I did the bike commute today, step 5 or something on my path back to semi-fitness after the Long Dark Month of my Bicycling Soul. Okay, January to mid-February wasn't that bad, but I literally didn't do anything physical other than gimp around on crutches for two weeks, then nothing other than a slow shuffle for the two weeks after that. The legs and lungs are non-functioning right now. It was fine this morning despite the constant mild discomfiture - 24 degrees on the way into work (Sweet Mother of Pearl was it cold) and 40 on the way home. The route home was actually worse; there was a steady headwind, and between that and the dry conditions, it created a bit of an asthma attack.
If you don't have asthma, you probably wonder what it's like. It is a complete PITA., for one thing. Imagine having a chest cold, and a lot of green mud in your throat. Now imagine snorting some black pepper, so that you start coughing a lot. Now imagine laying on your back and having somebody roughly half your bodyweight stand on your chest. Now try to cough and breathe. I don't want to over dramatize it. But that's what it likes, and it sucks, and among other side effects it makes it hard to pedal a bike. I wasn't really sure if it was asthma bugging me on the way home today, to tell the truth; I'm so bloody unfit I expected some coughing and wheezing and general discomfort. But when I started to get an upset stomach from it, it seemed wise to stop. Two hits on the rescue inhaler (albuterol), two minutes rest, and the cough stopped and I had a pleasant ride home, and it was a lot easier to pedal and breathe. Not easy and fun like it is when I'm half fit and in decent form, but a lot better than it was. It was a needless extra reminder that my fitness level right now is in the valley, and I'm looking at a long slog uphill.
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If you want to know what a good domestique is supposed to look like, check out this fascinating article about Shane Battier, who is clearly the most under-rated player in the NBA, if the article is even half-truthful. It's the very picture of a team player. It also makes me wonder if the "moneyball" approach is going to change how the NBA does business.
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You know what I hate? People who run red lights in traffic on bikes at rush hour.
I don't mind people doing the courier thing when they are alone. When there are two riders at a red light, and one guy burns the light and almost gets hit, the poor dumb bastard who waited for the light to turn always gets crowded into the curb by pissed off motorists.
The guy running the light inevitably is riding without a helmet.
Doing this, is like picking a fight with the biggest guy in the bar, but doing so by saying "my buddy over there says he's going to kick your ass!" It's a bit of a dick move.
6 comments:
Jim, dude, are you using anything on a daily basis for that asthma? Sounds fairly serious.
Yeah, Advair. It's usually controlled but cold weather, particularly when it's windy with low humidity, brings it on. Nothing to be done about it.
Jim
As much as I hate to admit if of any pharmaceutical, Advair is good stuff. I've also found that using my albuterol inhaler just a couple of miles into a ride helps prevent attacks further on. Doesn't work if I use it before I begin, though, which is weird.
Good luck with the rest of your slogging.
Argh. I hate the dummies who run the lights, while you're just sitting there, trying to spread some good vibes.
Every time someone gets hit on a bike, and it makes the paper, the first thing that pops up in the comments is, "Well ... if bicycles want the same rights as cars, they should follow the law, blah, blah, hate, anger."
DANG IT! I wait for lights! Can I do just one ride without getting curbed of close-passed?
Just like the phenomenon where cars in the other lane really do go faster, the light runners allow motorists to generalize, and take it out on the rest of us.
Great article thanks.
Jonathan
Kali - right on. Advair usually works. I'll try that early-in-the-ride thing.
Womble - one of the problems with scofflawery is it gives jerk motorists an excuse to be jerks. We shouldn't give them such an easy out.
Jon - yr welcome.
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