Thoughts from the Saddle

Every now and then I will post "Thoughts from the Saddle" which are random thoughts or streams of thought that come to me while on a bike ride. The seat of a bike is called a saddle. I wish it was a horse, it has been too long since I have ridden a horse.

I went for ride yesterday, 15 miles. On the Santa Ana River Trail. On Saturday mornings the trail is chock full of walking and running clubs. Not the best choice of time for cyclists. One of those walkers cut right in front of me and not quickly mind you. No a pathetic little shuffle across the trail with a cartoonish little giggle, I am sure because she knew she made a poor choice.

Word to the less wise: Do not shuffle, scuttle, tip toe, meander, walk, lollygag, waltz, wander, skip...you get the idea. Do not do any of the above RIGHT in front of a FAT MAN riding 12 MPH (that's not that fast as far as cycling goes, but it is fast for me) on a fast bicycle. Especially since he is "clipped" in to those pedals. Why? See the following:
THE DEFINITION OF MOMENTUM:
1) noun, physics the product of a body's mass and its velocity.
2) noun, the impetus of a body resulting from its motion
3) noun, driving power or strength
This body's mass is is massive. Therefore, think twice and look thrice before crossing paths with such a cyclist as me.

On a better note. I rode by one running/jogging club. At the very tail end of the group was a guy who was easily 300lbs. just plodding along. Sweaty and obviously fatigued, he kept picking those feet up, one after the other. I rode by him and as I passed him, I gave him a thumbs up and fist pump.

"Good for him!" I thought. I was right there with him. I WAS there 2 years ago as I trained to run a 5k and subsequent half marathon.

Big guys like me have a lot of perseverence. So the rest of my ride was spent thinking about the source of my perseverance...the source in me that can push through pain and ride 63 miles on a bike with a TINY TINY seat (well maybe not so tiny, but compared to this fat a**...well you know).

So I am working on articulating that thought. Tune in later.