Jinx

I think I jinxed myself by starting this blog specifically about biking. September turned out to be not a great mileage month especially with the injured shoulder/chest muscle. So it is time to move forward on what I want to do and not fret so much about what I didn't do.

But a quick update first:

The shoulder/chest muscle is 100% better! Now I know that if I do too many pushups I will hurt myself badly and it will take about 9 days to heal 100%.

This weekend I started riding my new (old) stead- the Specialized Allez 10-speed. It's pretty rockin for an oldie but goodie. I put my favorite saddle from my Mongoose commuter on her, and with a new adjustable stem she turned out to be pretty dang comfortable. She is super light compared to all my other beasts. As I haven't been on a road bike in about a year. I feel comfortable commuting in the morning when the traffic is light, but haven't ventured the afternoon traffic so we've been taking the train the majority of the route home. She is a 10-speed with the shifters on the downtube, and only like 3 gears actually work. Meaning when she is in the other 7 they slip. The chain is really loose and needs replaced I suspect. Also she has these ancient clip/flat pedals that I'm still getting used to. Matt yanked on them for a good 30 minutes this weekend and could only get 1 off. So she needs some more TLC from a professional, maybe next week I'll take her in for some help.

I'm still waddling in my quest to thin out the stable and haven't made any decisions yet. But put several downstairs in our storage area, leaving just 3 bikes in the house to see how I feel about that.

In retrospect (I know I said I was moving forward, but hang on...) I think I was doing too much of the same thing in August and September and burned myself out. I was doing the same routes, at the same times, on the same bike. I think in my older age I'm realizing that 'cross-training' has more value than I've given it credit for. Moving forward I'm going to mix up the routes, intensities and use various bikes along with adding in some weights and maybe a little running here and there. My goal is to be in great (for me) shape by spring. Also I'd like to have the bikes that I need nailed down and the ones I don't going to new homes. I have lost my umph to the commuting. As Jill said the other day, driving to and from work is soooo easy compared to biking. I hate that I've realized that these last couple weeks. But I know I feel better when I ride and the ride home is always sweet even if it is just that 2 miles from the train station. My car is getting still less use than ever before. In fact it had cobwebs in the corners when I was driving last week!