Metaphor

06.26.2008 | 11:48 am

No matter what kind of ride you’re on — road or mountain, a couple hours or an all-day epic — there comes a point where you start looking forward to the finish. If you’ve metered out your energy properly, it’s usually toward the end of the ride.

The end of a ride has its own attraction. You’re looking forward to a rest. Your legs ache. You’ve added another memory to the pile. If you were out riding with friends, you might be looking forward to recounting the ride’s important moments.

Sure, you know you’re going to go on another ride tomorrow. But for now, it’s good to be about done.

Occasionally, though, someone screws things up.

You’re 85% of the way through a ride when they broach their brainstorm. “Hey, there’s a new section of singletrack we ought to add to the ride; it’ll only add half an hour,” they’ll say.

Or, “Who’s up for another climb?”

And suddenly, out of nowhere, your end-of-ride anticipation has been yanked out from under you. Suddenly, you’re not five minutes away from the trailhead. You’re not about to give your legs a rest. You’re not anywhere close to being done for the day.

You feel like you’ve been tricked.

You don’t have the legs for this. You didn’t ration out your energy, your water or your time to include this next section of the ride.

But you’ve got to do it anyway.

You can’t bail out of the ride — well, technically you could, but that’s not your way — but you aren’t energized for the climb. It feels more like an unwelcome chore than a challenge.

The good news is, once you start the new leg of the ride, you tend to recalibrate a bit. You find energy you didn’t know you have, you recognize that the new section of singletrack is really worth riding, you take some pride in your ability to adapt.

But of course, that doesn’t change the fact that — at the moment it’s sprung on you — getting blindsided with another big chunk of ride, right when you’re expecting a rest, sucks.

Big time.

79 Comments

  1. Comment by 198 | 06.26.2008 | 11:59 am

    I know that feeling all too well. Great post.

    Normally I am on a much heavier bike than the group that I ride with, and that makes that “one more climb” even more of a chore. But in the end, we all are enjoying a day out and “what goes up, must come down”. I am always up for more dh.

    Most of the guys (and girls) I ride with are all looking forward to that post ride beer with a recount of the days events. It is great being in a sport that not only improves your health, but allows you to be out in nature.

  2. Comment by Steve | 06.26.2008 | 12:02 pm

    The corollary is being on a ride with a cuesheet and realizing your computer’s miles don’t match and you actually have 5 more miles to go. See also taking a wrong turn, which ends up adding extra miles to the ride and also invariably includes an extra hill.

  3. Comment by Jon Rides Bikes | 06.26.2008 | 12:03 pm

    I get the impression you’re not just talking about riding… like it’s a Metaphor/

  4. Comment by Marc | 06.26.2008 | 12:03 pm

    Keep on truckin, Fatty…

    When rides are especially tough, you always end up stronger for getting through it…

  5. Comment by KanyonKris | 06.26.2008 | 12:07 pm

    Elden, you are wise and articulate. What extra ride got tacked onto you this morning? Or was this purely a metaphor?

  6. Comment by Ingrid | 06.26.2008 | 12:13 pm

    It sucks, it hurts and it is great to be able to express it in such a good way.
    From a way less bumpy country (NL)and life my thoughts are with you all. For what ever it is worth….

  7. Comment by jt | 06.26.2008 | 12:14 pm

    Fatty,

    Next time, perhaps you could put in the title something clear like “This is a metaphor for how Cancer is taking my family and me for a ride and how it sucks LARGE, but we’re doing what we can” instead of the title “Metaphor” which seems to have confused most of the commentors so far. :-)

    Win Susan!

  8. Comment by M2 | 06.26.2008 | 12:19 pm

    Excellent post, Fatty. Keep fighting and never give up.
    Your ability to express the current state of affairs with such clarity using the bike as a metaphor was brilliant!

    WIN Susan!

    Mike

  9. Comment by Charlie | 06.26.2008 | 12:20 pm

    I do get your metaphor and agree it sucks… except that at the top of the extra climb lightening is crashing all around… hope we can all give you some shelter from the storm!

    Hang in there!

  10. Comment by dug | 06.26.2008 | 12:24 pm

    will you be writing all entries from now on in the second person? or only when you’re speaking metaphorically?

