stapfam

I drive a car all day long and it is to get from A to B. All I worry about is how late am I and what the other road users are doing.

Private life I don't drive. I let other people drive me- usually round the bend with their poor driving standards but sitting in the passenger seat I see things I cannot when driving. That view of the countryside improves when I am out walking- which I don't do a great deal--------- OR cycling.

Walking is a big deal for me as the knees have given up the ghost but cycling doesn't bother me. Last Sunday I went out with a few mates and the pace was a bit fast in places. Everyone takes their own pace uphills and to me they are one of the better parts of a ride. I push myself to my limit and no more. Faster than some and slower than quite a few. But hills are where I am going to get my body workout that keeps me fitter than a lot of my neighbours and friends. So I do enjoy getting out on a ride and building up a sweat. I also enjoy the thrill of fast downhills but that is just me.

However it is the bits in between the uphills and the downhills that I seem to want to do other things than other riders. I keep a sensible pace up but the speed some riders go at is not enjoyable. Last Sundays ride took in a lot of elevation- both up and down and I enjoyed the buzz of getting tired- or keeping my wits about me on the slippery surface downhill. But once on the flat it was paceline time. No chance to look around- no chance to view the different scenery to what I normally ride on and no chance to recoup energy for the next hill. So 10 miles from the end and I told the others that I was cutting short. I took a shortcut back to the car and slowed down to what I call a sensible pace. I saw the wildlife at the side of the road- I saw the different plants that are up in the forest to what I am used to and I stopped and watched a couple of young stags practicing for the rutting season that they will be able to participate in in a few years time. That last 8 miles of the ride were enjoyable. Still had a hill-Still kept up a reasonable pace but at that lower pace I saw things I would never see if I had stayed with the others.

I do view the scenery but at the same time I manage to retain the fitness I had 20 years ago before cycling took a hold on my life.