I feel grateful to live near this exceptional bike path along the American River. Also thankful for all those involved in creating and maintaining this public bike path. It's doubtful that a project of this scale would even be thought feasible at this time given the state's budget crisis.
As I've noted previously, getting a pair of bike shorts has made all the difference. I bought a pair of canari women's shorts at REI. The style has 'baggy' shorts over the padded form-fitting part. Love em! I'm waiting for my shorts to dry right now before heading out for a ride this morning. I feel like I need to ride whenever I have the opportunity because the weather has been so great. It could easily be well into the triple digits with smoky rotten air from wild fires (like the last couple of summers). Gotta take advantage of the somewhat clean air (moderate air quality) and the cool delta breeze along the river.The addition of my iPod has made riding even better. I love listening to podcasts and music as I ride along. Makes the miles fly by! One podcast I like a lot is Nutrition Diva. The topics are relevant; she has a wonderful voice; and, the length of the podcast is perfect.
Lately, I've been thinking about biking in a zen-like way. Remember the saying about how a person cannot enter the same river twice because both the person and the river will have changed? It's like that for me each time I ride my bike on the American River trail. I'm usually a little lighter weight-wise (not so much lately as I'm now maintaining) and my legs are growing stronger with every ride. This incremental change is exciting to me!
This week's goal: 100 miles.
~♥~
18 comments:
32 miles in a day is very inspirational! That's awesome.
We have some great city trails around us that I'm also so thankful for. We live in the suburbs and when I run, it's never is fun as when I drive a few minutes to the trails to run.
Also, how you wrote about having less weight and making the ride easier, I can so relate to this, but also it's an inspiring thought because I have a long ways to go and I can imagine how good it will be for my running at an ever lesser weight.
never heard that river saying but I liked it. so true, great progress...
Impressive mileage! It's great that you have that wonderful trail and it makes me so happy to see them popping up all over the country. I used to live right on our "path" but could only afford that in my renting days.
Thanks also for the podcast link. I just finished up all of Jillian's and need something new. They tend to calm me down on my commute and I like to learn something while I drive.
I wish all cyclists wore those shorts you wear. Some of them leave nothing to the imagination! I was wondering what I would wear when I start spin classes. Now I know I have options! Have a great week. Good luck with all the miles!
Congrats on the mileage. That's impressive.
I'd love to hear about any other podcasts you listen to and why. I've not ventured into The Land of the Podcast, but I am sure hungry for some new content.
Good luck with your next challenge.
32 miles in a day? I am in awe! Go get 'em.
32 miles is AWSOME!
You are a really really great inspiration to everyone!
Good luck with your 100 mile goal ;)
Amazing & I love how I feel I am there with you when you wrtie about your rides! So great that you do something you love so it is really not a "workout" for you!
I really like this part of your post: Remember the saying about how a person cannot enter the same river twice because both the person and the river will have changed?
Cool saying.. THX!
Awesome ride! You're my bicyle idol! Thanks bunches for the tip on the 'baggy' bike shorts. I'm just not comfortable with the regular ones.
Wow Lee, thanks for the link!! This may be the reason I have been looking for to buy an iPod. And I can buy it with the money i save from not buying cheese. :-)
At first, I thought her voice almost sounded computer generated, but then I read that she is an opera singer...that explains it.
We definitely should take advantage of the outdoors when the opportunity is there. And you are truly blessed to have such a great place to ride, the health and strength to do so, a good riding partner, the time, the weather, etc.
Way to rack up the miles!! "I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike..."
My summer goal is 100 miles. ha!
Is the American river trail flat or hilly? I have given up whining about hills. I just take them. But I have not given up whining about my fractured arm (yet).
Selma - Keep up the great effort with your running! I know what you mean. The only downside to the trail I ride is that I have to load my bike on the car & drive there.
Tina - Good luck with your awesome gym workouts this week!
Roxie - thanks! Check out the Nutrition Diva & let me know what you think. You might find the podcast about green tea interesting.
Gigi - thanks amiga!
Mother's heart - love your new blog. How you are integrating being a fantastic mom of a super cute little girl while finding ways to exercise is inspirational. Keep up the great work.
Jody - Finding bike riding for fitness has just been key to getting to my goal weight & staying there. I didn't get to go for a ride today & it makes me feel like I've missed something. I truly love riding my bike & challenging myself to strengthen my body.
Cammy - I was not ready for the spandex thing so the baggy shorts were truly the way to go!
Patty - You'll be amazed how your life will change once you beat an addiction to cheese. ;) Let me know what you think of the Nutrition Diva podcasts.
POD - How long until you can get back on your bike? I'm sorry about your poor elbow & knees. I hope you heal quickly. The American river trail has some minor hills, but there is a stretch we just did yesterday that had hardly any. I'm much better with hills now. Most of the time, since they are short hills, I don't even change gears -- I just power through & concentrate on fully pushing my legs.
Lee, I can not tell you how much I have enjoyed listening to Monica!! And the strange thing is I visit nutritionaldata.com almost daily, and never once checked out her blog on that site.
I hope she can stick to her guns and not let her sponsors influence what she says.
I have yet to find a single thing I disagree with her about, and I have read a lot of her transcripts in the last couple of days.
Thank you so much for sharing her with us!!
Patty - I'm glad you are enjoying the Nutrition Diva. Have you listened to or read the podcast about salt? I thought it was interesting.
I am not in a cast and I have found the arm more and more flexible though it's been less than a week. I'm hoping to get back on bike next Saturday, maybe with an ace bandage. Not sure yet. But was doing full elliptical earlier. My sister was screaming about me using my arm but things felt just fine.
I had not listened, but I just did. I had no idea that high sodium intake could affect your need for calcium. I really like her research/investigative approach.
I looked at her book on Amazon, and was shocked at the negative comments about conflicting information. Maybe editors revised her writing and created the flaws, because she seems to be know what she is talking about.
Lee, what a lovely post. I liked it a lot for a couple of reasons. First, your willingness to go for a ride alone. So many people don't do things because they don't have someone to do them with. They don't understand how wonderful solo activities can be. Secondly, I'm a sucker for sayings involving rivers, for whatever reason (perhaps because I have a river behind my house?). One of my favorites, though I'm not sure it's a good thing, was: Sometimes our lives are like rivers, they go where they have to, not always where we want them to. OK, now that I think about it, I think it's a good thing, involving forgiveness. Oops, I'm rambling here. Sorry, but I do like your blog and have become a follower. Keep on riding!
Kathy - Love your river quote. Thanks for the kind words. I like your blog a lot too.
Go girl go! 100 miles? Jeez!
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