3/21 Post 2020 Thoughts in the early AM

Having coffee and posting early on a Saturday morning. At 5 pm a Stay at home order will be implemented. I don't know what to make of all this. We sat and chatted with the wife last night and we both agreed that this was the weirdest thing we could have ever imagined. While we still try to wrap our heads of what has happened, the truth is that there is a lot more consequences coming. 
As a cyclist I think everything is going to change for a long time. Bike shops, rides, races, industry, everything has been turned upside down. It will be a while until we can fully understand the impact, find solutions, and fix stuff to what I think a new order. 
I really think that all events in spring and summer should just be canned. Take that time to take care of family, friends, oneself. 
I will miss,again, seeing a lot of friends I have not seen in a long time. That will have to wait until the storm is over. 
I will have to accept the fact that doing indoor training will be a possible fact if things get worse and we get grounded at home. I have rollers, a non smart trainer, a rowing maching and Trx straps. I also have some weights, a yoga mat, and a foam roller. 
In the meantime I will try to ride outside alone. I will roll out the garage, ride, then roll back inside. Wash everthing, wash bike and be grateful. 
What are your plans? 
I hope to keep posting on here on a daily basis and that we all write more since we now have the time. Let me know if you need anything at all. 
Today I am hoping for a short, outside ride, then I am going to start tackling my garage. I also have 3 sets of full coverage fenders that have to be mounted. They have been sitting, idling for months. It's a tedious process to fit them on bikes but now is the right time to do it. I also have to change the broken housing on my Rohloff system. That should take a while. I also have a ton of books to read and a bunch of movies to watch. Oh, my thousands of photos need organizing. 
These are all things that I was not able to do while I was participating in the rat race. The rat race keeps you alive and pays the bills but does not allow you to do the things you love. 
Stay positive, get stuff done. 
thank you for reading,
Ari

I hope to be out here one day, surrounded by friends.

Losing the Mojo

As a more mature, older cyclist I have come to realize a few things. Last year was a year of transition for me as I had left the bike industry after being in the trenches for over 30 years. 

I have no regrets about it since I have gained so much from it. I have lifelong friends that I will grow old with, knowledge, lots of miles ridden,people I have met. I supported my family and earned respect from my fellow workers. 

As the business changed a lot of the small shops did not follow suit. This caused a lot of turmoil and the demise of a lot of bike shops. I have already mentioned this phenomena in another post. I slowly started to lose my cycling mojo. I came to realize other important things. I came to realize how I spent all summers cooped up in front of my workstand. Customers would walk in and tell me how beautiful it was outside. 

It honestly started to affect me. I had spent a lot of years doing this. I had spent a lot of years in there. My family waiting for me a the end of a long day to enjoy the last rays of the day. 

After leaving the industry a weight has been lifted. Something has changed and I cannot put my finger on it. I miss the shop, the people and the bikes. Then there is a lot I don't miss. I am still trying to figure it out and I have a hard time doing it. 

I have been off the bike for over a month. I have not taken such a break in over 40 years and after a while I started to get used to it. I had lost my cycling Mojo. My body and mind needed a break, and intermission, a reset. 

Tomorrow the weather will crack. It supposed to be in the 50's. I will get dressed and start my new season. I hope to enjoy cycling like I did before. I hope to ride with family and friends. I hope to meet you for a ride. I hope to run into you out there. I have a lot to catch up with many of you. It has been a long time coming. 2020 might just out to be a pivotal year for a lot of things. 

thanks for reading, 

Ari 

Hope to catch up with you this year!