Head Games

What goes through my head on a long ride?  Good question.  Before I started doing these rides, and I tried to imagine myself alone on a 12, 18 or 24 hour ride one of my main questions was "what will I do during that time?  Won't it be boring?"  I assumed that it was a lot like a road trip in a car, and for me, 10 hours in a car is forever.

On my first few long distance bike rides I took my Ipod and listened to music.  I still have my Ipod stuck away in my bag, but it's been a long time, and many rides, since I listened to it.  The reason is that there is just so much to see and do.  Stuff is happening all around me when I ride and I don't want to miss any of it - and the Ipod is too distracting.

Imagine standing at a picture window in your house: you see the trees move in the wind and you see the sun on the grass.  But it's one dimensional.  You're in a climate controlled environment that you can make warmer or cooler with the touch of a button.  You can see the trees move, but you can't hear them because of the TV or the music you have playing in the background.

Now go outside.  You're no longer watching the world through a portal, you're surrounded by it.  360 degrees around you as well as above you and below you.  You hear the trees moving - not just in front of you, but behind you as well as on either side of you.  And you hear the chirping of the birds, and the buzzing of the bees and the high pitched whine that only humming birds make.  You feel the sun and the wind on your skin, and you can smell the grass and the honey suckle.

When you ride a bike, you're a participant in life, rather than a mere observer.  The minute I put the ear bud in (I only wear the one in the right ear so I can hear cars coming with the left) I've destroyed the experience - in the same way you would if you listened to your Ipod while you watched a movie.

And while life is happening around me, I'm constantly checking the body gauges, like you do in the car.  Am I too hot (do I need to unzip my jersey some more)? or am I too cold and need to zip it up?  Am I thirsty? or hungry?  How far to the next check point?  What kind of food and drink will be there?  How's my time?  Do I have enough in my time bank to get me through what's ahead of me, or do I have time to burn?  How's my bike?  Tires still look firm?  What's causing the squeak from hell? How's my body feel - any unusual aches or pains?

Checking the body gauges takes only a moment, and every thing's fine.  What kind of bird is making that strange warble?  Where is it? - I can hear it but I can't see it.  That's an unusual wild flower - I'll have to remember to look that up when I get home.  Grandson Jack's nose was running yesterday - allergies or is he getting a cold?  I'm hungry for french fries - gotta watch for a McDonald's.  How much water do I have?  Is it enough?  There's a sprinkler on in the garden up ahead - make a decision on the water, quick!

How's my cadence?  Do I need to shift to an easier gear and pick up the pace?  Tushie break - time to stand a pedal for a moment.  Middle of the afternoon.  Podium girl I've been married to for 23 years, and my fan club of assorted grand kids should all be nose deep in the swimming pool by now.  Probably playing their 1,000th game of Marco Polo.  Check the body gauges again.  Unzip the jersey to bit more to help get me up and over the Horsetooth hills.  Swimming pool would sure be fun right now.  Marco. . . .