for just under a year, before I managed to get on the trainer and do some stationary cycling.
Those of you that have done any cycling at all would probably agree with me that cycling on a trainer must be the most boring and frustrating thing ever, all that pedalling and effort to go nowhere…so I lost interest in that very quickly, and the bike just stayed on the trainer in my flat, looking all forlorn and lonely, collecting dust.
My cycling buddy convinced me to join him at Kyalami, for a few laps around the track, no cars or traffic to worry about. Not the best first ride one needs though, it’s a very difficult race track in my opinion. Anyway I joined a few times for a few laps but I somehow in a non cycling related incident injured my arm, and once again I left the cycling alone for a while.
On Friday as I walked past the Goblin (Yes I named my MTB!), still on the trainer, I looked at it…thought to myself “Screw it! It’s time for a ride again!”
Got all my lycra ready, (Yes I wear lycra!). Made sure I set my alarm for nice and early to make sure I don’t ride when it’s too hot. That was it ready to go. I was nervous and excited at the same time, not sure of what to expect of myself or the fact that maybe I would not be able to cycle ‘properly’ any more because of the injuries I had?
Hit the road at 6:30am, not without a glitch though, I forgot about the most important accessory in cycling… my helmet…’dumbass’! Had to find out where I put it away…which cost me about 20mins…lol!
I was pretty nervous being back on the Goblin again. Not sure how I would handle it… nervous I fall or half way into the ride I can’t go on, how I would handle traffic, my mind tends to run away with me in situations like that. Yet it all went well!
The first 10km’s were a breeze, me not realising it was downhill and that I would need to turn around and go back up the hill at some point….hehehehe! I eventually did make the turn around and start the cycle back home, on a different route to try make it more interesting. That is when I realised how unfit I was… the cycle home was 1 and 1/2 times longer than the ride to the turn point. But I eventually did make it, and by eventually I really mean that.
Overs 2 hours to ride 25km’s, avg speed of about 12,5km/h, rate heart through the roof! Legs burning, arms aching, lungs pumping…I was cycling 500m to 1km then taking a rest, then another 500m – 1km then a rest…but I made it in the end! No major problems!
When I got in I was exhausted, but also so happy and proud of myself! Not bad for someone that was not supposed to walk again never mind cycle for 25km’s. I was so happy I could do it again! Am already planning my next ride with my cycling buddy! He is just going to have to bare with old Captain Slow here for a while but that doesn’t bug me!
Just want to get slowly back into it! Once I am more comfortable I need to get some knobblies back on the Goblin and then hit the off road stuff!
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