{"id":47489,"date":"2025-12-22T10:54:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T10:54:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alananna.co.uk\/blog\/?p=47489"},"modified":"2025-12-08T11:21:43","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T11:21:43","slug":"finding-my-way-in-the-dark-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alananna.co.uk\/blog\/2025\/12\/finding-my-way-in-the-dark-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding My Way in the Dark (Again)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I\u2019ve been heading out on MTB night rides again lately. It\u2019s 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\u2019ve decided it\u2019s a good way to ease myself back into some activity later in the day \u2014 something I\u2019ve been struggling with since starting medication. I think that\u2019s partly due to the medication itself, but also partly psychological. I\u2019d got used to feeling tired after a certain time of day and had simply assumed that\u2019s how it would always be now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So when I came across a group heading out for nice, easy night rides from Corris, I thought I\u2019d 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\u2019m still quicker than most people on the climbs. I was never particularly good at the descents, and that\u2019s still the case. I\u2019d hoped that a new full-suspension bike would help, but it turns out it\u2019s more about the mind than the machine \u2014 I haven\u2019t quite got my \u2018mojo\u2019 back yet, and as I get older I seem more and more reluctant to crash!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not having perfect eyesight doesn\u2019t help either, especially at night. I can\u2019t 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\u2019m trying out contact lenses though, and if I can get them dialled in there might be some improvements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, it\u2019s been fun getting out in the woods again \u2014 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\u2019m going!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I\u2019ve been heading out on MTB night rides again lately. It\u2019s 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. 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