I’ve been exercising my entire adult life. Lately, since my road bike bit the dust, my primary form of exercise has been mountain biking. For two years now, I’ve hardly ridden. Last summer was a blur of taking care of mom and dad while surviving myself. I got in one trail ride last year.
I do have an old hard tail (front shock only) mountain bike, put slick tires on it and it’s perfect for riding around town. Needing, wanting, craving, starving for exercise (pick a word), I pushed myself to get that old bike out, tune it up, lub it up and start riding around June 1. At first, a 20 minutes ride felt like a lot. My legs ached. My heart raced, my body acclimated to exercising again. And, I began gently.
Recently, I craved getting back on the trail. My old bike felt worn out, I hadn’t found an affordable or satisfactory replacement for it, so I tuned it up and took it out for a spin! My second ride in two years, on a trail outside Lyons Colorado which heads generally “UP” for 40 minutes or so. I had spots in mind, old landmarks from previous spring rides when I was out of shape and conditioning. Those spots lurked in my mind as suitable distances for my first ride. Up and up I rode, my bike making noises, the wheel rubbing on the frame and me noticing how centered and balanced my body felt on top. I stopped to check the frame rub and readjusted the rear wheel. No improvement.
Up I rode, listening, looking, savoring and enjoying. Suddenly, I was at a turn, the last benchmark I had in my mind as a remotely possible destination. Suddenly, seemingly effortlessly, I was there and going beyond. Amazing! And I was and am very grateful for my body supporting me so well. When I stopped, I found the reason for the wheel rub. Turning the bike over, I heard a clinking noise. It was the sound of a broken spoke nut. Being mechanically inclined, I tuned the wheel spokes so they wouldn’t rub. After my 30 minute climb, I was ready to return anyway.
Obsolescence and trends
I visited two bike shops in town. The first didn’t have any parts although they strived to be helpful. The second felt a bit insulting. What, fix it, it’s an old bike. Really old! What are you doing riding an old bike when there are so many innovations and new bikes available? You need a new bike. NO HELP! Just insults or it felt that way to me.
What am I doing riding this bike? It works for me, has done everything I wanted in a mountain bike, has been ridden as much as 10 hours a week, and persists. It does exactly what I want it to! Buy a new one because this one is old, when did that become the norm?
To the rescue
I called Performance in Boulder and they thought they had the parts available. I left the bike with them to fish out the old broken off piece. I’d attempted that at home but didn’t want to damage the threads so left it to the experts. They told me to expect a bill between $35 and $45. Today, the call came: “we are sorry but we can’t fix your bike”!
Disappointed, I went back to mowing the lawn which is a form of meditation. During that meditation, I was noticing my feelings and decided to not be disappointed but hopeful. You never know! And it is nearing the time where I really need to get a new bike so, maybe this is a message?
I picked up my bike and decided to try a different tact, McGuckins Hardware. After all, they say “if we don’t have it, you don’t need it”. Why not? I had a number of eager conspirators brainstorming with me. Tools and thread count, reverse threads, drill bits, custom work at their shop. But nothing worked. I left feeling surrendered. Surrendered but not “given up”.
I realized that I was persevering in spite of the odds. Four shops now told me it couldn’t be fixed. Who was I to question that. The “experts” at Performance made a gallant try but damaged the threads so I wasn’t even sure I could get a new one in?
But I let it float around.
Surrender means to me that I’m not attached. Last summer while caring for mom and dad, I wrote about the three “non’s” that helped me maintain my strength and perseverance: non-resistance, non-attachment and non-judgment. I was practicing that once again
Surrender and being receptive
Surrendered, I listened. “Where to go next”? I was going to head to the Sports Garage but first decided to drive up Pearl Street and find the GoLite shop. On the way, a casual glance to the right noticed “Full Cycle”, a bike shop. I didn’t know they were there. Around the block, in the door, depositing my bike and Paul was on it. He didn’t know but would give it a best shot.
I wandered about looking at gear. Within 10 minutes, he came out with my wheel, new spoke nut in place, wheel trued and properly balanced, two extra parts for me in case I need them and all for $10. The impossible just happened. Paul was my Wizard! And off I go.
I didn’t struggle or fight or complain. I let go of negative feedback quickly and reflected internally on what felt true for me. When all else failed, I surrendered. In surrender, I continued to listen and that’s when the “Full Cycle” popped up and grabbed my attention. In the absence of pushing or of disappointment, I remained open and POOF…magic happened.
Once again, I’m grateful and amazed!