  11. Comment by MAJ Mike | 06.26.2008 | 12:25 pm

    This seems to be the way I feel when I first clip in…

  12. Comment by TomE | 06.26.2008 | 12:25 pm

    Dug…when Fatty starts to talk about himself in the 3rd person, then we should all be afraid!!!!

  13. Comment by Canadian Roadie | 06.26.2008 | 12:28 pm

    Don’t forget there’s a whole Fatty army out there willing to let you draft anytime. Thinking of you and your family on what must be a difficult day.

  14. Comment by canknitian | 06.26.2008 | 12:31 pm

    WIN Susan!

  15. Comment by bikemike | 06.26.2008 | 12:33 pm

    there is a word for these people who initiate this change, they’re called terrorist.

  16. Comment by Panda | 06.26.2008 | 12:37 pm

    That does suck big time. I hope there are gorgeous views waiting at the top of that extra climb.

  17. Comment by Hamish A | 06.26.2008 | 12:48 pm

    Hoping against hope that at some point soon the ride becomes a pleasure again.

    Stay strong Fatty. We’re here for you.

    Love to you all.

    WIN SUSAN!!!

  18. Comment by kentucky joe | 06.26.2008 | 12:48 pm

    we’re pedaling along with you FC, not that we can help lead the ride but, though our bodies may be weak at this point in the ride, our hearts and minds remain strong and our spirit unbreakable, we refuse to give up or give in, we just pedal stubbornly along. keep pedaling my friend, keep pedaling.

    WIN Susan

  19. Comment by Mike Roadie | 06.26.2008 | 12:50 pm

    It’s more like Groundhog Day, because you are experiencing this metaphorical challenge/heartbreak/difficulty day after day after day.

    The most poignant part for me was yesterday’s “OK Cancer. You’ve made your point. Now cut it out.” I keep thinking about it over and over—it reminds me of Country Joe McDonald at Woodstock trying to make the rain stop.

    On a good note, we have passed the magic $50K mark on the LAF website!! Now the quest is to be Number 1 so I can get up on the stage with my Fat Cyclist T-Shirt on in from of the whole gang. If you want to help make up the $4,000 gap we have by July 9th, feel free to click on the link on the right to help out.

    Thanks everyone for your support so far.

    WIN
    Unite
    LiveSTRONG

  20. Comment by ann | 06.26.2008 | 1:08 pm

    Purely lovely writing – the good news, when you feel like you can’t hang on any more, there are many, many, many hanging on to you. To each of you.

  21. Comment by Don | 06.26.2008 | 1:09 pm

    I’m sorry… Continuing to pray for Susan and family. Sending love and thoughts as always. Keep riding guys, WIN!

  22. Comment by paige | 06.26.2008 | 1:09 pm

    WIN Susan!

    WIN Fatty!

    Cancer sucks. I really hope this post was a general metaphor and not that you’ve gotten more tacked onto the ride you and Susan are on.

  23. Comment by chtrich | 06.26.2008 | 1:25 pm

    Keep on riding!

  24. Comment by carolyn | 06.26.2008 | 1:29 pm

    I know you will find the strength to handle all of the blindsides and extra trips. It’s almost better that you can’t see them coming…

    Thoughts and prayers, thoughts and prayers.

  25. Comment by VTClint | 06.26.2008 | 1:33 pm

    Fatty,

    Been reading for awhile and finally felt compelled to write today. I’m among the 1,000’s that surely you’ve never met, but we have been following your struggles and triumphs and care deeply about your family. Thanks for letting us all be a part of the good and the bad. Although the ride is tough, I know you’d rather be on the bike than not. You and Susan and the kids keep hammering away at those cranks. There are plenty of people to ride up and give you a push from behind to get up that last climb. I know the views will be gorgeous. You’re in all our thoughts and prayers.

    Win!

  26. Comment by judi | 06.26.2008 | 1:35 pm

    WIN SUSAN! Hang tough Fatty….

  27. Comment by KTBee | 06.26.2008 | 1:37 pm

    Win Susan! Hang in there FC!

    What good would a ride be if there weren’t any ups and downs. May you soon begin the incline of this most steep mountain you are on.

    Thinking positively for you guys…constantly.

