Comments on: Surviving the Bad Days

By: Bad Days, Hard Days – Good Days, Always - The Everyday Athlete

Bad Days, Hard Days – Good Days, Always - The Everyday Athlete — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:30:35 +0000

[...] Bad Days, Hard Days – Good Days, Always I quit cycling so many times today I stopped counting. It still amazes me that with all of the things about cycling that we can control (and trust that I try to control them all), you can still just wake up and have a bad ride. Just like that. For no apparent reason. “Of course you’re tired!” [...] Related posts:Surviving the Bad Days [...]

By: KristenT

KristenT — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:43:43 +0000

Thanks, Heidi, for putting in to words what I feel sometimes– usually in the middle of a hill, at the end of a long ride. Great writing.

Have fun in Arid-zona, I hope you find what you need there to come back to P-town and hit it again! :D

By: snarkypants

snarkypants — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:40:06 +0000

Geez, Mark. You almost got me cryin’ with that one. Nice work! :)

By: mark

mark — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:36:31 +0000

Hi Heidi,
You’re amazing in so many ways. To be able to put into words so elegant, the feelings of a ride, is pure inspiration. I strive to keep pedaling, to look ahead, reading this gives me insight. Whether it is on the road or in life. I ask myself… what would Swifty do? Thanks for helping me see different perspectives in my Black and White world. To read your writing is a true gift.
Thanks
MD :)

By: Justin

Justin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:07:18 +0000

Lovely writing. It was one nice understandable article for 75% and then became something else entirely as we contemplated the victory in defeat idea. Afterall, anyone can finish a climb on a good day. But who can finish a climb on their worst and what does that say? Keep up with the writing if only for those of us who have no choice but to trade the bike for x-country skis now.

By: Mark C

Mark C — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:44:13 +0000

You didn’t fall apart when you got home because you stuck it out and knew that you gave it your best effort. As pathetic as you thought you were during the ride, you were proud that you didn’t quit, and rightly so. Enjoy Arizona and being able to ride in shorts.

By: Kevin Ward

Kevin Ward — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:17:40 +0000

If I could put into words my feelings on cycling as of late, this has summed it up. It is at the very least a most humbling experience. Every ride I push on through, hoping to flush my legs of their slowness, rewire my brain of it’s weakness, and break myself into the submission of pain.
Knowing I am not alone comforts me at the moment and inspires me. We have not met but, when we do, I hope it is off the front. Maybe you will write about that and we look at today with grace.

By: JV

JV — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:12:43 +0000

I’ve been pushed up a hill. Typing this, I realized that, just last year on a training ride, I got a nice push on a *downhill* from a teammate trying to get me back into the draft. It is humbling, but I’ve always thought of it as an act of love. Not pity or disrespect, but true supportiveness. If they didn’t give a shit, they’d just pass you and (maybe) wait at the top. Maybe next time you’ll be the pusher.

By: parker

parker — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:33:04 +0000

this is some of your best writing (that I’ve ever read).
and you are absolutely right about there being an equal and opposite triumph at the back of the pack.
even if you’re riding isn’t where you want it your writing is incredible. even powerful.
strong work on and off the road.

By: RC

RC — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:05:39 +0000

You did great Heidi! We knew it wasn’t going to be easy – it isn’t always easy in cycling. It’s rarely easy, actually. And everyone on that ride has been in the same spot. I know I have been. These are the rides that build not only fitness, but character.

(Mark and I were saying this ride would be good blog-inspiration for you)