A Week Off Helps Even A Non-Athlete Gain Improvements

A couple of weeks ago, I enjoyed a week work training trip to Corpus Christi. I had been biking every day and was doing ok, feeling less tired by the end of the week! Nervous about losing my habit, I made arrangements to have Brett haul my bike down there… As things work out sometimes, we missed our connection and I arrived in beautiful Corpus, bike-less.

The hotel was right on the bay with sidewalks for miles of walking…and the ‘gym’ had both dry and steam saunas. Both classes and conference were really informative. All the varied cuisine was a heavenly treat! I savoured every unusual bite, knowing that once back home, I would be lucky to find a gyro.

Time would have been scarce for biking anyway. Two mornings I went boogie boarding on a friend’s borrowed board, A couple of evenings I walked along the bay. A warning sign said ‘no using the dry, steam sauna, alone’ kept me out the first day, but really who wants to sit in a small sauna with a perfect stranger! My home really needs a dry sauna!

Monday, incarcerated back in College Station, I hopped on The Beast and pedaled off. I was nervous it would be a hard ride. It was Beautiful! 32 minutes later I was in my office! That is 8 minutes off my average! With No extra effort!! My entire next week of pedaling was smooth and easy!

I am not even an athlete. I ride 4-5 days a week, 16 miles per day, usually averaging 40 minutes for my 8 mile commute. Yet even my performance improved after a rest week.

Moral of the story: No matter what level of ‘training’ you are doing, taking a rest week after 4-8 weeks of steady activity will gain you faster time and improved performance ease.

Back in Blogging

I haven’t blogged in awhile because my bike commutes have been fairly routine.. But suddenly I have a back log of comments and need to find time to clean up my blog…( I spent some time looking at some really great blogs on Zen, poetry, organic gardening, solar, tri-ing, weight-loss.. so very many truly incredible individuals out there with a flair for dispersing their view in an informative entertaining style, that so capably wrings an empathetic response!

I have experienced exercise gain/speed gain from the ‘rest week’ participated in a large organized ride, experienced my first 30 mile ride, been humbled by the thoughtful donation of another cyclists ‘hand-me down’ gear, found a new place to live, bought a car that gets 45-52 mpg. And have survived day one of CrossFit Training!!

Check back because plenty of the things I have experienced will benefit from your feedback!

Bike Thoughts

Legs working

Everything smooth

Quietly breathing

Sunrise hidden in cloudbank



Day softly illuminates

Cows watching, wondering

One horse trots the fenceline

Dogs guard their territories

Rising temperatures

Burn back clouds

Heating mesquite blossoms

Heavily into air


Sweat slicks my arms,

happy for the breeze downhill brings

Rasping , I make the top,

stopping for water and a fig bar,

smelling the briar rose climbing a cornerbar

While watching zebras whisk wiry tails patiently

in the shade of the live oak we shared.

Bees bumble, furry legs walking, while tasting my bike


25 miles.

Now I only pedal

Heat melting up from sealcoat

Blistered palms slipping on grips

Slower, yet still I pedal

Back into town,

peaceful sounds of early Texas morning surrender

to whistling trains and humming dually tires



Three miles to go

Slower, still I roll

Calcio cat, ’61 vw

Scent of lavender

Wheels roll into my driveway

A beautiful morning

To wash my bike!!

Texas Democratic Caucus

I rode my bike to the caucus yesterday. After all, somehow I became a precinct delegate, and got voted to the nominations committee. I was a bit nervous to be pedaling thru this neighborhood. It almost qualified to be considered a rough area. But having reconnoitered the location ahead of time, I was aware that the less then 100 parking spots were in no way going to be enough for the expected turnout of 700-900 county level democratic delegates.

What amazes me is that our government is still around.. And sort of considered a world power (world bully, if you will)! Believe me, I am not some hyper aware, democratic rabble rouser. I’d probably be more inclined to accept labels such as libertarian, green party or anarchist. What an unaware, unorganized social gathering populated by the concerned; with awareness levels spanning the spectrum from completely unaware but wanting a change to educated by other’s opinions from late night tv; to the few possibly truly educated Phd’s who were there subliminally supporting their own agendas. Unfortunately I would count myself pretty close to the completely unaware, undereducated, concerned individual.

The only Zen of the day, was the bike ride to and from…Substitute Caucus for Circus and you have a more descriptive term for the three ring event. Prior to the county caucus, I received a 44 page booklet written completely in legalize. These were the rules. Each one of these carefully worded, politically correct sections circled around the laws and loopholes of party regulation while being as clear as obsidian. I translated what I could into laymen’s terms in the corners.

Even at this low level; who you know and money matters, LOTS! Some people Wanted to go to the state caucus. Some people Wanted their friends to go. The democratic party is ALL about Equality and Balance. Privacy is shoved aside as unimportant as they wish you to respond to questions regarding sexuality (are you straight, gay, transgendered, bi), What religion do you claim, What languages do you speak… ETC ad naseum.

If you are a protestant midget of Peruvian descent that is transgendered and speaks 3 languages with a high school education AND you are a democratic delegate… What attributes will another delegate selected need to have to provide a balance for you; aside from being ‘for’ the opposing democratic candidate. Oh and its your money, vacation day’s from work and time that you will spend, should you be elected as a state or federal level delegate. BAH HUMBUG.. But this is till better then having another primate in office.

