![\"may21-2\"](\"http:\/\/adjustedreality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/may21-2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nMonday, Zliten really really really really really wanted to join our new team for a group ride.\u00a0 My original plan was for us to run, and I wasn’t sure how my hip would react to clipping in and out a lot on the bike, but I also know that I always want to pass on those rides because I don’t feel comfortable doing them and the only way I’ll get better is to practice.\u00a0 So I decided I would put on my big girl panties and give it a go.\u00a0 This is usually a good thing.<\/p>\n
Unless it’s not.<\/p>\n My hip was not only aggravated by the constant clipping in and out, but it’s the leg I push off automatically at stops, so every time I went to get started I got a jolt of pain.\u00a0 I tried to switch to the other leg, but it felt so weird I couldn’t do it.<\/p>\n Add this to the fact that we were riding in rush hour traffic with a group of 14 other experienced cyclists who don’t ride like triathletes… triathletes generally ride single file and give each other room.\u00a0 Cyclists ride in packs.\u00a0 Even without a wonky hip this scares the shit out of me, but it was too much on Monday.\u00a0 I backed out after about 5 miles (before we went down a big hill I knew we’d have to come back up) and the ride back wasn’t as bad, but that’s because I knew where I was going and it was only me and Zliten.<\/p>\n Let’s add to this the huge ding on my pride.\u00a0 Over the summer, I was both (relatively, for me) fit looking and pretty kick ass on the bike.\u00a0 I placed 4th out of 20-some people in one race.\u00a0 I held a 19.5 mph for an Olympic course.\u00a0 Now I’ve joined this team and their first impression of me AT BEST like “awwww, the new chubby girl is trying so hard to ride her bike” and at worst “crap, I hope that shitty biker doesn’t show up and fuck up our group rides, she doesn’t belong here”.\u00a0 I want to shout from the rooftops that they’re seeing my worst right now and I’d be hiding away until I suck less, except Zliten wants me just to expose all my warts.<\/p>\n On the way back I bitched about it and said I was going to just take up aquathlons and quit biking.\u00a0 However, the answer is more along the lines of “the way out is through”.\u00a0 I am seeking Ironman in about 14 months.\u00a0 The only way you successfully Ironman is to bike a lot.\u00a0 The best way to bike a lot is to have a group to ride with.\u00a0 So, I need to figure this shit out.\u00a0 I need a three step wart removal plan.<\/p>\n First, no riding outdoors in clips until my hip is COMPLETELY healed.\u00a0 This has to go away and the only way for me to do that is to stop poking it.\u00a0 I’m going to have to poke it a little with running until March 5th, so after that, I need to wait until there are no such things as twinges and it feels awesome doing everything else first because this made it feel worse than anything.\u00a0 If he wants to go ride outside, I’ll let Zliten do his thing and I’ll do mine.<\/p>\n Second, my big problem is I’m not comfortable with the move of a) unclipping one leg b) leaning the way and putting one leg down to stop.\u00a0 I unclip both, that way, whichever way I land, I won’t topple over.\u00a0 It works on closed courses or places where there are barely any stops with few people.\u00a0 It’s batshit crazy in a group in traffic.<\/p>\n I need to take my bike somewhere soft (grass behind the track by my house, perhaps) and do that thing where I practice this move over and over until it’s second nature.\u00a0 Every day.\u00a0 For like, weeks.\u00a0 100 reps per day on each side, or whatever makes sense.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n