Free Verse Friday: Musings on Immunity to Bicycle Burnout
A Note from Fatty: I know, it’s been a long time since I’ve done Free Verse Friday. How silly of me.
Another Note from Fatty: No, actually I don’t have another note. That’s kind of refreshing, isn’t it?
Musings on Immunity to Bicycle Burnout
So
I was reading this story
A story by a writer and rider
I admire
OK I envy her
There I said it
So
This writer rider
Talks about doing the Death Ride
And how she was burned out
And just phoned it in
So
She wrote so well
About being so tired
Not exhausted-tired
But burned-out tired
I’ve heard of that before
In fact
I’ve heard of this thing
Bicycle Burnout
Recently
From a few people
Who had seemed to love bikes
More than I do
Which frankly
Seemed a little bit suspicious
It seems most people
Get tired of riding
For a while
Every once in a while
But I don’t
I never have
Not once not ever
I want to ride my bike
Pretty much every single day
So
If I had just one superpower
(And I definitely have more than one)
It might be this
That I love riding
Permanently
And without exception
And without interruption
Period
Thank you.
Comment by mike | 08.1.2014 | 9:13 am
So true!
Comment by Jim Tolar | 08.1.2014 | 9:37 am
Except when it’s *the feet*. Remember when *the feet* forced you off? When you didn’t want to ride?
It’s like that, except the Noodleator went ahead and rode anyway. And then she wrote that awesome post about it.
jt
Comment by Jon | 08.1.2014 | 10:11 am
I have a bad case of burnout at the moment. Everything you wrote is spot on
Comment by UpTheGrade, SR, CA | 08.1.2014 | 10:14 am
My legs hurt often
sometimes the pain says
“you’re getting stronger”
sometime “you’re breaking down”
my butt hurts often
sometimes I can’t move to a non-sore spot
but through cycling I’m cheating time
and recovering fitness of youth
and so I keep going
and its fun to get faster!
Thank you Velo Gods.
Comment by Jenni | 08.1.2014 | 10:51 am
She is just the most ridiculously inspiring writer. I totally get it. Been there. Janeen, give yourself permission…to become a runner.
Just kidding. Don’t do that. Take two beers and call me in the morning.
Comment by Doug (Way upstate NY) | 08.1.2014 | 10:56 am
Nope, never experienced that feeling ;)
Comment by old guy who likes to ride | 08.1.2014 | 11:23 am
Thanks for sharing Janeen’s (and your)writing & riding & images. Death Ride is near home and on the bucket list.
Glad to see a cold beer is therapeutic to others as well.
Comment by UpTheGrade, SR, CA | 08.1.2014 | 11:24 am
Here’s an idea for the adventurous planning 100 MON:
How about 589 MON, from Nowhere to No Where, that is Nowhere Co (that the Noodleator rode to last year), to No Where Nm. Sort of a mini great-divide-tour.
Maybe I’ll do this next year if the stars align!
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/32.9878052,-104.812485/Nowhere+Rd,+Eckert,+CO+81418/@36.2721578,-106.8702629,7z/data=!4m10!4m9!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0×8740b439dd6d74bf:0×4a8f1a92fdbc1761!2m2!1d-107.9718922!2d38.8501347!3e1!5i1
Comment by Anonymous | 08.1.2014 | 11:41 am
@UptheGrade
I’m game if you are! Next year!
Will we see you at the Marin Century this w/e? FC Kit on a Calfee Tandem. Hope to see you.
Comment by MicroTim | 08.1.2014 | 11:47 am
Good to see Free Verse Friday returning! I would like to see the ‘Blogroll’ section updated.. I really enjoyed the story you linked!
Comment by Eric L | 08.1.2014 | 11:48 am
“I want to ride my bike
Pretty much every single day.”
Me too.
I wish you were my neighbor Fatty.
Comment by Marty | 08.1.2014 | 12:09 pm
Another reason I love reading this blog: it makes me feel normal. Where else can you admit to owning four bikes ( I know, I only have four, but I’m working on it) and that if I could do only one thing it would be to ride a bike, and all of you nod your head and say ‘Yep, I know how you feel.’
God bless bikes and God bless Fatty.
Comment by Tom in Albany | 08.1.2014 | 12:10 pm
I’ve never gotten tired of riding. I’ve gotten tired of bike commuting, though. Same 2 or 3 routes every day with having to wake up at 440AM every time. It gets old. With an interstate to cross, I have limited options on getting there with the time allotment.
That said, I always love to ride my bike. Even when I hate the route, at least I’m riding because (everyone say it with me…) a bad day on the bike is still better than just about everything else!
Comment by TK | 08.1.2014 | 12:14 pm
I chuckle at people
Who get so serious
About riding their bike(s)
Without getting paid to do so.
