I Want To Ride My Bicycle!

Creativity and Health

With each passing year, it is clearer to me how important my physical health, mental health, and creativity are linked. If any of those three are not cared for, the other two will suffer.

That makes this the worst time of year for me. There are tons of holiday related food still hanging around, and the temperatures make exercise unpleasant. This year has been worse than usual. Temperatures are running as much as twenty degrees below normal, and we’ve had snow! A normal winter has a TOTAL of around fifteen inches, but we’ve had none the last two years. Between the two, I’ve been trapped inside for several weeks.

My major exercise outlet is bicycling. I’ve written elsewhere about my connection to the bike since I was a kid. My first bout of “serious” cycling came in the late high school/early college years. After a long bout with little riding, I got serious again in my thirties and forties. But it’s been in the last decade that I’ve really gotten very serious about my riding. Moving to an area where riding is often possible twelve months out of the year has been a big help. It’s helped me lose weight, make friends, and explore the area where I live. The pure joy of being on my bike still surprises me. The process shows my usual attitude toward exercise. Step One: “I’ll get everything ready because, SIGH, I’m supposed to do this. SIGH.” Step Two: once on the bike, my attitude changes. A big grin takes its position on my face and I’m off. Hills that six years ago left me gasping, I can race up now. It’s amazing.

And it’s an important part of my mental health as well. All of which keeps my creative juices flowing, even if only slowly.

So, how did I do in 2024? Once again, I missed my annual goal. I want to surpass a thousand miles, and I missed by an appallingly small distance. All the figures are below. A fall in January cost me a couple weeks of riding, as did an injury in August. Plus, I never got in any longer rides. The Virginia Capitol Trail is an amazing resource. Just shy of 52 miles, the VCT offers paved, off-road riding (plus walking, running, roller skating), that allows long rides with maximum safety. It passes through beautiful countryside, near to the James River, and connecting the historic capitals of the Commonwealth of Virginia. I can travel from Richmond to Jamestown/Williamsburg in relative comfort. It’s about ten miles from my house. I could ride there except there are no safe routes. It’s an easy drive, but I managed a single ride this year. 22 miles on an out and back ride. If I added one, just one, ride like that in April, May, June, and August, that would have put more than a hundred additional miles on my log! I’ve got to get on the VCT regularly next year!

July was my best month with 202 miles ridden.

So, here are the final results:

• Total Rides – 62
• Total Miles – 905.37 (SO CLOSE!)
• Total Elevation Gain – 13,519
• Total Time in Motion – 105 hours 39 minutes 45 seconds

Compared to some, that’s a drop in the bucket. Fortunately, I’m only competing with myself. There are also people who will shake their heads and chide me to “Just ride for the enjoyment!” I do. Every single time. The numbers are important TO ME because they keep me inspired and with a goal. That’s important for ME. I share because it’s of interest to some folks.

The plan for 2025 is more long rides. A couple a month on the VCT. I want to head down to Farmville and do a long ride (~30 miles) on the High Bridge Trail. Lots of riding in Richmond, especially with my friends in the Bike Monday Bros group.

I WILL break that thousand mile mark this year!

Peace.