I’ve been doing solo rides for about a month now. At first, I was doing something like 50 kilometers. Gradually, I was able to do a ride to GuoXing/國姓, climb Route-136, and back to TaiPing/太平 for over 70 kilometers. When I didn’t feel like going that far away from town at all, I did Gold Dome loop with the 2 kilometers climb in the end to Metropolitan Park for 5 laps. Yesterday was a big success, I did my solo ride out further- I took Tai-21 off Tai-14 to Tai-8, and Tai-3 home for a total of 110 kilometers. Today as I planned to climb in the neighborhood, I did WanGaoLiao/萬高寮, Gold Dome, and finished it up with HuaShan/華山.
When Sean told me that I was “wasting” his weekend time when I told him I was going to ride with my team on Sat., I realized just how true it was. Right then I decided that other than races, weekends would be for family. I felt great with my choice and Sean was happy when he saw me as soon as he opened his eyes in the mornings. When I felt a bit discouraged seeing everyone’s photo updates on their weekend rides on Facebook, it motivated me even more to go out on my solo rides once the workweek began. I guess "family first" put me in a win-win situation!
I so wanted to take Sean to school by myself even through his grandmother could talk him also; which meant I couldn't start my rides until past 8 a.m. God knows how much I hate riding in the heat and the humidity; but it was definitely worth it when I saw just how happy Sean was to have me there in the mornings. In the added return, I got much more sleep in not having to get up well before 5 a.m. trying to ride with any early morning before work riding groups. Again, it was a win-win situation.
I had not really been following anything on my training program at all but had been having a blast riding. I took my time enjoying the beautiful scenery, taking pictures, talking to dogs that wanted to say hello, and listening to music occasionally. I might not even be able to stay with anyone on a group ride anymore but I really do not care one bit. Making Sean happy knowing that I have to play both Mom’s role and Dad’s role is the only way that’s going to make myself ride contently. I think for the first time in a long time, I am happy when I ride again!
Good for you!! I think I told you on Facebook, but I only ride on Saturdays and home by 9am! PERIOD... the weekend is my families... not intersted in some of the group rides that you get home at 2pm anymore. I don't ride fast because I am alone, but now there are a few that ride at my time and things are improving (though the routes are still the same... a 40km loop if we stretch it out) and given I rode over 10,000km last year... you can guess how many loops I did! ha ha... Funny, now that more and more of us are coming together to ride, sometimes I find myself a bit annoyed because of the group dynamics and I had to cut short what I wanted to do. I rarely will comprimise my family time... Its funny, it used to take hours to ride 100km, now.... I just go out, bang out 100km and home in 3:45, tops... LOVE IT! There's a lot of solace riding alone... (and boredom at times too...)
ReplyDeleteWe have our routine, I go out, Gj takes Eirik to soccer, I pick Eirik up from soccer while Gj rides and everyone is home before Emily even wakes up at 10:30! I rode 100km, Gj 45km.
You can still be very competitive even if you train solo a lot... My 3rd place on the first day of the ToF in Thailand proved that... you're very tough....
you need to write more on your blog.... I need stuff to read! lol!
Virgina, riding solo isn't so bad as gym time or running alone. As you've found the head time fills in the normal conversations and your own pace will pick up because your not constantly adjusting to others stopping for this and that every few kilometers.
ReplyDeleteWhen riding alone, the hardest thing I have to do is to slow down or even stop when I see something that'd be a great photo. Such a combat decision between hitting that high pace and have photos to share.
Still, the ending idea of family only on weekends is truly great. I'd finally done that regarding work a few years back and it's been a solid decision.
Luck to you and family.
Michael
Tina: The feeling of not belong is a bad one. Speaking the language unfortunately doesn't do me any good. However, I had to find a way around it so I could ride happily again. I have tried to go back to a couple of group rides just because I needed to overcome the bad feelings but as much as I am getting used to riding solo now, I miss my riding brothers in Hualien bad.
ReplyDeleteGoing for a long ride away from town isn't bad at all but doing silly laps makes me look like a fool. When I was riding round and round around the HSR station and one lap after the other around the Gold Dome, I had to imagine that some cyclists were doing it with me.
I now just have to put Sean in the center because it's more than anything in the world to me when he is happy.
I wish I had more stories to write about but I really don't have any friends, really in town yet. To make myself content, I just have to go out for rides despite how much I dislike riding in the heat.
It's sad but I seriously need to find the friendships I had in Hualien... I am trying to survive in this big city.
Michael:
ReplyDeleteMaking Sean happy makes me very happy and content. I can not ride solo and/or with anyone knowing Sean isn't happy. My new iPhone really added more spices to my rides now- I have a GPS, I have a route being recorded as I go, I have a nice build-in camera, iPod, and just about anything I possibly need in one little hand-held. I think I am the luckiest solo rider ever.
As much as I want to make weekends available for my family, it doesn't mean we cannot ride on one of the weekend days at all. You still owe me a ride, don't forget that. If you can manage it, we can always try to ride earlier and I can turn around for home before you do. It's like a group ride and a solo ride in one, isn't it?