OF THE FICKLE NATURE OF FITNESS
by Steve Strain, Club President 1996-1999
December 1998
I learned an amazing thing today. One does not stay as fit if one does not do much
riding. In September I was charging up hills, and knocking out sixty or seventy miles was
nothing. Then the time changed and the evening ride turned into a cold beer and the
television and doing a lot of planning about riding and running and reading about cross
training. I even watched one of my race videos to remember something about riding.
And I made the mistake of running over the holiday weekend. I ran at the end of October
and felt good. The legs were strong and I was not short of breath. Not so at the end of
November. Today the legs are sore and I spent most of the run gasping for air. Maybe it is
better to stay on the bike. Better yet, maybe I should just reconcile myself to the fact
that I will not be in the shape I was in this summer. The problem is that I remember those
rides even if my legs tell me no.
John Whitely wrote several months ago about taking it easy and seeing a little more of
the world when one rode. Stop and smell the roses. While the roses aren't as prevalent it
is still good advice. I was out on a Sunday ride that Bill "Micro Cycle"
Chambers led. We were riding at an easy pace because that's what Eddie "B" (the
legendary coach) would have us do this time of year. We rode into the Battlefield and soon
I was sprinting. Standing in the pedals and racing past some riders who took up the chase.
As someone passed me and I tried to muster the energy to catch him I realized how nice
it had been back with the pack. It was pleasant to ride at a reasonable pace and talk and
look at things. So I drifted back and let the fast group go. The roses smelled good.
As some of you know, my father succumbed to a lengthy illness the first of November. It
was a long journey for myself and Miss Karen to watch him waste away to a shadow of
himself over the last several years. One thing that helped sustain me was the club and
riding. The friendship and companionship were a great comfort to me and I would like to
thank the club for that. We were also very pleased that the club sent flowers to Dad's
funeral. It was good to see the CBC card and arrangement and my family was very grateful
that my "bike friends" were such caring people.
Riding does not solve problems. Rather, it has given me time to think, to pray, and to
realize the blessings that we have. I think of my dad often when I ride. I thought of him
this summer in Colorado riding in the west that he loved. So if on a ride I appear
sometimes to be talking to myself, don't be alarmed. I'm just talking to Dad about the
ride.
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