  28. Comment by Saraspin | 06.26.2008 | 1:40 pm

    I’ve been reading your blog for a short time and I can see your and Susan’s strength flowing through your words.

    Chin down, legs strong, keep breathing. One stroke at a time.

    Can’t wait to get my Fat Cyclist t-shirt so I can duck tape “Win Susan!” on it.

  29. Comment by Aunt Mary | 06.26.2008 | 1:53 pm

    Your family and friends will be here along the path on this ride to energize and sustain – Elden, remember the words, ” there is beauty all around when there’s love at home”. Talk to you soon, right now must go as there seems to be a leaky faucet in this room. Love you all and WIN SUSAN and family

  30. Comment by leroy | 06.26.2008 | 2:28 pm

    And yet we keep riding and we remember that we ride because we love to and we wonder if you can ride, why wouldn’t you?

    You have a lot of folks who will pull for you.

    Good luck.

  31. Comment by cheapie | 06.26.2008 | 2:36 pm

    mechanicals at the end of a ride suck as well. you’re almost home and then the back end get all squirrelly cuz you’ve flatted. CRAP!!!

    take a couple deep breaths, wipe away the sweat that’s pooling in your eyes while you get your stuff out, and make sure you don’t pinch the tube between tire and rim in your haste to get away from the mosquitoes that have spotted you and are making the most of your ill fortune.

    WIN SUSAN!!!!

  32. Comment by aussie kev | 06.26.2008 | 3:14 pm

    i still have nightmares about a ride over 20 years ago that started with “this lane is nice and quiet with a small hill”, that ended 3 hours later when we saw the sign for our home town only being 20 miles away- this was an evening ride and i remember getting to bed near midnight – that guy was never allowed to pick riding routes ever again – no i am wrong he took us for our warm up ride in the 1995 national 100 km team time trial – we got lost and missed our start !!!!. that was his last time

    k

  33. Comment by rexinsea | 06.26.2008 | 3:18 pm

    While the journey of the extra miles may involve much ugliness including bonks, mechanicals, distressed emotions, sweat in the eyes…; the extra miles *almost* always make us stronger in some way. I don’t dare to guess how or if your exta miles are going to make Susan and you stronger but I hope and pray they will somehow and someday.

    WIN Susan! WIN Fatty! You continue to amaze me.

    All the best.

  34. Comment by Lizzylou | 06.26.2008 | 3:22 pm

    That happened to me yesterday actually, my nice, easy 10 mile ride to the library turned into a 15 mile ride to the library because of road construction and detours. Not that 15 miles is in any way a challenging distance… but I wasn’t thinking 15 when I left. Egad, I am such a whiner.

  35. Comment by UphillBattle | 06.26.2008 | 3:58 pm

    Fatty, As tears stream down my face, I pray for Susan and your family. This has been one long ride for all of you. Praying that the road ahead flattens out a bit, no more leg-ripping climbs, no more harrowing descents…just flat road, sunshine with a few puffy white clouds, no mechanicals, and good riding buddies…keep turning the cranks my friend, keep turning the cranks.
    Sending love and prayers your way.

  36. Comment by sk8ermom3 | 06.26.2008 | 4:58 pm

    Nice piece, I totally “got it” even without reading the previous post, actually, my heart sank as I was reading it, knowing I hadn’t read the previous post, but already knowing what it must contain. Thoughts and prayers out every day to the Nelson family.

    WIN SUSAN!

  37. Comment by Born4Lycra | 06.26.2008 | 5:15 pm

    So there was a hidden message? Thanks to the others or I would have missed it. Must go find a dictionary and look up metaphor. While I’m there I will look up Champion too – probably find a picture of Susan there.
    It’s friday here so I hope Thursday went well for you both.
    Win Susan

  38. Comment by JEnn | 06.26.2008 | 5:32 pm

    hang in there fatty! You’ve got not only the legs but the heart to stay in this ride. Thoughts are always with you and your family.

    WIN SUSAN!

  39. Comment by Bluenoser | 06.26.2008 | 6:00 pm

    Fatty,

    Are you turning into some kind of writer like Snob?

    -B

  40. Comment by The D | 06.26.2008 | 6:10 pm

    Metaphor….. is that like a simile?

