RSS FeedAfter much frustration waiting around for our stuff to arrive, Adam and I were able to put our bikes together and test the single speeds out on the giant hills of San Francisco. It was awesome. I love city riding, the rush of chasing/being chased by cars, and the added bonus of heart-pounding, vein-popping, quad-ripping hills is promise for the most fun on a bike I can imagine.
Adam and I took a short ride from our place up to Fort Mason, just next to the golden gate bridge, and back. This ride took us up and down some scary hills, and at several points riding up a hill in Presidio Park I needed to stop for water, and so my heart didn’t explode. Aside from that one hill (it took probably 10 minutes to climb, its both long and steep), I did pretty awesome. Starting Monday I’ll be biking to and from work everyday, so I plan on improving my climbing abilities significantly and quickly.
This is the summer of getting ripped. Adam and I started crossfit training last week, and I haven’t been able to fully bend or extend my arms since. Its incredible how 20 minutes a day, 3 times a week has already visibly increased my muscle mass in my arms and legs. I’m positive that all this cross training is going to improve my performance in both running and biking. And after all the crazy shit they’ve made us do working out, I’m sure that my mountain biking ballz will also expand. Big ups and wheelie drops, here I come! (…maybe).
I’ve been in CT a week, and its been a whirlwind. So far Adam and I have been mountain biking with his brothers and friends 4 times (i’ve gone 3), I’ve gone running once (I’m stepping it up starting tomorrow). Adam’s also done another marathon, and started at a new personal trainer. I too, will be joining him at personal training at least twice a week for the summer, starting 6am wednesday morning. I’m so pumped to get my ass kicked, and thus get totally ripped. http://www.crossfitconnecticut.typepad.com/
Every morning has been fairly regular so far. I wake up late, have a large cup of tea by the pool, and proceed to lay out getting tan until I’m too hot, then I jump in the pool and swim a bunch of laps. Repeat through a late lunch. All of this has been followed up by about a fairly long mountain biking adventure, where I’ve been learning how to use my “new” 1995 specialized stumpjumper and her accompanying clip shoes. I’m getting pretty nimble at climbing over some big rocks, and even better at flying downhill over them. I’ve yet to faceplant, or have any other serious falls. I just need to practice more to get better. Plenty of time for that with the frequency of our rides.
So its shaping up to be just about the best summer anyone could imagine. I just wish I had a few of my chicago friends laying by the pool with me. I miss everyone, and will definately be making a round of visits in the fall, where I will do feats of strength to show off my rippling muscles.
today is the best day all year. the birds are chirping, the sky is (hazy) blue, and the temperature is somewhere in the 50’s. Totally out of left field, as days earlier I was writhing in pain as my fingers thawed out from a particularly cold night ride home. Today I left my studio early to run some errands, and was overwhelmed with joy to ride without my balaclava or gloves. tonight i’m going out for drinks with some friends, and i’ll be sporting exposed ankles, as I will not have to wear my giant baseball socks. Spring is on its way!!
riding in chicago is generally the most fun thing I can imagine – It feels almost like going down hill the entire way to school, because its so flat out here. After a few hefty stomps on my crank, I’m off faster than anyone else on the road.
But we’re probably moving to san francisco, and it’s gonna be a different world of commuting for me – i’ve barely ever even seen a hill, or a mountain, let alone biked them. So i’m practicing here as best as I can, by stomping up the few “hills” that are along my bike route.
This week I’ve managed to smoke every other biker i’ve seen struggling up the mountain interection of Desplaines and Milwaukee – its probably one of the city’s highest points, and usually something I’d sit back and try to coast over. but all that’s over. I pushed it so hard up that hill the past couple of days that my ass and quads have actually been sore by the time i get to school, and I feel them throughout the day. while its still poor preparation for the hills ahead of me, I’m looking forward to at least being able to crack a walnut in my ass cheeks by the time we move. and i’ll probably get a small crank too.