Then they complain
About being burned out
As if they were forced
To ride, and train, and suffer.
Go out and ride
For enjoyment
Or to stay in reasonably good shape
Or any other number of reasons.
When it stops being enjoyable
Due to over-training
Or Strava
Or whatever else.
Slow down and take a look around
Or stop and find something else to do
Nobody is making you ride your bike
Dammmit.
Thank you
Comment by MattC | 08.1.2014 | 12:32 pm
Right (write) on TK!!! I must be strange…cuz I love my bike(s), right up until I don’t. But the don’t is always temporary.
Fatty…I’m thinking you should do the RAAM solo next year (my bro Greg crewed for a guy this year…crewing is ALMOST as hard as riding it turns out). ANYWAY…I have to think you’d be singing a diff tune for a while after that…can you IMAGINE sitting on a bike seat for 20 hours a day for 10+ days STRAIGHT? I can’t…never ever in a million zillion years.
OR….another race you should try (Fatty) is the Great Divide Race (also just occurred recently)…2470 miles of the continental divide TOTALLY SELF SUPPORTED…THAT would get you ready to NOT be on a bike for a bit too me-thinks.
But anyway, glad to have Free form Friday back. Tho I was totally NOT free form…but wait, if it’s “free” form, then ANY form is valid. So never mind…
Comment by MattC | 08.1.2014 | 12:34 pm
ooh…it’s “Free VERSE Friday”, not “Free Form”…rats…I’m totally not compliant. ACK! I did it AGAIN…now I’m making it worse!
Comment by New Zealand Ev | 08.1.2014 | 12:39 pm
Just want to ride
It’s Sat down here in NZ
Just want to ride with no worries
No pressure
No stress
Just ride to feel the joy
That riding brings
The joy of being able once again
To go up and over Dyers Pass
And around the Bays
Just want to ride
Comment by wharton_crew | 08.1.2014 | 1:35 pm
I’m burned out on cycling.
But infinitely moreso
on being fat.
So I ride.
Amen.
Thank you!
Comment by Noodle | 08.1.2014 | 3:45 pm
- Tk
Sorry you felt like I was complaining.
Now I feel like I there should be some ’splaining.
But my interest in ’splaining is seriously waning.
I write how I feel, it’s a form of… debraining?
Ride on
Noodle
Comment by UpTheGrade, SR, CA | 08.1.2014 | 5:30 pm
Anonymous aka @DavidH
I am not signed up for Mt Tam although my friends are doing the double.
I’ll definitely be at the Fondo if you’re doing that. I’m a marshal this year. Hope to see a good FoF contingent there!
Comment by davidh-Marin,ca | 08.1.2014 | 6:39 pm
So no Tam, but see you in October. I will get your info for Rockwell then.
Comment by leroy | 08.1.2014 | 9:27 pm
I have a trick for when I just don’t have it. I see how slow I can ride and still stay upright. Then I look around at the scenery. And I smile.
Comment by http://ngochuyphoto.com/chup-hinh-cuoi-dep-o-sai-gon-stv | 08.2.2014 | 9:06 am
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Comment by Corrine | 08.2.2014 | 1:24 pm
I love the Noodleator’s writing. What a great story. Luckily, about the time I get tired of my bike, it starts snowing and I cross country ski. ABout the time I get tired of skiing (6 months later) it melts and I bike again. That’s what I love about living in Fairbanks, AK. Not sure I’ll get a Fat Bike for the same reason. I don’t want to get tired of riding my bike.
Comment by Anonymous | 08.2.2014 | 9:11 pm
Fatty’s showing off in Leadville. Since The Hammer is on a mission with Rebecca Rusch I think we need to dream up something for Fatty. There’s some socks he could wear and raise bikes for WBR. Can I get some support for this idea? (I hope this works)
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 08.2.2014 | 9:13 pm
Someone’s been mess in with the system. Anonymously, I assume.
Comment by FatChickonaBike | 08.3.2014 | 6:52 am
The Noodleator has a saddle sore with its own zip code
She gets tired of riding some times
Fatty never gets saddle sores
And is never tired of riding
I perceive a connection
Comment by Ian | 08.3.2014 | 8:56 pm
Doing leadville for the first time sat! Might be interesting to discuss what kind of taper you do for this race?!
Comment by Jeremy | 08.4.2014 | 10:16 am
I need to move to
Someplace warmer and drier
Riding in rain sucks.
(Noodle, you’ve been a riding machine. I can empathize with your position.)
Comment by Libby | 08.4.2014 | 12:04 pm
Fatty yes, come do the Tour Divide
I’ll come cheer you off
Banff has great trails
That lead to New Mexico
It’s a tour worthy of a blogger with a Tranny named Clyde