The week started off poorly. I overate and took the bus to work and back on Monday and Tuesday.
Kristy, my ex-wife, recently joined a gym, and wanted a workout partner early Wednesday morning. She understandably didn’t want to drive the ten miles to pick me up, ten miles back, then do it all over again to take me home. 40 miles uses gas and time.
She suggested I ride out to the gym to meet her on the folding bike, then she could give me a ride to work. I scrambled to get the bike back from my daughter, who hasn’t been riding it recently. After tuning it and taking care of the neglect it had suffered, I packed it for the next morning. I used my large Arkel touring bags on the tiny bike. Not only are they the only bags I can make fit on the tiny rack, but I needed the storage capacity for clothing and commuting stuff. The bags are so large on the bike that I have to be careful to avoid leaning too much on turns or the bags rub the ground.
The ride was uneventful, which surprised me on Taylorsville Rd on a Wednesday morning.
After seeing the gym and signing in, I changed in the locker room and met Kristy by the weight machines. I demonstrated how to use them and got a workout myself. I may have overdone it on the machine that works the abs, I still hurt.
Overall the workout felt good, but it did aggravate my neck and shoulder. I need to build strength in that area. Riding the folding bike didn’t do me any favors either.
After showering and dressing for work, Kristy dropped my bike and I off at work. The 3.5 mile ride home after work was easy, even on the tiny bike. I rode about 13 miles for the day. I may continue to join her for workouts, but I’ll ride the recumbent to the gym, then work, then home, giving me 25 miles or so. It’ll save my neck. I also need to start getting to bed earlier. It’s hard to get to the gym before work when you oversleep. I’m really good at sleeping. I get a lot of practice.
Today I rode the recumbent. It was cloudy and windy with threat of thunderstorms, but I never did get rained on. The rain came after I got home. I’ll be on the recumbent again tomorrow for the commute. It’s much easier on the neck.
I’m on planning on riding on Saturday so I can spend most of the day with Robin, but on Sunday I have tentative plans to ride with the RCCS for an Indiana gravel ride. I’ll be on the ‘bent, which should be interesting. I think 40 miles is planned.
I have ridden gravel on the ‘bent before, but never a long ride. We’ll see how it goes. I’ll be slow, partially because I’ll be on the ‘bent, and partially because I’m out of shape.