Big Day

I accomplished something big today....and it feels good.

When I did the 'La Tuna' ride a few weeks ago, (my first group ride), I heard that, if I could do the La Tuna hill, and the Garbage Truck Hill in Griffith Park, then I have what it takes to do the ride.

I've been intimidated ever since.

But today was the day. I had conquered the Tuna, so now I was up at 5:30 to take out the trash.

It was really, really cold. I wasn't dressed for it (shorts, fingerless riding gloves), but I figured, either I, or the air would warm up enough that it wouldn't bother me once I got going.

I was wrong. It was cold, and it stayed pretty cold.

As well, when I woke up and saw how dark it was...that part of me that talks me out of doing things I don't want to do, was pretty loud. "You can't go out there..it's cold and too dark...YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE A LIGHT". So, I thought, I can't go out there, I don't even have a light.". I stepped out onto the patio and back inside 2 or 3 times before I said, 'Screw you, I'm goin".

The ride was awesome. 5 miles, and 'The Hill' was about half of that. It seemed to keep getting steeper and steeper, and I thought to myself at one point, How slow can I go before I fall over sideways?

But I didn't fall over...and I didn't stop. When I reached the summit, the riders there could sense my elation and asked if this was my first trip up. They were very congratulatory and said that they didn't make it up without stopping their first time.

(maybe they were just being nice).

Still...it felt good. So much so, that I decided to take on an even bigger challenge tomorrow.

(Announcement to come on my facebook wall)

It's now 5:00 and I am tired. My body got a good workout. It feels good.

Big Wheels Keep on Turnin'

So....

I did my first group training ride 2 weeks ago, and it was really excellent.

When I first arrived, the Lead Rider, Doreen point-blank asked me, "Are you here for the ride, and, where are your glasses"? I was like.. "Ummm. My what?" Not realizing that was a requirement.

I should have known better. She explained how easy it was to get debris in your eyes. I kinda scoffed, (on the inside) thinking she was being a little too over protective.

The ride was great. 42 miles, great group of about 15 of us...everyone working hard. One really big hill, 'La Tuna', people spoke of as if it was legendary. That made me nervous. It was a 5 mile climb. A few said that if I can do this, I'll have no problem on the ride (which made me a little more nervous).

I learned so much that day. How to signal, how to make sense of the gears, how to call out to my fellow riders when there's a car approaching or such. We even learned how to change a tire when one rider got a flat.

We finished the day, and I felt like we had bonded.

I drove home and though, "Man, I should be more tired than I am." It felt great. At least then...

2 days later, my left eye was hurting so badly, I couldn't keep it open..it felt like there was a stick in there.

I thought at first maybe it was pink-eye. I went to the Opthamologist the next day and he looked close and asked me if I work on cars or in a position where I am drilling things. I said no. He said, 'You have something lodged in your cornea."

He used what looked like an exacto knife (It wasn't) to get it out.

It's a week later, and it still hurts.

$80 in co-pays later, I have learned my lesson and will never ride without my new glasses again.

It was still a great ride though...