A turn around the basement

Got up this morning at 5:15 and rode the trainer for about 30 minutes, enough to work up a sweat, but not near the sweat I would work up if I were to try and ride in this 98 degrees of humidity. Felt a bit odd to be on Rocinante again, after so long -- I even had to pump up both tires, and re-educate myself about the shifters. And that saddle is harder than Racer's. Not to mention the still and humid air in the basement which, though not hot, is conducive to sweat.

But enough whining. It's come to my awareness that if I want to stay or get back into shape, I have to do something about it. I was so inspired last year, and did so well, and it was equally as easy to stop, and I did that well, too. But I have to understand that when I am laying there deciding whether to get up, it's mewho has to decide; no one else will. Though Mei tries sometimes -- and she has been an inspiration to me since in the past several months she's become a real regular on the treadmill, and beginning to show it. The tandem helps, too, not only the riding itself, but the fact that Anna wants to do it, and doesn't hesitate to push me about it.

I also had a bit of a learning lesson earlier this week. After the flat on Racer, I noticed that my frame pump doesn't accept Schrader valves (like Racer) just Presta's (like Rocinante). "Aha," I thought,"an opportunity to vist Budget again." Fortunately I examined one of the newer Blackburn pumps and noticed, on the back of the package, instructions on how to reverse the valve. So I spared myself the embarrassment of having one of those insufferably young bike guys explaining the patently obvious to me. The valve's now reversed, and I feel like I accomplished something in doing so; though I didn't get a chance to spend anything -- yet -- at Budget. That's coming, though, the roof rack is there and it don't come cheap -- though it's kind of cool in that it pivots, so I don't have to lift the heavy (44 pound) bike clear up there, and can do it myself. (I must be getting back into the cycling mode because I read the Thule catalog while eating breakfast).