Ride with hubs

Well, hubs and I took a ride together this past Thursday. We went to Harris and rode the beginner and both intermediate loops.

At the beginning, I was so ON...it was great! I was riding things I never ride - I don't think I got off the bike at all until we got to the beginning of loop 2. I had forgotten how hilly and rooty loop 2 is. And not having ridden the trails for a LONG time, I was T-I-R-E-D by then. Then one of my cables came loose and was rubbing against my tire, so hubs fixed that. Then my seat got all crazy on me and was sinking and falling and moving...we never did get that straightened out. Once that stuff started happening, I lost my bike mojo. I was pissed at myself for getting psyched out, but not at all surprised. So I walked a bit of loop 2.

What really surprised me was how freaking tired I was! I can ride 13 road miles no problem - we did 3 trail miles and I was DONE. WTF? But I'll continue to do both, I think. I've come to realize that I enjoy riding on road - it's the freedom to ride right from the house and away from my issues...the calm that comes with just pedaling and feeling the sun on my face and the breeze...But I think I enjoy it differently than trail riding. They are...different. Both fun in their own way.

Anyway, hubs and I had a pretty good time, despite my pissiness and issues during the ride. It still rubs me the wrong way that he can achieve so much in 2 trail rides and it's taken me almost a year to get where I am. But we are different people, have different riding styles and different goals, I suppose. I'm riding because *I* like to ride, just as he is. And we don't have to prove anything to each other.

We just have to ride. :)

Heat Wave!

I don't know about the rest of the country...ok, I do know, I'm just sayin'....but we had a heat wave here in Fuquay Varina. It was in the high 60s/low 70s today! Nice and breezy...perfect day to ride. So I did. And dayum folks! I needed it.

I only rode a couple - few miles (remember I AM fat AND out of shape :P) into downtown Varina, but it felt great, especially the ride home. There was a horrid headwind on my way into town and I didn't think I was going to make it up a couple of the inclined areas, but I DID IT because I told myself I was going to do it and tough shit otherwise.

I took a couple breaks because I had the camera with me...and here are a few of the pics. A couple are actually from yesterday when I drove the truck up to grab some pics of the beautiful graffiti on the boxcars, but otherwise they are from my ride today.

Boxcar Graffiti from yesterday:


This one cracked me up:


Open door graffiti:


From today:
3 Country Buildings


3 Country Buildings from a different angle


Power Pole

Good grief!

It's been at least a month since I've ridden consistently. That is just not cool AT ALL. The older kid has been tracked out for a month...went back last week to school and I haven't been to the gym OR hit the trails.

I'm feeling scattered...I may just hit the gym tomorrow instead of going to the trails, but I'll see. If I do anything outdoors, it will be a few loops at Harris on the beginner trail. I need to build myself back up to where I was. For some reason, I seem to have gained some fear again. Sigh. I can do this...I can do this...I WILL do this.

I can tell it's screwing with me - my moods aren't as high, I'm more apt to be upset about stupid shit, I've gained weight (and god knows THAT'S not needed)...just all around not feeling good about me. So the exercise will help! Yay exercise! (It's usually Yay Pills!)

Biking Mojo

I might have gotten a little teensy, weensy, tiny piece of my biking mojo back. The FCB Mojo Meter is at about 1 out of 10...ok, maybe 1.25.

I rode Harris yesterday and Jesus Christ was I tired. Just 2 laps on the beginner trail and I was wiped. Guess almost 2 weeks of no real riding will zap the endurance. Well, that and some medication that is totally whacked. I thought I loved the abilify...not so anymore, folks. Not so at all. In fact I wrote my shrink this morning telling her I want OFF of that shit b/c I want my energy back, among other things. That med, not riding and being sick are the things that have really reduced my endurance. I'm hoping that I will find that if she takes me off it and puts me on something else, I will regain what I have lost...at least a little.

Anyway, enough of the meds rant...that could take fucking DAYS if I go on. So I rode 2 laps - the first lap was ok...a little slow and I stopped at the place that always freaks me out. Yanno, the place between the trees. But I did the big rooty twisty place at the end that I always psyche myself out at. Second lap was better - did both places no problem, but had to walk one little hill. Just couldn't push myself to do it.

Funny - I got to the end of the first lap and saw a red sign attached to the map thingy that's there. It said something like "Caution - it's hunting season. Although we don't allow hunting on Harris Lake County Park property, there is hunting in the surrounding areas. Please make sure you wear appropriately bright clothing while using the Park." Lovely.