After 4 months of hibernation my bike isn’t dead
In an attempt to lose weight and get healthier, the missus and I got bikes last summer. I have to confess that my years of living in London have made me soft and we only ever got them out on the nicer days. I stopped trying to brave the conditions sometime around October. When we got them, I made sure we had everything needed to keep them in good nick; weather covers and tools for maintenance. I didn’t get any lubricants or cleaning stuff, because I wasn’t sure which ones to get or the best way to apply them. I am always reluctant to look on YouTube or Google for answers as there are always several hundreds of ways how not to do it.
I have quite a few friends who are keen cycling enthusiasts and a few that I would consider expert level cyclists. As I mentioned before, I have been suffering from depression and, as such, I am considerably more withdrawn than I have been for a great many years. I want to contact people, but don’t. I want to visit my friends, but never have the money, the time or the inclination to push through the pain. I have discovered that people are very reluctant to take the time out of their schedules to make the trip all way the to London or even across the city to visit. That’s not to say there haven’t been visitors – just very few and infrequent ones.
I finally got in touch with a friend, Nick, who gave me some useful advice and some great encouragement, as well as a link to a cyclist named Ernest Gagnon, who is substantially larger than myself. He not only cycles, but competes in races and has the backing of a good few equipment suppliers.
So, with this in mind, I finally uncovered the bike yesterday, expecting to find rust and masses of sheltering insects and spiders. Happily, this was not the case. The only tiny bits of rust were on the chrome brackets holding on the pannier frame and no insects. There was, however, plenty of dirt and a bolt that had undone itself and fallen off. How this happens to a stationary bicycle, I have no idea!
The temperature was very cold yesterday and was made worse by a stiff breeze coming from the North-East. In May of this year, I will have lived away from Scotland for 18 years and I have definitely lost my resistance to the cold. I admit it – I have become a soft Southerner!
In order to make the most of this determined state of mind, I am conscious of doing too much too soon and restricted myself to two laps of Victoria Park before heading back. My usual workout during last summer was to do 4 laps of the park. My lessened version seemed like a good way to ease myself back into cycling.
The cold is still going to be a major factor in how long or how often I want to go out, but I also have to contend with those days where my back pain means that I can hardly straighten myself. Other factors that I have to find the determination to fight through are the usual ‘saddle-sore’ pains and numbness caused by my weight cutting off the blood to my lower body and of course the reclusive/depressive state of mind.
Great to know my bike hasn’t died waiting for me to love it and use it again. It was far less painful than walking around the park, but I think I will save the walking for the days where it’s too cold and I want to wrap up in clothes not conducive to cycling.
AVANTI!
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