Clueless cyclist, that’s what I am at this moment. Road rules, forget about it. Gears, I’m working on it. Oncoming cars, they freak me out. If I want to compete in triathlons of any distance there’s a lot I have to learn; stuff that I hadn’t even considered when envisioning speeding past other riders and setting personal records. Nope, I’m clueless and delusional.
Belief is a powerful tool but it’s not enough without the physical practice. Training under specific conditions is required in order to prepare for racing. I’m not prepared for racing. When it comes to training I’ve got years of experience on me. Come race time I’m a novice with a lot to pick up. I’m also one of those people who hates not being able to do something. I believe that the only obstacle in the way is me. I decide whether something is difficult or easy. Most things worth having are difficult in the early stages, but with time they get easier. It’s like it was with running. I never thought I could run more than thirty minutes, now I’m signing up for a marathon. I never thought I’d survive living in a foreign country; I did it for almost four years.
Nothing is impossible if you want to achieve it. Take the leap there will be a net to catch you. The first few steps might scare the heck out of you, but with time the act will become second nature. Just remember to prepare for it. Setting out to cycle up a mountain if you haven’t done much training on flat terrain is silly – and yes, it’s something I considered, though today’s ride got the idea out of my mind.
I’m going to continue going to RPM classes a couple times per week but I’m going to motivate myself and get in the habit of getting on my bike at least twice per week and hitting the road. There are bike paths everywhere on the Gold Coast, pretty much every street has one which is perfect. There are also many cyclists here; lots of triathletes in training making the most out of the conditions available. I had a look for triathlon clubs in the area and there are a few available. It’s all a matter of find the most suitable one, and from the new season I would like to sign up with one so I can have professional advice on how to improve my speed, form and endurance. Plus there’s also the added motivation of having to meet someone at 5am for a training session when all you want to do is stay underneath the warm doona.
Jarek and I were walking through Broadbeach today with our bikes. Naturally, we were on the footpath trying to decide whether we wanted ice cream, a freshly squeezed juice or coffee. Then I hear a guy smart mouthing to me about taking up the entire footpath. Now I don’t have eyes at the back of my head, if he wanted to walk faster and past us he could have just said, ‘Excuse me,’ and I would have happily got out of the way. I’m sure he was just having a bad day and I hope it improved but it put me off having anything at all and we ended up riding home instead. To top it all off we forgot our house keys and were waiting outside our house for my brother to come home and unlock the door. By that time I was starving and succumb to a home-made jam donut.
It was a great day for cycling. Sunny with temperature of 22 degrees Celsius and only a little bit windy. It’s almost the end of autumn, and we’re still getting these lovely days. I love living on the Gold Coast.
Catching our breath in Southport with Marina Mirage in the background.
We rode past this little bike track for juniors to learn to cycle and couldn’t resist taking a photo. I felt like a junior myself today when it comes to cycling.
Cycling in the streets is so different to out in the countryside, I love biking in forests but refuse to cycle in Dublin. It’s mental here with buses and trucks, not that many bike-lanes. Good luck to you getting the hang of it, sure you will – marathons are much tougher:)
Is there something like a Traffic Skills class in your area that you can take? I hear that sort of thing really helps.
Also, I’ve found that quieter streets are worth going a mile or two out of my way to use.
Have fun as you’re getting used to cycling!