Jake Khuon's Casual Ponderings and Pontifications

Back in the saddle and it hurts

I just returned from my first real ride since returning to cycling after a three month lapse. Here's some lessons I learned.

1. It's not a good idea to "ease back into things" by going out and doing a 38 mile offroad (albiet gravel fireroad) ride that involves 4000 feet of constant climbing.
2. The Selle Italia Flite is a wonderful saddle and I love it dearly but when you've been off the bike for a while, your butt has "lost that loving feeling" and spending hours on a narrow saddle bouncing over rocks is no better than going out to the construction site and sitting on the business end of an operating jackhammer.
3. After getting used to being the one who's able to ride away from your pack of friends on the hills, once the table gets turned, you better get used to that bitter taste of humble pie.
4. If your goal is to ride through the tunnel at the pass, better check the schedule to see that it's actually open during the winter so you don't have to lug that friggin 2 lbs. light setup for nothing.
5. No matter how much you're suffering, the beauty of nature and the outdoors never gets lost.
6. It's a good feeling to be riding again.
7. It's easier to stay in shape than to get in shape.