3,000 miles in 2020

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

My New Year’s resolution was 2,020 miles in 2020. I had no way of knowing what kind of year 2020 would shape up to be, and because so much of it was spent at home, I logged a lot of miles on my Clementine. We live in hilly terrain, in fact, to get to my house it’s quite the climb; we’ve taken to calling it Killer Hill. The roadies come here to ride it on weekends, so you get the idea. I started this with Big Bens and stock Clem wheels. I swapped those out for tubeless Gravel Kings from Analog, and while they were at it, I had them make me my first dyno kit - that way I could wait for the cool of night and ride in the dark. It is often triple digits at 8 pm in the summer here.

Now I was really free to go! And go, I did. 

I didn’t know how much it was going to mean to me to be out on my bike this year. It’s been a rough year for everyone, and I’m no exception. I suddenly lost my young, healthy dad to a pulmonary embolism in July. He was only 62. I took 10 days and flew home to join my mom and siblings and plan Dad’s funeral in COVID times. When I returned, I got back on my Clem, pointed it towards Killer Hill and my 10-mile circuit, and sobbed for miles and miles as I pedaled through the desert. Pedaling and sobbing, I kept on. In the coming months, that Clem would be like balm to my soul, something familiar and comforting and even empowering. The turning of pedals and the whirring of wheels was familiar and wonderful in my upside-down world.

Meanwhile, I grew quads to be reckoned with. My stamina increased. I could go running or climb Killer HIll on my bike while having a phone conversation or singing. These are gifts that a heavyweight bike like a Clem will give you: You learn to muscle through the tough stuff. You’re not too proud to use the granny gear when it suits you. You know even through the pain, you’re going to get to the top of that hill, if only you’ll just keep turning the pedals. 

When we hit the middle of October, I finished my 2,020 miles. I needed something else to work towards, so I decided I’d try for 3,000 miles before Christmas. December would be a short month for me, because I’ll be away from my bike for most of it. With the weather cooling, I decided to try. But it would be difficult; I’d need to ride 20 miles per day most days, and I’ve told you about the hills here.

I learned the hard way about staying hydrated. As the temps dropped, I drank less water on my rides. Between lingering anxiety over Dad and dehydration, I ended up throwing my heart into a mild arrhythmia for a few days. If you’ve never experienced that, I’ll tell you that it will terrify you to get back on your bike for fear of how your body will take it.

But I got back in the saddle. My body took it just fine, as if nothing had happened, and I did a better job taking care of myself after that. Meanwhile, my long-awaited raspberry Rivendell Platypus arrived. I decided that what I’d started on my Clem, I’d finish on my Platypus.

Today, December 6th, astride the beautiful raspberry Platypus, I hit my 3,000th mile.

I made a video montage, and I’ll try to post it here in a 2nd post, but at 1 minute and 36 seconds, it may be too big. You can view it on Instagram or I will email it you if you ask.

Warmly,

Leah

 

[Leah Peterson]

Drat, the video will not send. Here are some pics instead. Message me if you want me to email it, or view it on Instagram.

Sent from my iPad

On Dec 6, 2020, at 10:49 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:

My New Year’s resolution was 2,020 miles in 2020. I had no way of knowing what kind of year 2020 would shape up to be, and because so much of it was spent at home, I logged a lot of miles on my Clementine. We live in hilly terrain, in fact, to get to my house it’s quite the climb; we’ve taken to calling it Killer Hill. The roadies come here to ride it on weekends, so you get the idea. I started this with Big Bens and stock Clem wheels. I swapped those out for tubeless Gravel Kings from Analog, and while they were at it, I had them make me my first dyno kit - that way I could wait for the cool of night and ride in the dark. It is often triple digits at 8 pm in the summer here.

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[RichS]

Leah, good for you. Congratulations on all those miles! 

