Monday, January 26, 2009

On a roll...

So tonight, as I said I wanted to do, I got out on the rollers with my Speciale Fixed. After a long day, grocery shopping, cooking dinner and then getting the Masidaughter to bed (and reading a bedtime book) it is hard to get motivated to hop on the trainer. However, in light of the extra motivation I have these days to improve my health and a desire to just be fit again, I drug myself out into the cool night to ride in the dark in my driveway.

I picked up my daughter from school and then we went to the store to get a few grocery items we needed. We got home and I fired up the grill and made salads while she worked on her homework. I grilled a lean London Broil steak to eat with the salad. After dinner, Masidaughter had a shower and I answered a few emails. Once she was done and I got her hair dried and the book read, I slowly got myself into my riding gear and drug the rollers and my bike down the stairs and set up behind my car.

It was 9:04PM when I clicked in and began pedalling with my iPod Shuffle providing the soundtrack to keep me at least marginally motivated to pedal. It's amazing how a relatively small gear like a 46x16 feels so big when your legs are tired and you'd rather be sipping a cold beer inside in the warmth. But I kept pedaling and one song moved to the next and the next and then 15 minutes was gone and I thought, "I might try and do another 2- 3 songs". I still wasn't feeling "in the groove" like I had on my rides over the weekend. But after a couple more good songs another 15 minutes had gone by and I was beginning to feel a little less dead in the legs.

Somewhere, somehow, something happens with my body during a 1hr roller workout- almost like clockwork. No matter how good or bad I feel in the first 50min, the last 10min my legs feel absolutely amazing! It's about that same time that my arse decides that it hates my saddle, hates my cycling shorts and even hates me. It seems like I can not find a comfortable spot anywhere on the saddle and I shift my weight again and again. All the while, my legs feel totally invincible- it's during this time that I get those "I could beat (Sir) Chris Hoy if he was here" thoughts. Frankly, it's just not fair or right.

I kept a close eye on my watch so I could be sure to get my hour in- there is just something about that number, that span of time... an hour. I feel like I've done something if I've ridden for an hour. Less than that by even a few minutes and it seems pointless. At 10:04 and as a song wound down on the Shuffle, I began to slow my pedaling so I could hop off the bike... but then one more really good song started and with a big grin, I wound the pedals back up to their highest cadence of the night and I blurred my legs to the ever-increasing beats in the music. By the time the song was done, I was further drenched in sweat and my hour had been extended. My legs felt awesome and my butt went quietly along for the ride.

The Zen had set in. The smoothness of the pedal stroke had been found. I was able to unclip from the pedals at 10:10... ready for my beer and the drier warmth inside.

It was a good night to ride after all.

Tim

4 comments:

Darby Collier said...

When I first got my rollers not too long ago, I fell so many times. I looked like a drunk landlocked halibut trying to flap it's way back to shore. Now it's smooth sailing and my line has never been better. Whenever I decide to get on there and go for it when it's been so busy for me, I can barely drag myself off of them.

I know the zen of which you speak.

Bike Junkie said...

I hear you about the last 10 minutes and sore arse. I have experienced the same thing on my trainer.

Anonymous said...

What is it about that one hour mark? If I do a trainer workout and it ends at 53 minutes I just don't feel like I did enough - and find myself making mental excuses to keep spinning until I hit "1:00" on the computer.

It's totally irrational, but I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking that way. I guess that part of what makes us cyclists.

getinlost said...

I also did an hour on the rollers last night. Just not outside. (It was 5 degrees) And I know of what you speak in regard to the rebellious hind end. I find that just standing for a bit just like on the road allows the blood and nerves to "reset" a little.