Side by side the list of "CANS" is much bigger than "CAN'TS"!

     Life may be complicated, but I have to admit, one of the easiest things to do is make up excuses.  Too hot, too cold, too dark, too light, too heavy, too far... the list goes on and on.

     But this weekend I was going to get on my bike, come hell or high water... Luckily I only had to face the latter:)

     The funny thing about me and excuses is, I anticipate a possible excuse, and execute my back up plan, just in case I decide to play that card.  

     Last Saturday was cold and rainy, but I was confident Sunday would be the day I rode.  However, Sunday morning I got up and saw the raindrops hitting the puddles from the downpour the day before.

    But I told myself I was going to ride, and I meant it!  There were a few of us that planned to ride, weather permitting, but in the event we all came up with the excuse that it's too cold and too wet, I knew I better do my workout just in case... and so I did...

     The plan was to meet on the other side of the Maumee River, just outside of Downtown Toledo; at international park.  As you'll notice, when I arrived I could see a million reasons why I didn't want to ride.  It was 53 degrees, cloudy, and puddles everywhere. Okay, so maybe not a million, but enough to present my case:)

     If no one else showed up then I was home free, because I know riding by myself isn't safe; that's just silly!!

     But it wasn't long before my first riding buddy, Robert, came riding up. His bike is his usual mode of transportation, in spite of his MS. He also rides on team Leapfrog, and even further than I do. Robert proceeds to tell me he had three others who decided it wasn't a good day to ride.  But I was there, so I figured I may as well do this.

     As I was feeling pretty proud of myself, riding in spite of already working out that morning, all while inside a body that felt like cement, because of my MS,  (damp weather does that to me) I became humbled very quickly when I started thinking about all of the excuses Robert could have made up...

                              

 He rode his recumbent bike through downtown Toledo, as I pulled up in my car. 

        He modified his pedals on his bike to fit his bare feet, because his MS causes him to not feel them with his shoes on.  And just recently he added this AFO device to his right pedal to keep his foot from slipping off.

          If I used all of the excuses I have up my sleeve of why I can't ride, I wouldn't have seen that this was a very pleasant day for a ride after all.  

          I mean, it isn't often you see the high level bridge from this angle.

     And it also gave us a chance to test our skills on this VERY tight corner...

     And it was fun getting a little history lesson in, as we rode past the Willis B. Boyer, that was docked on the Maumee river.

                         

       And I discovered the geese aren't just at Olander Park; I wonder if they're following me, just to see how crazy I can be.

     I want to tell them I'm not as crazy as this guy, who rides his bike in his bare feet through puddles and 50 degree weather... 

     But I guess it goes to show you... You can make excuses, or you can make it happen.

          So as you stare at that list of great excuses of why you can't do something... start making that list of all the things you CAN do... I think you'll see it's much, much bigger!!

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

Cold AND wind is a perfect excuse to skip the ride...

     You know I'm very strong willed, and I can do anything I put my mind to; or at least come up with a great excuse!

     Last Saturday was a perfect day, in the seventies and sunny.  I knew spring had finally arrived.  So I made plans to take a ride Sunday with a few friends, and though it seems to be tough getting others to start riding until the weather is balmy, I thought it would be nice enough to finally get them out.

     Then on Sunday morning everyone seemed to have "something" going on.  I did manage to get my riding buddy, Robert to have pity on me and go on a ride.

     Time was limited, so we needed to make it somewhere close.  I was already looking for a change from the university Parks trail after ridding there twice this season, so we decided the Green Belt Parkway, which is on the outskirts of downtown Toledo would be a good choice.  

     Yes, this day was cold again and the wind was blowing, but I had no idea just how bad it was.  one thing I did know was, if it was windy, there was no way I was riding my bike on the streets of downtown, because it would be a perfect recipe for "road kill".  

     I remember last summer we met in downtown to get to the Green belt Parkway trail, and as I was riding on the busy street I had to veer ever so slightly to dodge a storm drain, and I swear, I felt a huge truck skim my arm hairs.  Add some wind to the mix and I would be toast for sure.  So we planned to meet in International park, which was right by the trail, across the river.

