I wake up every day and I want to get on that bike.  The more I ride the more I like it.  Just as with anything, the more you do it, the more you learn.  I’ve learned the following things:

1.  Hybrid bikes are nearly indestructible.  I don’t ever have to do anything to that beast and it isn’t anything special, just a middle of the road Giant.

2.  Road bikes are temperamental beasties.  If I’m not screwing with rims, tires or chains, I’m trying to eliminate a squeak or groan in the crank or gearing.

3.  When you are feeling strong and the bike is working well, riding a road bike is like flying.

However, when you bonk, it’s all over and there is no fun to be had.  I have read about the dreaded bonk before but figured I was still too young and tough to have that happen.  Bonking is for sissies for crying out loud!  Ha!  I needn’t worry about that……

Live and learn fat boy.  I bonked on Friday night.  I was riding down the parkway, bucking a decent headwind on my way back to town.  I could feel the burn of the acid building in my thighs but I was still feeling ok….until I got to where the par 3 golf course used to be and suddenly I could barely stay on the bike and was in pure agony.  I gritted my teeth and kept pushing.  I’m tough right?

No, I’m an idiot.  I had an energy gel in my bike seat bag.  I should have pulled over, downed that thing and waited a couple of minutes but there was a guy about 300 yards back that I had dropped on the last climb.  I gritted my teeth and kept pushing – everyone knows that if you have 2 guys on bikes, you have a race, right?  In addition, I don’t like to lose so I kept on.  It wasn’t far to the Liberia crossing so I could make it.  After I crossed Liberia, I more or less coasted back to the house.

It’s taken me the better part of 2 days to get over that bit of lunacy.  I am eating very carefully as I’m trying to lose some weight so it’s been a real struggle to not eat everything in sight.  Today (Sunday) isn’t so bad but yesterday I would have eaten a bale of hay if I thought it would’ve helped….

Be careful and don’t bonk.