Back on the Bike

I thought about what my opening sentence was going to be for this blog and I thought that it would be along the lines of "I completely forgot what it felt like to be back on the bike." The only problem is that I hadn't forgotten what it felt like to be on the bike. This is what was so hard about the last eight weeks. I knew that the legs would feel great as they turned over and over, clocking up the miles. I knew that my body felt natural and powerful when riding. I knew exactly how much I enjoyed doing it. It is just that my body wouldn't allow me to do it. I had to be patient and I needed to fight the temptation of jumping on too soon. I had to make sure I was able to withstand the pressure on my back.

Well, this morning, eight weeks almost to the day of the horse riding accident, I jumped back on my bike and it felt good. I can't truly describe the feeling of being on a bike. It's a feeling like no other. It makes all of my worries disappear. When I get on the bike, my mind clears completely and I am focused. It is, as Lance Armstrong famously said, all about the bike.

Today, I rode for three and a half hours. Not solidly, but at a decent pace, stopping every now and then to drink, or sit and watch the activities around me. It was hot and I managed to re-gain my cycling jersey tan line (or freckle line) but most importantly, the legs (and back) felt as though it had only been yesterday since I rode, rather than two months ago.

I hope to get out again tomorrow for another ride. Mile by mile, I will get my fitness back...