     I got to the park before Robert, and it sure wasn't as nice of a day as I thought it was.  Notice the flags whipping in the 30 mile an hour wind, and then add that to the 47 degree temps and I had all the excuses I needed to tell Robert I wasn't riding.

     You can see the clouds were even traveling faster than the speed of light, and I would be a fool to ride today.  But I had to at least act like I was attempting to ride, so while I waited for Robert I took my bike out, and started pumping up the tires.  I did not want to ride at all, but I really had to make  the "attempt", and my excuse had to be worth while.  

     The thing is, I forgot to down shift my gears when I ended my ride last week, which happens all too often.  Of course, everyone knows it's not good for your bike if you shift the gears when you're not pedaling, and I knew there was no way that even my strong leg could cut through this wind; it would absolutely feel like cement.

      I tried several times to push off with my strong leg and hope to get the pedal around to throw my week leg on, but it was impossible make the turn.  Oh well, at least I tried...

     Just then, Robert showed up after riding through downtown, while in his bare feet no less.  He rides bare footed because he can't feel the pedals with his shoes on. Now I felt guilty suggesting we skip it, but I made it seem like I was looking out for his best interest.  However, when I told him it's too cold for him to ride in his bare feet he said he was perfectly fine... ugh...


     Next I told him I did a dumb thing on my last ride and left my bike in the highest gear, and I tried, but can't possibly cut through this brutal wind...  once again he had a solution to my problem.  He lifted my back tire, turned the pedal and changed the gear.  I guess my excuses were all used up...

     Sure, there was a smile on my face, but in my mind I was thinking about being somewhere warm and sunny...

     If I don't have a valid excuse I just can't quit, so we took that ride, and though it wouldn't be long, I thought at least I could get some pictures of the signs of spring, but this was all I saw.

     In my book this was not what spring looks like.  But before long I found my sign that spring was coming.  I saw my first Forsythia bush of the season!   

     I told you I'm not a quitter, and I know I'll be looking at warm sunny days eventually, but for now I'll just be thankful I'm riding.

     It seems like every excuse comes with a solution to over come it, and we usually learn something when we do.  In this case it was as simple as knowing after riding in thirty mile an hour wind it sure looks like someone needs a hair cut:)

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

If at first you don't succeed...

        So we re-visited International park across the Maumee River again, because the trails I mastered with my comfort bike needed to be tested now that I have my road bike figured out  (or so I thought).

Notice the sign pointing the direction... That was just one of a few

     Some of the unconventional trails, I've discovered, come with many hidden challenges and one I never saw coming was this...

     I rode this before on my old bike and how hard could it be on my new bike since I'm a pro now??

    Going up an incline on a trail with a sharp "V" turn may not seem like a huge deal, but turn a little too sharp and the bike flips right out from under you.

     I have to confess... I may have freaked a little and rode into the grass, then bailed and ended up in a heap on  the ground.  But If you know me, you also know I'm not a quitter... I may have given in temporarily, but I never give up!  So I had to go back later and do it the right way:)

    Being I had admitted already that I had this bike figured out, what happened on this bike ride was something I planned to take to my grave (at this rate it may be sooner than I think...) because how could a fifty one year old fall off of a bike...

     But then I was talking to a friend who's my age that told me she was running once and hit a crack in the sidewalk and went flying.  I guess we all go flying once in a while; the circumstances just may be a little different. 

     I began to think back to when I was a young teen and I was riding a horse and it was spooked, catapulting me into the air and on to the ground.  I got back on without batting an eye, so why is it any different just because I have a few years under my belt?

     I got back on the horse and now the bike!  Just more proof that I won't give up on anything:)

Have a great day!!

Christine:)

     

International Park

     International Park is another great place to ride; it's just over the Maumee river.  The flocks of geese coupled with the Toledo skyline make this a sight for sore eyes.

                                         

          While we were riding we made a quick stop at the Toledo Rowing Club to visit our friend Kristina  who was also on Team Leapfrog in the bike to the bay.

                                             
     

     Then we were back on our way to finish our ride 

     This is where nature and city life finally meet.

Have a great!!

Christine:)