Yuge family party scheduled for this afternoon.
Wasted most of my morning ride window swapping my bottle cages (should be a 5 minute job, right?). Look at the clock and figure, how much trouble could I possibly be in for being late to a party? Say screw it, I'm my own boss, I'm gonna ride. Pull my bike off of the work stand and realize the rear tire is flat. Looks like my challenge ends after 2 days.
Struggle replacing the tube, but finish it in time to take a quick shower and make it to the party.
I began to feel totally defeated. The first 2 rides have caused me a lot of discomfort and tenderness, but I also realized that I REALLY love riding and my personal essence has suffered without it ("my personal essence"? Christ, I sound like some new wave hippie dipshit - but I don't know how else to explain it).
Not riding is how I've gotten into this mess; fuck it, I'm riding.
Asked my oldest daughter to drive her sisters and come back for me after my ride, and I jumped on the bike.
Within the first few minutes, everything hurt; legs, hands, neck, butt, lower back, feet etc. By the last few minutes, I desperately wanted to keep going, but I needed to get to the party.
Check out my activity on Strava:
https://strava.app.link/INkoLKWABhb