Finding My Way in the Dark (Again)
I’ve been heading out on MTB night rides again lately. It’s something I used to do religiously every week, but it fell by the wayside while I was triathlon training and then dropped off the radar completely after my heart attack. Recently, though, I’ve decided it’s a good way to ease myself back into some activity later in the day — something I’ve been struggling with since starting medication. I think that’s partly due to the medication itself, but also partly psychological. I’d got used to feeling tired after a certain time of day and had simply assumed that’s how it would always be now.
So when I came across a group heading out for nice, easy night rides from Corris, I thought I’d tag along. It turned out to be a fairly relaxed, steady ride that I was able to cope with without any problems. I might not be anywhere near as fast as I used to be, but I’m still quicker than most people on the climbs. I was never particularly good at the descents, and that’s still the case. I’d hoped that a new full-suspension bike would help, but it turns out it’s more about the mind than the machine — I haven’t quite got my ‘mojo’ back yet, and as I get older I seem more and more reluctant to crash!
Not having perfect eyesight doesn’t help either, especially at night. I can’t really wear glasses while cycling as they steam up and get covered in mud and rain, so I just have to put up with somewhat blurred vision. I’m trying out contact lenses though, and if I can get them dialled in there might be some improvements.
Still, it’s been fun getting out in the woods again — finding new trails, meeting new people, and making the most of the long, dark winter evenings. Who knows, when I see the trails in the light of day next summer, I might even know where I’m going!
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Still a few other daft people about then !
My dark evenings are spent in the warm eating chocolates whilst reading a book ….yes an actual book !