One day last week when the early morning temperature was under 99 degrees, hubby and I took a hike on a paved trail near our house. It was enough to work up a sweat and an appetite. The wooded trail goes on for eight miles. We walked one section, a fraction, two and half miles.
Exercise had gotten my pulse up, my blood pressure was down, because my mood was mellow and I was surrounded by sights and sounds of being alone enjoying nature at dawn. I was communing, reverent, grateful, introspective, thinking I should probably do this more often. Then some idiot sent my heart and blood pressure racing when he shouted,"On your left!" as he biked by with a bull horn voice.
I balled my fists, picked up my pace; my nerves were jangled. I wished I'd had my bike. I'd have snuck up on that guy and scared the stuffing out of HIM!
But alas, our bikes have been on a hook in the shed for two years, maybe three. The last time we took our bikes out was enough to make me swear (off bike riding). The skinny seat was murder on my seat, so hubby bought me a padded gel seat, but well, let's say, the padding was insufficient. So I decided to remedy the situation on my own. Hubby says that I am the only person he knows who will destroy one good thing to make another. (Yeah, so?)
I grabbed a navy blue, incredibly soft, micro fiber, throw pillow, and I slit a seam and inserted said pillow over my bike seat. All I had to do was resew the seam when we got home. Ingenious!
Ahhh, that pillow brought instant relief. Hubby and I rode four miles, stopped at a gas station and bought an ice cream on a stick. As we rode four miles back home my seat became increasingly uncomfortable. Eight miles may have been too much I surmised.
When we pulled into our driveway, I put my kick stand down and went to remove my pillow so I could sew it back up. It was flatter than a pancake. Barely a bit of fiberfill left. I had left a trail on the trail.
14 comments:
What a great idea with that pillow...I need something like that. However, I too have not ridden my bike but once in two years. I am afraid I will use my skill and biking is a real love. But while traffic gets heavier I get slower. Neck won't turn as well, legs stiff, hard to get on and off...sad for me. Now the heat is just so bad the last two summers that I can't fight all the hurdles.
What a good idea! Too bad it didn't work out as you'd hoped.
I can't recall the last time I was on a bike. It's never been a favorite thing.
You should get a patent on that pillow seat.
Whew! For a minute there, I thought the pillow had become wedged in your nether regions, and fell out, unnoticed, at the gas station.
Some cyclists have no idea of cycling etiquette - then they wonder why the dogs bark at them!
Oh how funny that you left a trail on the trail!
Oh, that's funny. Here in the National Park we have a plethora (I used that word on purpose) of rude bikers. In fact, I've never met one who didn't have a laminated birth certificate including exclusive rights to any road.
I know you were not wearing speedos, and for that I salute you.
Now you can say you (literally) rode your seat off! Thanks for the laugh.
Biking sounds wonderful, but not, of course, until the weather becomes markedly cooler!
Pat
Critter Alley
Oh, if only you were there to advise Hansel and Gretel, they'd have never gotten lost in the woods!
In addition to improving bike seats, maybe you could branch out and make cushioned toilet seats for bathroom readers!
I have a gel seat, but it still takes a while to break in "my" seat if I haven't ridden in a while. I do walk most mornings, though.
Nice to meet you on Donna's blog.
Linda,
This post about your fanny is funny. And what a great idea about the pillow!
Donna
Thanks for the funny story! I can't get the image of the trail you left behind out of my head. It still makes me want to get my bike out of the garage and take a ride, though.
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