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| THE TIFOSI ON A RARE DRY AND SUNNY DAY |
I was riding along the other day on the Tifosi nice and early, getting a ride in before the heavens opened once again, when it crept through my mind........this thought.....
Let me explain.......
Last year I set myself the target of riding 10,000 miles in the year.
I failed to achieve it...not by much, but a fail is a fail.
Yes, I had to stop riding for a month due to a medical problem but the weather was pretty good for most of the year making almost every ride an enjoyable experience....
I even had the trip back from Gibraltar to help boost the mileage but with all of that I still failed to reach my target.
Because of failing to reach the target last year I set it again for myself this year.
This year the weather has been atrocious....we have had so much rain, breaking rainfall records almost every month since April.
I have had some dry rides....on the ride back from Edinburgh for instance it was dry every day except one, but it seems that in the main on every ride recently I have managed to get caught in the rain.
Now I don't mind getting caught by wet weather on the bike now and again, but the amount of rain that we have been having this year has become really tiresome.....
So anyway as I was saying...I was riding along the other morning when the thought entered my head... Why bother...why bother keep going out and riding the bike chasing a target. If it was a nice dry summer....a proper summer....a summer when every ride is a good ride, that would be great.... but this summer...why bother?
Now that was the first time this year that I have had a thought like that and it took me by surprise....It even unnerved me a bit.....
To be honest it made me feel that maybe I won't reach the target after all because my commitment to the task was starting to show cracks.....I managed to suppress the thought but obviously the continued bad weather has started to get to me.......
Oh look! It's just started to rain again and it's time for my ride.........
22 comments:
Trevor I know where your coming from I don't mind getting wet now and again in fact I sometimes quite enjoy riding in the rain, but when you look out the window and it is raining before you set off that is what does it for me
Hi Trevor. Robert the great navigator (Northallerton to Ripon).I know just how you feel, rain! flood!!!! I have recently postponed another run Leeds to Montrose via Kendal, Carlisle, Edinburgh and then home. I can cycle in the rain but the inflatable canoe weighs too much to carry, who wants to camp in the rain anyway, yuk! I am a whinger! It's only postponed. Cycling Montrose to Campbeltown and back in August, Mountains and midges, Some horrific climbs but incredible scenery. Safe riding....
At least your excuse is rain.
Not terminal couch potatoness.
Could it be that you've allowed yourself to be motivated by your goal rather than by your love of the sport?
*mark shaw*
It 's just that it seems almost every day Mark...I'm just fed up with it now.
*Robert Rodgers*
Great to hear from you Robert...Yes camping in the rain is not a lot of fun if it goes on day after day...
Cycling to Campbeltown and back sounds a good-un, let me know how it goes.
I'm planning to cycle from Holyhead across Wales back to Bournemouth in September.....
Perhaps we can arrange to meet up again somewhere next year...!!?
*limom*
Yeah...I'm not too keen on the potato shape..
*Tracy W*
Could be...but to achieve a goal you have to focus on it.....
Tracy beat me to the question. I was going to ask if you're cycling because you want to be out on your bike or because you're chasing down an arbitrary number? It sounds like you're pretty miserable -- and day after day of damp would make almost anybody unhappy -- and might need to take a short break from riding so that you find the joy in it again. What's the point of reaching that mileage if you're sick of your bicycle(s)?
*Melanie Suzanne*
I want to be out on my bike Melanie.. I would just like some decent weather to ride in.....our summer has been a complete washout so far.
I love riding my bikes but I hate this continuous bad weather....
I do intend on taking a bit of a break in August, when Anne and I go on holiday in search of sunnier climes before my final push toward my target...
For me it's not just an arbitrary number- it's one of a number of cycling goals I set myself during my cancer treatment, so it will mean a lot for me to achieve it.
Your one year mileage is what I would get in roughly 3-4 years. Keep on riding Trevor! Your mileage is terrific!!
Peace :)
Unfortunately we don't have your problem with to much rain.
*Chandra*
Thanks Chandra I'll certainly give it my best shot....
*mrbill*
If it was possible, I'd swap our weather for yours for a few months...
*Lidi Horacio*
Hi Linda...thanks for dropping by and linking in as a follower. I.m pleased that you like the blog...
Hi Trevor, we recently curtailed our summer trip because of the rain. Riding day after day and getting soaked is no fun. I wouldn't worry too much about your gaol. Does it really matter if you don't reach it? What matters is you are healthy and able to do it, given better conditions. Don't stress.
Brenda in the Boro
*Brenda in the Boro*
Hi, Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment....Sorry to hear you had to cut short your summer ride due to continuous rain....
You ask if it really matters if I don't reach my target and obviously in the great scheme of things it matters not a jot...however on a personal level it matters to me and this was the first time this year I've had a 'wobble' and it is purely down to the weather. The forecast is looking good from tomorrow so hopefully my rides will improve on the enjoyment factor from then on.....
You're obviously a focused and dedicated bicyclist who has ridden under some seriously adverse conditions. I suspect that not meeting the goal, or potentially not meeting it, causes you grief for some underlying reason. It might make you feel like you are slowing down? Would it be possible to take a summer trip to a sunnier clime for a ride? South of France, maybe?
*Chafed*
At my age I think I feel that if I don't achieve it this year I probably won't be able to attempt it next year...following my cancer treatment it's almost like a 'bucket list' thing.
As for the trip to sunnier climes...plans are in hand. Once the Olympic road race has taken place I plan on being away for the rest of August...
You are an inspiration! And I sincerely mean that. I have been catching most of the tour, but I can not say all.
Thanks for the post!
RL
*rlove2bike*
Thanks a lot for that comment it is much appreciated.....enjoy the last couple of days of the tour..
I sympathise with your problem as I am having to modify other targets in life this year for various reasons. It's difficult but I realise that even though you may have set yourself an achievable target in dry weather, sportsman have fluctuating success every season very often for things outside their control. Never surrender :-)
*J_on_tour*
A good point J....
During this past week I have re-calibrated my thought process concerning this target.
I am now thinking, that to achieve it in a year that has had such abysmal weather, will make it so much more worthwhile doing...just seeing the positive I suppose, which is back to my normal thinking when it comes to setting goals....
Hi Trevor, hope you got out and enjoyed sunny weather today. It would all add to your target.
Brenda in the Boro
*Brenda in the Boro*
6o miles by 10.00am Brenda....
The afternoon was spent watching the TDF....history being made.
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