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I've gone in a bit of a different direction these days, training wise. I've almost totally lost any desire to ride on the roads in the UK - the increasing understanding that I was going to be killed by someone writing a text message, who would then get a £100 fine (if that) just sucked the joy out of it.
This rings true with me. As lockdown happened it became apparent that many drivers were using the empty roads to go even faster. I actually feel anxious at the thought of riding solo these days, I have cameras to record acts of cuntishness but also wonder why bother placing myself in a position of great vulnerability.
Have lost track of the number of non cyclists who when they discover I ride a bike have to vent to me “I met one of your lot, riding in the middle of the xxxx lane stopping me getting past” when I know full well the road they are mentioning is too twisty to be able to overtake on. It’s even more depressing that some of them are motor cyclists or horse riders but don’t consider someone on a cycle deserves due care and attention.
As such being able to binge watch tv, manage cardio fitness and be able to cook and eat calorie rich meals makes time on the turbo seem worthwhile.
Your post is making me think it’s time I serviced our fat bikes so we can start riding trails again.
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dancing james
I've gone in a bit of a different direction these days, training wise. I've almost totally lost any desire to ride on the roads in the UK - the increasing understanding that I was going to be killed by someone writing a text message, who would then get a £100 fine (if that) just sucked the joy out of it.
I still enjoy cycling in other countries where the drivers aren't such cunts, but then you have the maintaining fitness aspect, and if you don't ride then on the road or turbo extensively then you can't keep a decent level for when you do. This means I end up getting dropped by everyone, all the time, even when killing myself, and that part of it is just no fun - I'd far rather ride on my own, at my own pace, whilst the others shoot off into the distance as that would actually be enjoyable.
I am running though, and that's getting better - not yet at my previous best pace of 20 min 5k/45 min 10k, but I'm closing in on that and that is exciting, seeing your time getting faster week by week.
I'm also feeling a lot stronger than I used too, and aches and pains are beginning to iron out, so that's all positive.
Where the majority of my focus is these days however is on the mountain bike - and that's technique driven, which is a whole different but related world to what I've done before. I absolutely love the feeling of rolling into the forest in the morning, and then the challenge is very much across a broader spectrum than road riding ever was for me - and the more I learn about how to move my weight around the bike, how to get it into the air, how to keep it on the ground, how best to get it around a corner on highly changeable terrain - that's fascinating, and there's always more to discover.
I've got what, 10 road bikes, and I ride one of them (a Klein which sits permanently on the turbo), at some point I should probably find places that would like to display the rare ones and sell the rest.