This week John is trying to learn new (and possibly better) ways to ride a mountain bike, and Patrick is sick and ruminating on all the days he spent trying to get faster when he should have just been in bed. All that and Paceline picks for your listening pleasure.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:08 — 40.4MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS
Show links:
Random thoughts…
Robot mentioned how it feels to go back a bit, to being the slow guy because you’re trying to figure out this new thing. I can relate.
I’m a lifetime skier and during almost all of my working life, went up to VT to ski every weekend. I got married at 51 and never had kids, making this possible. Sometime in the mid to late 90’s, I decided to try snowboarding. This isn’t just trying a new pedal, this is like riding a totally different bike, a bike that you shift with your feet and the rear wheel turns. I’m on the beginner hill and I mean beginner. Little did I know, there was a steep headwall on this slope that I had never noticed on skis. I was really concerned about hitting people and stayed miles away from others. I was a total noob. After graduating to the novice slopes and riding for a day, everything hurt the next day. A lot. Arms, shoulders, back, neck – all pain. I gave up. I had limited time and a day riding was a day not skiing.
However, it was a learnig experience in that it was incredibly humbling, something we should all experience from time to time. I had a lot more respect for the first-timers trying to figure out how to slide on snow. Seriously. It’s safe to say that I needed that lesson, too. We all do.
So, good luck with the new bike and pedals, Robot. A few years ago, I decided I really don’t want to crash anymore, so newmtb stuff may not be happening for me.
@Dan – I’m a Vermont skier too. And what’s funny about that is that I didn’t learn to ski until I was 46. Growing up in Alabama, it wasn’t a thing. So I’ve spent the last few years climbing up from total noob to solid, mediocre skier, and honestly, I love it. I ski almost no black diamonds. I just like being on the mountain, and that’s a good tip for the bike too. Some days it’s just nice to be out there, rolling, without a thing in the world to prove.