Yesterday, the "team" and I participated in the 6th Annual Tour de Wayne; a cycle ride (not a race) through Wayne County, TN. The start of the ride was AWESOME! We were with the pack, traveling at about 20-22 mph, the roads were good, the adrenaline was pumping...and then we turned off the main road through Waynesboro and it pretty much went downhill from there (yet in a totally uphill, challenging way). The first big hill lost us our positions within the pack, which was a little disheartening, but we'd said all along that we were going to take it slow and at our own pace. But the roads continued to degrade as we cut through the early miles. We were on tar and chip, which is bad enough, but the condition of the roads was atrocious. Pot holes (both patched and unpatched), huge areas of gravel washout, and areas that just went beyond potholes and washouts (it was as if the road crews had just thrown out the essential ingredients for making a road and left it to form itself into a road). It was stressful to say the least; something no one in our wee team has ever really had to deal with. Not only were we concerned about a crash, but the damage our bikes were incurring.
And then the mile six event happened. Reggie and Steve were ahead of me, climbing a hill that from where I was didn't look that extreme. I popped into my middle gear in preparation, but when I hit the hill it was much worse than it appeared. I stupidly popped into the granny gear while I was putting the brunt of my weight on the pedals and my chain popped off. Later, the SAG guy who rescued me from mile 31 said, "let me guess, your foot slipped off and tried to bury itself into the ground." Uhmmm, yeah. But, at the time I didn't feel anything amiss. One of the cyclist behind me was nice enough to stop on this god awful hill to pop my chain back on and I was once again on my way. It wasn't until the mile 12 rest stop that my right groin muscle started to tingle a bit. By the time we reached the next rest stop, somewhere around mile 22, it was aching. In retrospect, I should have stopped, or at the very least, dropped out of the 67-miler and finished the 33 instead. But I didn't want to do it by myself and I didn't want the guys to cut short their ride because of me. So, I toughed it out for another 10 miles. And by the time the SAG truck passed us my leg felt like it was on fire. I graciously bowed out. I spent the next two hours with my leg on ice as I waited for the boys to finish. Imagine my surprise when I got a call from Reggie saying that they were at mile 39 and dropping out because of exhaustion and general pissed-offedness.
I think the guys were a little more disappointed in the event than I was. Sure, the roads were rough, and I really think the ride organizers should have better informed us about the state of the route. But it was challenging, physically and mentally, and I liked that. Our rides tend to be physically challenging, but mind-numbingly boring (ie, they tend to lack the technical difficulties that made Tour de Wayne stressful). But, and the boys can feel free to correct me, I think Reggie and Steve *expected* to finish a 67-miler. Tour de Wayne is not a cake walk, and the only 60+ mile ride we've ever done was a relatively flat course in Clarksville. I think Tour de Wayne has taught our team some vital lessons. Like not shifting gears on an uphill. Or expecting too much out of yourself when you are essentially new to a sport. Our "youngest" rider, Steve, literally went from struggling to complete 10 miles to struggling to complete 60 miles in a matter of a few months. I'm the most seasoned, with just at a year of riding, and Reggie is a month or two newer to cycling than me. I think it was agreed by all on the journey home that we need to back it down a level, and pwn a couple of 30-mile rides before we move onto metric centuries. There's nothing wrong with pushing ourselves to the limit, but we've got plenty of room to improve our riding performance in that 30-45 mile range.
So, even though Reggie says he will never do the Tour de Wayne again, I can easily see this ride becoming our cycling nemesis. We'll get you next year, Tour de Wayne! Next year!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
My Moon is Upside Down
Anthrocentrism sometimes blows my mind. The latest example occurred last night when Steve casually asked, "What's wrong with you?" I was staring at the giant map of the moon on the bedroom wall. I replied, "I am upset that because the field of astronomy had its start at a time when the seat of human civilization was in Western Europe, therefore placing extra attention on the importance of the North Pole, has made my map of my moon upside down."*
"Say wha?"
But it doesn't stop there. Not only are maps of the moon upside down, but so are globes and maps of the Earth, the Sun, and every other heavenly body humans choose to represent in 2D or 3D. And even more than that, surely this must affect how we visualize these objects within our own minds. Just think how much of our civilization would be different if the seat of civilization had been in New Zealand. The North Pole would be the South Pole, our perception of going up and down (in a directional sense) would be backwards, we wouldn't have the Man in the Moon (and all the cultural references that have sprung from it); our world would figuratively be flipped upside down. Who knows how many things about human civilization and culture would be different had the first maps or globes favored the "South Pole." It's mindblowing.
Damn you, Western Europe for all your scientific and technological growth in bygone eras. Your arbitrariness strikes and inflicts upon the world still. First you screw us all over with the Prime Meridian, and now the "North Pole!" The astronomers of the world can get together and decide that Pluto is not a planet, yet my map of the moon is still upside down. Where can I go to report this injustice?
*Those who thoroughly support the North Pole and its predominance should not take special offense to this post. Of course, my map of the moon isn't really upside down, but neither is it right side up. My point is to not argue that the South Pole is more important than the North, but rather that it has been unduly convicted to a lifetime sentence as the world's underdog pole because of geopolitics and history.
"Say wha?"