    Seriously, nice work and WIN, Susan!

  41. Comment by Barb | 06.26.2008 | 6:43 pm

    I wish I could write as well as you do, and be able to find the words that would bring you comfort. Just know that as you make your descent in this ride that we love you and wish you well. It’s tough.

  42. Comment by Philly Jen | 06.26.2008 | 7:29 pm

    This is like the scene in “Il Postino” when the gorgeous Beatrice has started falling in love with the humble postman. Beatrice’s mother asks her what the postman has been talking to her about, and a starry-eye Beatrice simple says, “Metafore.” Her mother has no idea what that word is…but it must be really dirty!

    Normally, I hate those roadside n00bs who insist on reaching out to push riders uphill during the climbing stages of a race. But in this case, I think it’s great that there are thousands of people reaching out to push your big fat *metafore* up the hill. More power to them, and to you.

    WIN Susan!

  43. Comment by b | 06.26.2008 | 7:33 pm

    Hey Fatty,

    Can I comment in a non-metaphorical way? I mean about that literal situation (and I am using the word ‘literal’ literally here, not to mean ‘almost’ or something as in: “That climb was so tough I was literally dead”. That’s not what I’m doing here.)

    I do adventure racing. This involves several days of MTB then run/trek then kayak then MTB then kayak then climb etc etc. So one of the key things is that you can *never* allow yourself get into that wind-down phase of a ride thinking “oh cool, I’ve only got 5km to go” because after that 5km you then need to run for 20km. And then MTB for another 40km etc.

    So what I’ve noticed is that when I’m just out on a ride, in that last 30 minutes I’ll often not eat as much, not drink as much, if it’s too cold or hot I wont stop to change clothes, if there is an irritating but manageable bike problem – I wont fix it: all because I know there’s only 30 more minutes, and it will be OK.

    Well, that’s what I *used* to do.

    Now I always try to arrive at the end really well fed, well hydrated, and warm/cool and comfortable. That’s what works in an adventure race because if you arrive in a transition like that – you speed through it. If you arrive hungry and dehydrated and cold, you tend to sit around and whine (well, I do) and it takes ages.

    So taking this philosophy to the ordinary ride means that adding an extra 30 minute single track wouldn’t bother you because you are fed, hyrdrated, comfortable, and your bike is running beautifully. Adding another hill climb would be fine. Doing another loop is fine. OK you need to have taken enough food/water for that extra time, but if you have that then you know that physiologically and psychologically it’s going to be OK.

    I’m really sorry that I have no idea how to apply this to the terrible situation you have with Susan’s cancer – I don’t know anything about that. But hopefully I can help someone enjoy their riding more.

    Good luck,
    B.

  44. Comment by Wine Dog | 06.26.2008 | 7:45 pm

    And then you buck up and finish the stinking ride. The difference is you have thousands of folks riding with you.

    Win Susan.

  45. Comment by clambertsmith | 06.26.2008 | 8:54 pm

    I hope that stretch of singletrack is much easier on your tired legs than you anticipated.

    WIN Susan!!

  46. Comment by Erik | 06.26.2008 | 9:35 pm

    All truly epic journeys have at least one moment like this: “.. when we turned to start back over the pass it started snowing..” Heres hoping you’ll be able to tell the story with a smile, long, long from now.

  47. Comment by Jouni | 06.26.2008 | 9:51 pm

    Pedal. Eat. Shave. Rinse. Sleep. Win. Repeat.

  48. Comment by Grant | 06.26.2008 | 11:41 pm

    Or worse – when you are on an organised tour, and they are slightly less competent than you would hope… and the 100km day turns out to be somewhat more than 100km, and the rest stops/water are not where they said.

    “No hills for the second half…” is another good one.

  49. Comment by buckythedonkey | 06.27.2008 | 2:25 am

    What a great post. We four will ride this one with you, all the way. No matter how much it sucks.

    Your ability to repeatedly adapt and to tell us about it will serve as a vital lesson to some of us one day, I’m sure of it.

    WIN SUSAN!

