Mastodon

Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow.

  • Thursday / September 5, 2013
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 1

Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow.

The odometer, tick, tick, ticks. The suspension pops and clicks. Incline ahead, I switch gears. It’s become second nature. It’s become a meditation and possibly a metaphore for my life. Scenery whizzes by but is it seen? Feeling the wind rush over me, like cool water from a river on a hot summer day. The sun splashing down from blue blue skies upon a broadened back and shaded eye. I push, and I pedal, and I glide further along. An extra tenth, another quarter … can I make it to that sign, that intersection, that cool looking house, that place I’ve not been before? With each foot, each block, each mile, I amaze and amuse myself. Is this the same body? Is this the same person? No! Not even close!

Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow.In March 2012 I began losing weight and started down a path I am happy to travel. One of health, life, vigor, and dare I say … happiness? In those early spring days, I rode, I walked, I went to the gym to work out, and I rode some more. I was finding passion at the gym and in the riding. Something I lost during my battle with Sarcoid for the previous 10 years. If it wasn’t the Sarcoid that was keeping from being active, it was the auto accident of November 2009 that tore both my rotator cuffs & once again took me out of the gym until now. It seemed the Universe had a major grudge. Maybe it was trying to teach me something. Those kinds of lessons no one needs! But I survived and I thrived!

Post Ride SheenThat was then, and this is now. Once the weight started coming off last year and I became more fit I set manageable goals with my rides. By the end of the summer 2012 I was doing 20-22 miles. A pretty amazing accomplishment I’d say! Here we are well over a year later. I’ve maintained my 100 pound weight loss. I’ve gotten stronger in many ways. I look in the mirror and barely recognize the body in front of me—my body! Damn!

I wanted to ride again. But certainly not in 90° weather with high humidity. Luckily in the past month things have cooled down. Once back on my bike I started the process of pushing further and further. I was able to do only two rides in April. I listened to my body the first ride and did a respectable 11.19 miles. Since then I’ve set a new best distance for myself—38.4 miles! With perseverance, that number may also grow. Why not! I like those kinds of goals—they are so healthy. I realize my chronological age, and my body does have limitations. I’ll keep pushing to see how far I can push without injuring myself. There may not be too many more rideable days. But then again—who knows!

With Sarcoid there is always the possibility of more debilitating symptoms, at any moment. So I’ve known for a long time to live in the moment. To do as much as I can do today—there may be no tomorrow. With each morning I get out of bed—it’s good day! A good day to go to the gym—and push, get on my bike—and push. It’s what I know. It’s who I am.

So if life is just one big bike ride, I say: Ride Long & Cast A Giant Shadow.

This Years Bike Rides

Bike Ride: September 4, 2013 - Click to see stats. Bike Ride: September 1, 2013 - Click to see stats. Bike Ride: August 26, 2013 - Click to see stats. Bike Ride: August 24, 2013 - Click to see stats. Bike Ride: August 23, 2013 - Click to see stats. Bike Ride: August 21, 2013 - Click to see stats. Bike Ride: August 19, 2013 - Click to see stats. Bike Ride: August 15, 2013 - Click to see stats. Bike Ride: August 11, 2013 - Click to see stats. Bike Ride: April 27, 2013 - Click to see stats. Bike Ride: April 9, 2013 - Click to see stats.
4.09 4.27 8.11 8.15 8.19 8.21 8.23 8.24 8.26 9.01 9.04
Click To See Facebook Posts
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow
01 of 25 - Waiting on the Belmar bridge

01 of 25 - Waiting on the Belmar bridge

02 of 25 - Waiting on the Belmar bridge

02 of 25 - Waiting on the Belmar bridge

03 of 25 - Waiting on the Belmar bridge

03 of 25 - Waiting on the Belmar bridge

04 of 25 - First time with bike racks

04 of 25 - First time with bike racks

05 of 25 - Bike rack different view

05 of 25 - Bike rack different view

06 of 25 - Fred @ posting or ride to Facebook

06 of 25 - Fred @ posting or ride to Facebook

07 of 25 - First time riding Asbury - Sandy Hook

07 of 25 - First time riding Asbury - Sandy Hook

08 of 25 - Sandy Hook sign

08 of 25 - Sandy Hook sign

09 of 25 - The things you see on a bike ride!

09 of 25 - The things you see on a bike ride!

10 of 25 - Along the Sandy Hook trail

10 of 25 - Along the Sandy Hook trail

11 of 25 - Reaching Fort Hancock @ Sandy Hook

11 of 25 - Reaching Fort Hancock @ Sandy Hook

12 of 25 - Sandy Hook

12 of 25 - Sandy Hook

13 of 25 - Fort Hancock @ Sandy Hook

13 of 25 - Fort Hancock @ Sandy Hook

14 of 25 - Sandy Hook

14 of 25 - Sandy Hook

15 of 25 - My rest stop on the way back from Sandy Hook

15 of 25 - My rest stop on the way back from Sandy Hook

16 of 25 - Looking at the sea wall

16 of 25 - Looking at the sea wall

17 of 25 - Selfie @ my rest stop

17 of 25 - Selfie @ my rest stop

18 of 25 - Selfie @ my rest stop

18 of 25 - Selfie @ my rest stop

19 of 25 - New part of Sandy Hook trail

19 of 25 - New part of Sandy Hook trail

20 of 25 - New part of Sandy Hook trail

20 of 25 - New part of Sandy Hook trail

21 of 25 - Carnival amusment ride on the way home

21 of 25 - Carnival amusment ride on the way home

22 of 25 - Carnival amusment ride on the way home

22 of 25 - Carnival amusment ride on the way home

23 of 25 - Carnival amusment ride on the way home

23 of 25 - Carnival amusment ride on the way home

24 of 25 - Carnival amusment ride on the way home

24 of 25 - Carnival amusment ride on the way home

25 of 25 - Ride Long - cast a big shadow!

25 of 25 - Ride Long - cast a big shadow!

Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 2
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 3
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 4
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 5
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 6
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 7
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 8
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 9
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 10
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 11
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 12
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 13
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 14
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 15
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 16
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 17
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 18
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 19
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 20
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 21
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 22
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 23
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 24
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 25
Ride Far. Cast A Giant Shadow. 26
Post Navigation
Tags:
Avatar

Joe Streno

artist . musician . photographer . retired apple computer consultant . residing on planet earth with his two cats rudie, & rocco & living to tell tales about it

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments