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And sometimes you don't have to rationalize

You know for an anemic 60 (soon to be 61) year old, I think I'm in pretty decent shape. But even knowing that doesn't change the reality, that I ride with a number of riders (at least 3) who are older than me, and in at least one case, considerably stronger.

So when I saw my buddy Gerry (the one older and stronger, and also a cancer survivor) this morning, along with a few other even stronger and younger riders, I knew immediately today was not a day to do the club ride. (Read Gerry's comment on my last post, and you'll understand even better why.) I knew it was going to be [very] fast, and after yesterdays hard hammer zone ride, I knew my legs were just not going to be up to it.

I've also never forgotten what Dirty Harry said in Magnum Force,
A man's got to know his limitations!

and if there's one thing I know, it's my limitations.

I still ended up doing a pretty hard ride with two of my other buddies up Spyglass, and the back side of Newport Coast, but we did it a relatively moderate pace, and with the head wind on the way home, it still made for a quality ride, but without killing myself.

Plus there was still time to stop for coffee (in my case green tea) in Huntington Beach, and view some of the pretty scenery. (Alejandro will know what I mean.)

So today, unlike last week, I don't feel bad at all about not doing the club ride, because I know I'll live to ride another day, and just maybe [a big maybe], one day I'll to be able to keep up with Gerry. At least I'll have something to shoot for. :)

Thanks buddy!
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Comments

Alejandro said…
Hi Marc. In this case I think that there are no limitations for you. I consider very clever from you to change the large ride club for an smaller one and the time to enjoy those interesting girls volley ball matches on the beach, remembering that there is a point where men have no limitations: the possibility to contemplate a pretty scenary.
12:11 PM
Gerry said…
Thanks, for the positive comments, you made the right decision today as I had one of the best ride in years. Needless to say I stayed with
all the kids on the climbs and even managed to tell them my first SSI check comes next week.

I remember back a few years when you were kicking my butt in the hills and I'm sure you will do it again when you retire and ride everday like I do...

From one Cancer survivor to another see you on the road!
1:23 PM
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