    With love and a big hug from MMA&C

  50. Comment by Slowracer | 06.27.2008 | 2:51 am

    Hey Fatty.
    Great post.
    Sometimes the unexpected views (and downhill) can be worth the unexpected climb.
    I’m praying for the win.
    ‘Slowy’

  51. Comment by MizFit | 06.27.2008 | 4:19 am

    and DAMN those lifeclimbs can feel like FOREVAH.

  52. Comment by suziburns | 06.27.2008 | 4:42 am

    Fatty,

    All the way across this country, in the suburbs of Washington, DC in Northern Virginia, people know you and are praying and pulling for you. Yesterday morning at 6 am I took a ride wearing my pink Fat Cyclist jersey ( which, by the way, goes great with my pink Orbea Dama Race! ). As I was heading home and riding into our gated community, I passed a guy on his way to work ( most likely at the Pentagon, as he was in uniform )…. he rolled down the window of his car, stuck his fist in the air, and shouted to me, ” Go Fatty! Win Susan!”
    What a great way for me to start the day….knowing that I’m not the only one around here who has your family on thier prayer list.
    Stay the course, keep your faith, surround yourselves with love….

  53. Comment by strbuk | 06.27.2008 | 4:46 am

    Fatty, take all the love and support you find here after each blog entry and use it for the next, the toughest, part of “the ride”. We are all with you both, we are your peloton, and even though most of us don’t “know” you we care deeply about the challenges you face. Stay as strong as you can…

    str

  54. Comment by Beth | 06.27.2008 | 5:11 am

    My throat got tight reading this. This post is so eloquently written. When you can’t be strong, it is okay to cry.

  55. Comment by roadrash | 06.27.2008 | 6:14 am

    Our continued prayers for strength and endurance for the road ahead. Keep fighting, one turn of the crank at a time.

    WIN SUSAN!

  56. Comment by ceecee | 06.27.2008 | 6:59 am

    Fatty, I’ve been lurking since Pioneer Woman posted about you.
    Just wanted to come out of lurking to say y’all are on my prayer list. I’m sorry that you’re having to extend your ride. I’m hoping for your family, that there is great view waiting at the top of this sucky new hill.
    My DH loves mountain biking and has been in your part of the country. Loves Moab and its difficulty.

    WIN SUSAN!

  57. Comment by rich | 06.27.2008 | 7:10 am

    Fatty,
    I don’t comment often but as I read this and the tears started, I thought about the fact that often times the additional loop or detour can turn out to be one of the most beautiful parts of any ride.
    And sometimes the additional miles will actually allow you to run into friends you haven’t seen in a while or even to make new friends.
    I can’t even pretend to understand what you and your family are going through, but I hope that knowing that you have a whole team around you, riding with you and praying for you will be of some small comfort. Not unlike a rider next to you urging you up that last hill when you really don’t feel like you have the strength.

    Win Susan, Win Nelson Family

  58. Comment by Leslie | 06.27.2008 | 8:16 am

    Sounds as though tough times have become even tougher and I absolutely ache for you and your family. Though I know you will find your way through this, somehow, eventually, that doesn’t make the ache any less. Don’t forget to take good care of yourself, too, in the midst of thinking of others.

  59. Comment by mocougfan | 06.27.2008 | 8:21 am

    Let others take a pull up front as much as possible. I wish life didn’t suck so bad for you guys right now. I really do.

  60. Comment by Susan | 06.27.2008 | 8:25 am

    I doubt anyone needs to tell you, but you’ve got some really amazing friends. Of course, you and your family are amazing, so it’s not surprising. I know the ride is tough – stop for breaks, look around and enjoy the little things along the way. Win Susan.

  61. Comment by CovingtonKat | 06.27.2008 | 9:55 am

    Fatty – I’ve been following your blog for a while, and hurting along with you – even more so now because I just found out this week that a good friend and truly wonderful person who I care very much about about has cancer. And it’s bad. Real bad.

    She is also fortunate (just like Susan, you, and your family) to have a huge online community of friends who love her and are supporting her – even though they may have never met in person.

    Thank you for so eloquently sharing your soul with us. So many care so much.

    Win Susan!