But it doesn't stop there. Not only are maps of the moon upside down, but so are globes and maps of the Earth, the Sun, and every other heavenly body humans choose to represent in 2D or 3D. And even more than that, surely this must affect how we visualize these objects within our own minds. Just think how much of our civilization would be different if the seat of civilization had been in New Zealand. The North Pole would be the South Pole, our perception of going up and down (in a directional sense) would be backwards, we wouldn't have the Man in the Moon (and all the cultural references that have sprung from it); our world would figuratively be flipped upside down. Who knows how many things about human civilization and culture would be different had the first maps or globes favored the "South Pole." It's mindblowing.
Damn you, Western Europe for all your scientific and technological growth in bygone eras. Your arbitrariness strikes and inflicts upon the world still. First you screw us all over with the Prime Meridian, and now the "North Pole!" The astronomers of the world can get together and decide that Pluto is not a planet, yet my map of the moon is still upside down. Where can I go to report this injustice?
*Those who thoroughly support the North Pole and its predominance should not take special offense to this post. Of course, my map of the moon isn't really upside down, but neither is it right side up. My point is to not argue that the South Pole is more important than the North, but rather that it has been unduly convicted to a lifetime sentence as the world's underdog pole because of geopolitics and history.
Good News is Better than Bad News
...and I've had both this week.
My spine doctor has an uncanny talent for freaking me out. Oh sure, he's a nice enough guy, but this week's visit resulted in him telling me that my pharmaceutical options for pain relief were pretty limited and the next step would be epidurals twice or thrice (love that word) a year. Not a good outlook for someone who just discovered this little medical ailment a few months ago. I was really expecting a good four or five years of good meds before the shots got introduced. So, class this is as the bad news.
The good news is that my physical therapist is way more optimistic. She's confident that not only can she relieve the majority of the pain, but that if I so desire, she can have me running (occasionally) within three or four months. And how is she going to work this little miracle? Well, stretch my spine at physical therapy and then follow that up with exercises that will strengthen the deep core muscles which will keep my spine stretched. So, in theory, and with a little time and work, I could be back to a reasonably normal life.
It seems my doctor and my physical therapist sit at opposite ends of the spectrum regarding spinal injuries. She says he freaks out all of his patients because he tends to be ultra conservative about the abilities of the human body. This makes me feel a little better, but there is also the thought that she might also be very liberal with the abilities of the human body. Me? Well, I'm going to take the more middle of the road approach. I'd already come to terms with a life without running, and to be honest, ye olde knees were starting to feel the impact anyway. But it would be nice to occasionally play soccer again, or racquetball,...or any of the other things that I like to do.
But the best news of all, my physical therapist says that cycling is great exercise, and she doesn't think I could have picked a better substitute for running. Yaaaaay!
Oh yeah, and electroshock therapy FTW! :D
My spine doctor has an uncanny talent for freaking me out. Oh sure, he's a nice enough guy, but this week's visit resulted in him telling me that my pharmaceutical options for pain relief were pretty limited and the next step would be epidurals twice or thrice (love that word) a year. Not a good outlook for someone who just discovered this little medical ailment a few months ago. I was really expecting a good four or five years of good meds before the shots got introduced. So, class this is as the bad news.
The good news is that my physical therapist is way more optimistic. She's confident that not only can she relieve the majority of the pain, but that if I so desire, she can have me running (occasionally) within three or four months. And how is she going to work this little miracle? Well, stretch my spine at physical therapy and then follow that up with exercises that will strengthen the deep core muscles which will keep my spine stretched. So, in theory, and with a little time and work, I could be back to a reasonably normal life.
It seems my doctor and my physical therapist sit at opposite ends of the spectrum regarding spinal injuries. She says he freaks out all of his patients because he tends to be ultra conservative about the abilities of the human body. This makes me feel a little better, but there is also the thought that she might also be very liberal with the abilities of the human body. Me? Well, I'm going to take the more middle of the road approach. I'd already come to terms with a life without running, and to be honest, ye olde knees were starting to feel the impact anyway. But it would be nice to occasionally play soccer again, or racquetball,...or any of the other things that I like to do.
But the best news of all, my physical therapist says that cycling is great exercise, and she doesn't think I could have picked a better substitute for running. Yaaaaay!
Oh yeah, and electroshock therapy FTW! :D
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Update
Apparently, last night's ride was a little more rough on me than I realized. I walked into the office today and my lovely, ever-honest supervisors announced that not only am I dragging ass today but I look exausted.
Thanks. Thanks bunches. This weekend 60 is going to be a blast!
Thanks. Thanks bunches. This weekend 60 is going to be a blast!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Ride Nite Highlights
The Reader's Digest version:
Great sunset ride, saw a dead cow, Steve nearly got side-swiped by a deer on a dare, I nearly got side-swiped by an AARP member in a Caddy, survived Dog Alley, went to Mexican, Steve came out of the bathroom and too loudly proclaimed that he could feel his junk enough to take a wee-wee and so the new saddle is a keeper.
In other news, I am once again employed. Two cheers for a steady, if meager, income. I swear, some days I think this master's degree is not worth the poverty I am enduring. It better pay off, that's all I'm sayin'. :D
Great sunset ride, saw a dead cow, Steve nearly got side-swiped by a deer on a dare, I nearly got side-swiped by an AARP member in a Caddy, survived Dog Alley, went to Mexican, Steve came out of the bathroom and too loudly proclaimed that he could feel his junk enough to take a wee-wee and so the new saddle is a keeper.
In other news, I am once again employed. Two cheers for a steady, if meager, income. I swear, some days I think this master's degree is not worth the poverty I am enduring. It better pay off, that's all I'm sayin'. :D
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
