Digital Gee

Two days ago I posted a thread about how to overcome boredom when cycling. I'd been riding the same four routes over and over and feeling a bit bored.

I realize now I raised more than a few eyebrows because I live in San Diego, which hardly qualifies as a boring cycling environment. I also got an amazing quantity of terrific suggestions, which actually helped me step outside my box and see the obvious.

Yesterday, I took one of the best rides since picking up a bike three months ago. Not that long, just 22 miles. I pedalled around Mission Bay, following a route someone had linked to me. (Of course, the route was 14 miles, but by taking a few long-cuts and wrong-cuts I managed to turn it into 22!)

As I rode, I was so happy to be outside, to be pedalling along in the sunshine with the views of San Diego bay and later the Pacific Ocean right there to enjoy. People walking, having picnics, launching their boats, sunning on the beach, roller blading, showing off their skimpy bikinis, having a coffee on the boardwalk, you name it.

And it occured to me -- cycling is just like (well, something like) making love. And I have the good fortune to live in San Diego, meaning, metaphorically, I am "making love" to a beautiful woman every time I ride.

So how could I get bored?

Simple -- even making love can get boring if you "do it" the same way over and over. Even with a beautiful woman. It becomes sweeter with variety. Well, duh! Everyone knows that, even me. But I think it's possible to get stuck -- to not see the obvious -- which is why I came to the board in the first place. And the responses (and some undisguised envy) was exactly what i needed to remind myself how wonderful it can be to be cycling on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in a city that sits on the ocean.

I can't imagine what you're all going to do with this thread. It's simply the musings of a 50+ single man, so it probably doesn't take Freud to figure out how I got to this metaphor.

But now I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do if I go downstairs and find my bike wearing nothing but Saran wrap. I'd better sign off for now and get some coffee!

GrannyGear

Gee,
Thanks for the chuckle....I'm also single and sometimes wonder if all the time on the bike isn't some sort of of replacement for something else. Perhaps a thread comparing and contrasting bikes and human Significant Others? Ultimately, we need to come up with a partner like DenvrFox's cycling wife so we can link the best of both worlds...heaven! Until then, I'll think I'll go lube and gently caress my bike's chain.

Blackberry

Right you are. That's why I have five bikes.

KeithA

Gary, you player you.

By the way, I grew up right over the Pacific in the Pacific Palisades, when the ocean was a lot cleaner than it is now and your description brings back memories.

Twenty-two miles ain't chump change, but I'd ride twice that to see those bikinis. Heck, I'd probably ride a lot more!!!

mollusk

Riding a bike is like making love ...

Even when it is bad it is good!

wildjim

Maybe in San Francisco it's comparable as sometimes cycling gives you a sore butt - Perhaps San Diego is likewise

DnvrFox

Okay, are you going to give lessons or am I missing something here?

Open to any and all suggestions, but I have never heard of the "Bicycling" position. Is it in the Kuma Satra?

Blackberry

I'm just waiting for the jokes about butt cream, wet lube, dry lube, etc. to start pouring in.

GrannyGear

Not to mention the choice of recumbent position, more upright, flat back, or up off the saddle. I'm avoiding terms like chain suck and front or rear shifting.

BTW, do people our age actually do it....ride I mean? [I think I've just pulled DenvrFox's chain bringing up the age issue !! 8-) ]

Now I'm wondering how many times a week Fifty Plussers really do it...ride I mean? And do they have partners, single or large group, or do they do it alone?

I'm done--cyclus interruptus--with this thread.

Olebiker

Now that you mention it, I do ride the bike more than I get lucky. The bike riding is not as exhausting. Of course my 55th birthday is coming up, maybe my luck will change.

michaelnel

My 55th came and went with no change in luck.

DnvrFox

Man you really did it this time!

FarHorizon

Nah - the KONA Sutra!

Baggsy

I heard it said a long time ago from a boss, and he was talking about technical documentation, but it may still fit here...

"It's like making love...when it's good, it's real good. But when it's bad, well, it's still better than nothing..."

luv2cruz

Well, biking is like sex in that;

the worst I ever had was,....well, pretty good, actually! and even then, it didn't make me wanna not do it again!

glassman

Is that why I want to buy my bike a new chain, a new cassette, etc?

Olebiker

I told my co-workers that, on my birthday, I was going to go home, grab my wife and have my way that night. By God, we're going to Red Lobster!!

cheeseflavor

... when you fall off, you get back on again!

On the other hand, a bike will still let you come back for more no matter how poorly you perform.

RabidCyclist

Man..you guys that buy that are sick. Making love is like riding a bike? Holy smoly you guys must be getting old! Riding a bike may be great for the sex life I'd agree; virility, better staying power, more attractive physique etc. But do any of you know somebody that makes love to stay in shape for bike riding (HHmmm I wonder if I could sell that one to my wife)? Comparing a bike ride to making love does nothing for my libido.

>Faster than the Speed of Dark<

Blackberry

Don't worry, big guy. We're just laughing at life's little absurdities.

Digital Gee

Not what I said. I said ridikng a bike is like making love. There's a difference.

Anyway, it's a "metaphor."

met·a·phor Audio pronunciation of "metaphor" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (mt-fôr, -fr)
n.

1. A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another, thus making an implicit comparison, as in “a sea of troubles” or “All the world's a stage” (Shakespeare).
2. One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol: “Hollywood has always been an irresistible, prefabricated metaphor for the crass, the materialistic, the shallow, and the craven” (Neal Gabler).

Last but not least, it was posted in fun.

RabidCyclist

As was my post.

Digital Gee

Ha! Okay, where's the emoticon that shows me slapping my self upside the head! d'oh!