  62. Comment by sans auto | 06.27.2008 | 10:11 am

    That one extra climb is hard. You don’t want to do it, but you do. It is because you are the type of person that does that extra climb, that expends that extra energy and are prepared for the energy demands that may or may not appear, that you are a winner. Winners are not those that finish the ride, they are those who go beyond the mark… sometimes well beyond the mark. It is because you tackle the ‘extra’ with all that you have that you are a winner.

    And of course when I say ‘you’, I’m talking more about Susan than Fatty.

    You’re still in our prayers

  63. Comment by Joni | 06.27.2008 | 10:17 am

    Ditto to just about everything that has already been said.

    And….somehow….the words I (we) say can not be formed in a way that really speaks to you the way that your words speak to us.

    Your gift is so tremendous…I am not sure that you see it. I hope you do see it.

    I have to pause and feel such joy for your Susan and your children that they are blessed with your attitude, your perspective and your strength. Which leads me to the question that I have often thought of and pray that your family and close friends are asking you…..”How are YOU doing?”

    You are spending time, energy, emotion…etc., on taking care of everyone including the thousands of us out here in blog land who check in with you every day to lend our thoughts, prayers, hopes and wishes..you need to be really lifted up with encouragement, prayer, etc. So..along with Susan and your children….I pray extra hard for YOU today. God bless you and encourage you….may He give you the strength and courage you need to trust in Him and trust where He is leading you to and what He is leading you thru. May you feel His guidance and peace and may you be surrounded with family and friends that love you and know just what you need to support you. May you feel the strength of all of them and all of us that care about your wife, your family and your situation.

    Live strong…..but know that sometimes you need to lean a little on those that God places around you. Sometimes….leaning a little is just what you need to do. So….I thank those close friends that you have in your life as well today! And for all of us who only know you thru your blog……I just can not get over how amazing each and every one of you are! To support this family and encourage them so much is really wonderful and up lifting for us all!

    Win Susan!

    Win Nelsons!

    Win Fattys Friends & sources of Support!

  64. Comment by Dobovedo | 06.27.2008 | 11:02 am

    In the same vein… never never never, under any circumstances, believe somebody when they utter the words, “It’ll be an easy spin ride”.

    In my group that means, “Your average heart rate won’t be measurable with current technology”.

  65. Comment by stefano | 06.27.2008 | 11:02 am

    Drop back, find your rhythm, say a pray (or a bunch) and keep moving forward. Win Susan!

  66. Comment by Dobovedo | 06.27.2008 | 11:04 am

    The metaphor (writing) is absolutely beautiful. Except that the metaphor’s subject (reality) is absolutely [insert unpublishable words here]. Wishing the best.

  67. Comment by Clydesteve | 06.27.2008 | 11:28 am

    Umm, uh, listen Fatty. Uh, I didn’t read the clue contained in your title, and I uh, didn’t get it. At first. Because I can be kind of dull that way sometimes.

    S, anyway, I will be riding in the first of the LiveSTRONG Challenge series – Portland, OR, this Sunday, with my son Daniel. I would like to throw you a line, and when I get to the top of Bald Peak, I am going to stop, say a prayer for Susan, and reel up the slack.

    Just grab Susan and on buddy – As a true Clydesdale, I descend like an anvil. Bald Peak is not nearly as high as your meta-hill, but I think I can ratchet you up part way.

    2:01 WIN Susan!

  68. Comment by Al Maviva | 06.27.2008 | 1:16 pm

    Damn. Just damn.

    Well, since you ride single speed, you know the trick. Up out of the saddle, and attack the hill. Redline it, but don’t go past your redline.

    As you know, it’s surprising what kind of obstacles you can overcome if you make up your mind to keep pedaling and get up the hill.

    The wonder of the single speed, or for some of us the fixed gear, is you don’t realize you have that kind of strength within you, but you eventually figure out that the key thing is to make up your mind to make the climb. It helps if you’re riding in a good group that helps you maintain your uphill momentum.

    Worst comes to worst, you can throw the bike over your shoulder and run up. It’s been done before. Doesn’t matter how you get to the top of the hill, so long as you get up and get over. No matter how long and hard the climb, sooner or later, there’s a downhill. No matter the pain, you’re left with a richness of memory that those who didn’t do the climb will never experience. To really ride, you have to go past your suspected limits. That’s what you train for, to exceed your expectation and others expectations of you. You pray for the test and to do well on the test; when you’re being tested it doesn’t seem fun until you remember the whole purpose of the big event is to test you. You must give your all, that’s how you pass. I just hope you manage to keep pedaling, runups suck.

