Monkey Butt
Oh, to be a kid again.
Remember what it was like to jump on a bike and just "ride around?" I used my bike for everything. To get to my friend's house as quickly as possible... as a get-away after 'borrowing' some apples off the tree in the back yard of a home a few doors down... (I always thought I got away without being noticed. I now believe the owners just didn't care if I ate their worm filled, sour apples)... as a tool to mimic Evel Knivel's daring jumps. I set up cinderblocks with a piece of plywood and then launched myself as far as a "few" feet. But during those precious milliseconds I would dream of flying over 15 buses, or 20 cars, or the Snake River Canyon. When I didn't land on two wheels I had visions of Knivel's body bouncing down the landing ramp and across the asphalt in front of Cesear's Palace in Las Vegas. I rolled along, moaning and groaning, flailing my arms- acting out the part. Unlike the subject of the mimicking, I got up, took another run at it and flew across those precious feet again and again. When I was a kid my bike was my life.
Maybe that's why I never felt like I had "Monkey butt."
Do you know what I'm talking about? That's the feeling adults, who don't live on their bikes, get after a few minutes on a narrow, solid seat. If kids experienced monkey butt I'm sure they would take a few extra minutes getting to their friend's, they wouldn't worry about the quick get-a-way after lifting a few apples, and they wouldn't dream of the rare-air flying off a flimsy piece of plywood. But it seems everywhere you go you see adults who are cranking on the pedals, tucking to break the wind, drafting off the rider suffering with them, and praying for the end when feeling comes back.
I have to admit I'm one of those gluttons. Sports Director Greg Kerr took up cycling again to rehab his knee after surgery. I talked to him about it on a regular basis... amazed by the mileage he would put in. I finally decided to try it out again. Greg helped me find a good used bike so I didn't have to break the bank getting started. I got a helmut and the proper clothing. I try to get out at least once a week, usually on my own, to pedal for an hour or two. I'm not up to the distance Greg goes, but I like to ride for 25-40 miles. Greg has also talked me into riding the Tour De Cure in Winston Salem in April. I'm not going to go the 100-k distance like him. I'm up for the 50-k though.
WFMY News 2 Cyclers: Rachel Peterson, Kent, Greg Kerr
I'm not the speediest cycliest on the road. And I know I never will be. I'm perfectly happy with the 16-17 mph range. I don't plan on setting any records for time or distance. I'm just happy getting the "workout" monkey off my back... even though it sometimes means it's on my butt.
Oh, my sore butt!!!
Remember what it was like to jump on a bike and just "ride around?" I used my bike for everything. To get to my friend's house as quickly as possible... as a get-away after 'borrowing' some apples off the tree in the back yard of a home a few doors down... (I always thought I got away without being noticed. I now believe the owners just didn't care if I ate their worm filled, sour apples)... as a tool to mimic Evel Knivel's daring jumps. I set up cinderblocks with a piece of plywood and then launched myself as far as a "few" feet. But during those precious milliseconds I would dream of flying over 15 buses, or 20 cars, or the Snake River Canyon. When I didn't land on two wheels I had visions of Knivel's body bouncing down the landing ramp and across the asphalt in front of Cesear's Palace in Las Vegas. I rolled along, moaning and groaning, flailing my arms- acting out the part. Unlike the subject of the mimicking, I got up, took another run at it and flew across those precious feet again and again. When I was a kid my bike was my life.
Maybe that's why I never felt like I had "Monkey butt."
Do you know what I'm talking about? That's the feeling adults, who don't live on their bikes, get after a few minutes on a narrow, solid seat. If kids experienced monkey butt I'm sure they would take a few extra minutes getting to their friend's, they wouldn't worry about the quick get-a-way after lifting a few apples, and they wouldn't dream of the rare-air flying off a flimsy piece of plywood. But it seems everywhere you go you see adults who are cranking on the pedals, tucking to break the wind, drafting off the rider suffering with them, and praying for the end when feeling comes back.
I have to admit I'm one of those gluttons. Sports Director Greg Kerr took up cycling again to rehab his knee after surgery. I talked to him about it on a regular basis... amazed by the mileage he would put in. I finally decided to try it out again. Greg helped me find a good used bike so I didn't have to break the bank getting started. I got a helmut and the proper clothing. I try to get out at least once a week, usually on my own, to pedal for an hour or two. I'm not up to the distance Greg goes, but I like to ride for 25-40 miles. Greg has also talked me into riding the Tour De Cure in Winston Salem in April. I'm not going to go the 100-k distance like him. I'm up for the 50-k though.
WFMY News 2 Cyclers: Rachel Peterson, Kent, Greg Kerr
I'm not the speediest cycliest on the road. And I know I never will be. I'm perfectly happy with the 16-17 mph range. I don't plan on setting any records for time or distance. I'm just happy getting the "workout" monkey off my back... even though it sometimes means it's on my butt.
Oh, my sore butt!!!
posted by gsonewser @ 5:55 PM
<< Home