Rivendells have long been billed as versatile bikes. The smile on your face while hoisting your 30ish lb. Platypus and Clem tells me you don't have to just ride 'em to stay fit:-)

Best,

Rich in ATL

[Ben Mihovk]

Leah,

You are a MACHINE! I love this post and find it very inspiring. So much so, that I'm going to resolve to ride 2021 miles in 2021...and hopefully I'll get there early like you and can try for more.

Loved the video on IG, too! 

Ben 

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Thanks, Rich! Lifting these Rivs does a body good. I am convinced any upper body strength I have is lifting my bikes or pulling hard on the bars up hills. I love it; it feels so good.

Ben - you can do it! And you’ll get there quick, I’m sure. Maybe you can reward yourself with a new Platypus? 😬

[Patrick Moore]

Very sorry to hear about your father; he was 3 years younger than I.

And congrats on the 3K.

I started experiencing arrhythmia over 20 years ago, and know the feeling; not nice. The cardiologist wanted to put me on beta blockers, which I understand limit your exertion. My wife at the time, a MD and DOM (dr of oriental medicine) put me on a 18 or 24 month regimen of pills, acupuncture, and incredibly noxious (really!) witches' brews of herbs and seeds and bark and roots -- black, seething, oily nasty brews, of which I had to drink pints a day. I now very occasionally feel a flicker, but, thank God, nothing that I've had to go back to a doctor about.

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

[Roberta]

You are an inspiration, not only to ride more, but to set and achieve a difficult but realistic goal. Congratulations. I don’t ride nearly as much as you, but I can admit that I ride more than I would otherwise. 

Since my gym is closed, I think I’ll try your weightlifting strategy. As the perceived weight feels less, do you add on racks and bags?  ;)

[True Golden]

Echoing congrats on accomplishing the 3000 mile goal as well as heartfelt sympathies on the loss of your Dad.

So difficult!

I still recall the phone call in  2004 from my wife during my attempted crossing of the USA on a bicycle tour that my Dad had passed at age 75. 

Paul in Dallas 

Mercy, I'm only 5 years from that age!

But also have 2400 miles cycling for the year

and my Dad never exercised.

[ascpgh]

Between mourning a lost loved one and channelling the grief into personal accomplishment, you earn most heartfelt sympathy, deepest respect and recognition. A good job Leah. You set an example for your family and all of us. 

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

[Leah Peterson]

Thank you, Andy, those were really touching words. I’m really grateful to have a place I can share these stories with like-minded people.

Leah

Sent from my iPad

On Dec 10, 2020, at 4:41 AM, ascpgh <asc...@gmail.com> wrote:

Between mourning a lost loved one and channelling the grief into personal accomplishment, you earn most heartfelt sympathy, deepest respect and recognition. A good job Leah. You set an example for your family and all of us. 

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[George Schick]

I'm going to climb way out on a limb, saw in hand, and make a prediction:  as Leah continues to hammer out the miles, she'll eventually find that she wants a road bike, drop bars and all.  And she'll be riding just like that Ms. Cools in those Henry Wildeberry YouTube videos.

[R Shannon]

Leah is our own Ms. Cool(s).

Best,

Rich in ATL

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 10, 2020, at 1:01 PM, George Schick <bhi...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm going to climb way out on a limb, saw in hand, and make a prediction:  as Leah continues to hammer out the miles, she'll eventually find that she wants a road bike, drop bars and all.  And she'll be riding just like that Ms. Cools in those Henry Wildeberry YouTube videos.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/0f173527-4d2b-425b-b5f7-bfc8305b39d3n%40googlegroups.com.

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

You guys are so nice. ♥️ That Ms. Cool lady is something else.

I don’t see myself on drops like ever, and I’m so in love with my Clementine and Platypus that I can’t even imagine I’ll ever have any other bikes. Hold me to it.

Leah

[Joe Bernard]

But there will be new Riv bikes! And you might want one and buy it and ride it and it will be wonderful!!! But 🚫 drop bars.