Hours later, I slowly pedaled home. Being neither wealthy in funds, nor vacation time, I declined to be a state level delegate. These posts went to the fanatics, the monied, and the retired. Are these individuals’ true representations of the Democratic American public? You tell me. Personally I don’t think so.

The 8 mile week

Out of abiding generosity, my boss shared his sickness. … You’d think with the marvel of separate offices. I wouldn’t have caught this! Sun, Mon, and Tues, I spent sleeping, cranky and whiney. Strep throat sucks. Antibiotics make my stomach queasy.

I came back to work Wed. But I got a ride. Same with today. I actually pedaled in yesterday, but not home… I am still tired, stiff and creaky.. I know at least half of that is from not riding except 8 miles all this week. Pedaling the 16 miles per day has pretty much become such routine that I feel better when I do it then when I don’t!!

I actually miss The Beast today. I looked over to be it is usually parked and there is a big empty space where is it usually leaned up against my desk. I think I will ride it to the county democratic caucus tomorrow. After all it will be a long event since I am on the nominations committee, so pedaling in will help me sit still.

In the 3 months I have been pedaling, this is the First week that I have not ridden at least 3-4 of the 5 days. I think part of my physical sickness is probably lack of my routine exercise and lack of hearing the birdies chirping their predawn songs as they begin to stir about while I am bike commuting in.

I can’t wait to be back to bike commuting next week!

Weather ad Protien Snacks

Yesterdays pedal home was interesting but Not tasty!

The area was experiencing wind gusts from 22-35 mph (mostly from the direction I was coming from) SSE. I flew home with almost no effort and made it in 31 minutes!

Let’s talk about Texas weather. Two Firday’s past, I was screaming & jumping up & down like a kid. There was real Snow falling from the sky. Huge, soft, fluffy flakes. Not the ice that Texas typically gets. Last Friday, I almost melted on my way home. It was 87 degrees and the humidity was 85%. My face felt red, sweat was dripping, I got shaky. By the time I pulled into my driveway, I was shaky and so HOT I was queasy. Even coasting as much as I could, the double pronged fork of the heat index is going to be a major factor for the majority of the year for my bike commuting.

I am wondering will I develop better heat tolerance? Do you have any tips for combating the heat (it’s really a problem when the humidity is high)? Combining elevated humidity, concrete and exhaust from all the trucks is going to make for some warm commutes. Physically, I want to avoid the shakes and queasy feelings!

Texas heat index is the precursor indicating the flying bugs are once again staging a coup for world domination. I have a deviated septum, which really just means my nose is crooked… so I have one nostril noticeably smaller then the other, thus I have been breathing in from my mouth. Yesterday I ate my first CRUNCHY bug!! If anyone was standing in their yards as I passed at the moment of ingestion; I probably appeared t be enduring a grand mal seizure, as I attempted to spit and gag simultaneously! Maybe I need to keep some honey on the bike so I can dip the bugs prior to swallowing them.... create a sweeter protien snack!

!Yet Another Equipment Break-Down!

At least this time it was actually the cheap Target bike, itself!

While I am thrilled to have more daylight after work… I felt like I was pedaling out into “…Night, when words fade and things come alive…( Antoine de Saint). The dark was intense with heavy grey clouds blanketing the sky, only an occasional star winking warmly with a streetlamp glow. Twice I heard large something’s nameless rustle in the bushes as I was passing. Spring break meant I did not even have the occasional ‘howdy’ from a crossing guard to cheer my passage.

Once I settled into a pedaling cadence, I noticed my left pedal felt as if it was loose, wobbling unstably against my metatarsals. I shifted my foot off and spun the pedal hoping the other side was better (stop laughing already!!). If anything it felt as if it was getting shoddier. As usual, nothing for it but to persevere.

Work arrived 32 minutes later. I stepped off The Beast and my left pedal crank arm crashed to the tile. A weird looking inverted shallow socket type bolt beside it! At least it departed company with the bike after I made it to work! I rolled the bike into my new green greenery filled office, placed the crank arm and offending nut on a paper towel then changed into my day wear.

After good naturedly enduring the ribbing from our intern and my boss (a college volleyball player and the guy y’all may know from Zen and the Art of Tri,)Brett offered to take the bike past the LBS today when he went to check on his 1973 Chicago Schwinn. We arrived at the shop just prior to opening, which was pretty cool. I got to witness on of the guy’s riding a brakeless fixey(SP?) back pedal and skid to a halt. It looked pretty cool and I was impressed!

Inside bike jockey/mechs were swarming around, changing shoes, wheeling merchandise outside, taking test spins on bikes. Similar to a specialized circus! We ooooohed the progress on Brett’s vintage Schwinn, and Rob looked over my Beast, got the right tool and tightened the crank arm back on! These bike tech guys are collecting my vast appreciation!

I think I need to ramp up the schedule for acquiring a new to me Commuter/trekker bike to handle my 80 mile weekly commute (and maybe some occasional for fun social bike rides…). I want to spend $6-800 for a complete set-up (bike, front light, helmet…etc since I am borrowing a helmet)( I have a good blinky light, and the rack & folding rear metal baskets should transfer) If you have any pro/con experiences or suggestions regarding this I am all ears!

“The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't. “ ~Henry Ward Beecher