training ride 3: childish enthusiasm
So, I’m watching this movie tonight, and one of the characters offers this advice:
Never lose your childish enthusiasm, and things will come your way.
In my case, it was the ground that came my way. Gently. It’s amazing how the brain can form a plan in a tenth of a second, modify the plan a tenth of a second later, and finally execute the plan in the next tenth. Kinda like this:
- (t = 0.1 s) Hey, that boulder I so skillfully avoided with my front wheel has caused my rear wheel to change directions. I’m going to be catapulted somewhere—might as well figure out where.
- (t = 0.2 s) I’ll grab onto this fence to stop myself.
- (t = 0.3 s) Forgot something. I stopped myself, but the bike is still moving. And it’s attached to my feet. Let me try to land and roll onto my left hip in this nice soft patch of mud here.
Training ride 3: 23 miles (including some stuff not shown on this route)
So—pain is temporary. Bruises and scrapes will fade. And no matter how tired your legs tell you they are, they’ll probably give you a little more power if you just ask ‘em.