    Another metaphor, but apt I hope.

    Win Fatty.

  69. Comment by Grizzly Adam | 06.27.2008 | 1:23 pm

    It seems like those extra, unanticipated miles can go either way–they can be tiring, and terrible. Or they can turn into unexpected rewards. Some of the best miles I have had on the bike have been unplanned.

    Of course, you are not exactly talking about bike rides. In either case however, all you can do is keep pedaling. Something you continue to do with class and optimism. Which is more than I can say about how I’d be handling your situation.

    Thanks for the example Fatty!

  70. Comment by jsv | 06.27.2008 | 2:02 pm

    I am speachless, I am humbled. I am sure the prayers of all these folks is keeping you upright for that unexpected additional climb.

    WIN Susan!!!

  71. Comment by Boz | 06.27.2008 | 2:09 pm

    Just remember, if this (ride)was easy, everyone would be doing it. No sense of accomplishment, no satisfaction of a job well done. My own situation is one tough, grinding ride after another, but it looks like an afternoon on the bike path comapared to the route you and yours are on. What doesn’t kill you makes you tougher, so you will be one tough s.o.b. whedn the dust fianlly settles.

  72. Comment by L'Hippo | 06.27.2008 | 3:06 pm

    The climb can be done. Take a swig of CarboRocket or Buck-You-Up, put your head down, and keep turning the crank over and over and over and over and over until the peak has been crested. Thrashed, cooked, baked, whatever, you will have made it.

    Keep at it, man, and WIN!

  73. Comment by Erik | 06.27.2008 | 7:00 pm

    Flatten that unexpected hill. Win.

  74. Comment by victoria | 06.28.2008 | 12:17 am

    I’ve been following your blog for not-so-long. Somehow I ended up reading the Assos post as my first, then the “how to avoid looking fat in bike pictures” post, both of which left me weeping with laughter. This morning, I was weeping– but not from laughter. I don’t know much of what to say, only chalk me up to one more reader who is pulling for you and your family. All of you (hilarious writer, champion endurer/jewelry-maker, son-who-gives-amazing-speeches and the other kids I haven’t read about yet) are inspiring. Do your ‘thang, Fat Cyclist family– and add another to your fan club…

  75. Comment by Vito | 06.28.2008 | 1:53 pm

    Wow Fatty! That’s a powerful metaphor.
    One more mile, one more hill…Keep fighting the good fight. WIN SUSAN!!!

  76. Comment by LidsB2 | 06.28.2008 | 10:09 pm

    I spent the last week in the woods with a scout troop, so I’ve been out of the loop for a while. I came back to civilization anxious to see a report on the triathalon, find out how the fundraiser was going and see if by some chance I was the lucky winner of the Silk SL. What a roller coaster as I caught up on the week’s posts. The triathalon was an event I so wish I could have attended, I’m not the new owner of a sweet new bike, the fundraiser is rockin’ for the LAF, and now a world class metaphor makes my heart ache for Family o’ Fatty yet again. My thoughts and prayers are with you. May your extra loop be filled with fair skies, smooth trails and a tailwind.

    Win!

  77. Comment by Rocky | 06.29.2008 | 4:11 am

    It seems that more of those uphill grinds with fewer downhill rewards for work already done are more prevalent as the ride goes on, requiring many riders to dig deeper than they ever thought possible.

    I am beginning to think that those old timey story tellers that recounted walking to and from school in the snow, uphill both ways, were telling the truth and knew more than we might have once given them credit for.

    Climb away!

  78. Comment by bikemike | 06.29.2008 | 7:52 am

    fatty,
    yeah and those people didn’t even have shoes.

    rode 50 miles into the wind today for you guys. be strong today.

  79. Comment by TC the OC | 06.30.2008 | 11:11 am

    That almost qualifies as a ‘Unibomber Moment’. You have the excitement that only comes with getting an unexpected package… and then BOOM!!!!

    Except in your case you had to ride bikes instead of getting blown up.

    -TC

 

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.