Cycling Thoughts

Saturday I took part in the annual Redbud Classic here in Oklahoma City.  Saturday consists of bike rides (options of a 10, 33 or 52 mile ride) with Sunday consisting of runs (I believe 5k and 10k).  It is a great event.  I did the 33 mile ride, given that I have barely touched my bike all year.  Hear are some thoughts that passed through my head during the ride:

-I need to exercise more.  For 28 years old, I’m far too out of shape.  This should have been a fairly easy ride.  It wasn’t.

-Everything is better when it involves community.  Cycling is a beautiful picture of community.  You pull people along when they are tired, slow down for them when they need a partner, you push them on, it gets reciprocated.

-Hard things get easier with time.  The first half of rides always kill me.  Mentally and physically, the last 17 miles are easier for me.

-We conform, without question.  My friend Lance noticed, in the first few miles, that we were the only ones riding in the left lanes (the entire street was shut down).  Everybody else was crowded into the right two lanes.  We enjoyed 5 miles of stress free riding with good conversation.  What would life look like if we rode in the outside lanes?  I’m learning to question things, in a healthy way.

-Pancakes are motivating.  Had it not been for the pancakes waiting for my mouth at the end, I might have quit.  Lance did the 52 mile ride (he’s a beast) and told me there were no pancakes left when he finished the race.  This is why I will never do the 52 mile ride.  I like pancakes.

-Regardless of how much pain you are in, God’s creation is awe-inspiring to look at.

-Kyle is at The Masters right now.  I hate him for that.

-Though it might sound awesome, riding through the smell of BBQ at 7:08 in the morning is, in fact, not awesome.

-Monstrous hills starting at mile 28 are pure evil.

-I’m thinking too much.  I should focus on what I’m doing.

-Pancakes.