This is one of my favorite times of the year: The Tour de France, a 2,000 mile bicycle race through France. It features short sprints, enormous mountain climbs, but mostly 125 mile day-long rides. The riders race 21 out of 23 days at the end of each July. I started following this race about 10 years ago very casually. Then, in 1999 I watched Lance Armstrong win his first of seven tours and I was hooked. In part, it was Lance Armstrong’s work ethic and motivation from his book “It’s not about the Bike” that motivated me to lose over 70 pounds a few years ago.
More recently, the Kerners have motivated me to participate in a short triathlon. We will all be participating in the first annual Republic Tiger Tri next month. I have completed three previous triathlons with the longest being a ¾ mile swim, 20 mile bike and 5 mile run. I know the discipline and training involved to prepare for an event like this and feel I am ready for the challenge and risks involved. Last week I had my fist training crash.
I was riding my bike on an indoor trainer. This is a contraption that attaches to the rear wheel elevating it slightly and providing some resistance so I can bike indoors. I have it setup in my garage next to a small TV. I was riding along about 15 mph watching the movie V for Vendetta (one of my favs) when I realized I was leaning slightly to the left. I thought I could correct this by straightening out my front wheel. So, I sharply turned my handlebars to the left. In an instant I was HURTLING to the floor as my rear wheel had become dislodged form the trainer! This wouldn’t have been a problem except for the fact that my shoes were clipped into my pedals! I have SPD pedals that attach directly to the bottom of my shoes requiring a sharp twisting motion for separation. This separation was not possible as I was heading to the floor! Luckily, we have an elliptical machine right next to my bike and I was able to grab the handles of the elliptical INCHES before I hit the ground. Now I have crashed many times (most involving wild turkeys on the bike trail) but I have NEVER crashed a stationary bike. There I was, hanging on to an elliptical with all my might, straining to unclip from my bicycle which was now parallel with the ground and for the most part on top of me, and laughing. Eventually I freed myself from the mess and literally said out loud “Did that just happen?”
From now on, I will ALWAYS wear my helmet whether bicycling outside or indoors!