Right about now you may be looking at the title and wondering what could possibly be the connection between Asparagus and Riding Solo. If we jump back 4 or 5 months I would probably wonder the same thing. You see, that green veggie and riding alone were both things that I hated. Most of this hate was misplaced because of my lack of experience with said subjects. Hell, when it came to Asper-grass (As I like to call it), all I knew was it was a Veggie( not my favorite food group) and it makes your urine smell. Couple that with the fact that I ran into a mountain lion twice last year while riding solo, and you can understand why being kitty kibble and having stinky pee are not my favorite things.
The one thing that I have learned about both these items by venturing outside of my comfort zone, is that both of these things can be good for you and enjoyable on some level. For me, I was kind of forced into both of these items via friends. Asparagus was an item that we BBQ'd when a good friend came into town, and then prompted to ask me if I would at least try it. Said friend is high enough on the friend spectrum that I tried it without protest, and was shocked to discover , I didn't hate it. Riding solo was also forced upon me in a much more unwelcome way. We all have gone into a day waiting only for time to pass untl you are scheduled to meet up with your riding buddies and burn up some trail. Then hours before your days entire fixation becomes reality, you get the call, " Hey man, sorry I cant ride today ...(insert random excuse here) ". Many times when I recieve this call, it is simply game over and I try to plan the next ride instead of focusing on my dissapointment. Well during one particular week, said rides got cancelled 2 times, and when the 3rd ride was preceded by a call, I refused to not get some dirt under my wheels. So out I headed by myself, with no real agenda, schedule, or expectation as to what the ride would be.
Much to my suprise this ride put me into a state I couldnt remember being in for over a year. I was simply out having fun with almost no thoughts as to what I was doing. Now I am not trying to imply that I dont enjoy my normal rides, quite the contrary, as a bad day riding is better than a good day with no bike activities. But this ride was simply different. I was not riding at someone else's pace nor was I concerned if I was slowing someone else down. Strolling along I played, on the trail, simply soaking in the solo saddle time. It gave me plenty of time to reflect on my natural pace and work on skills without goofing off on someone else's time. The asper-grass and the solo ride had proven they could be positive parts of my life. I do warn you not to misinterpret what you have just read. I dont love smelly urine or being on the bike alone most of the time. I cant prove that too much asparagus is bad for you, but with biking there is definitely more danger involved in riding alone. Riding alone can leave you in a bad spot if you FR or DH and have a major crash, you also could have a mother nature run in like mine (thankfully all the big cat showed me was ass and paws).
If you take anything from this, just remember that occassionally stepping outside your comfort zone, can be very rewarding. Unexpected solo rides are now a chance for me to work on skills and gauge my riding progression and weakpoints. You may enjoy asparagus and enjoy riding solo, so maybe, you take up eating sauerkraut and riding in large groups..... I dont know what you consider your bain, but I am sure we can agree that your pee doesnt smell quite the same after a heaping helping of good old Asper-Grass....
The one thing that I have learned about both these items by venturing outside of my comfort zone, is that both of these things can be good for you and enjoyable on some level. For me, I was kind of forced into both of these items via friends. Asparagus was an item that we BBQ'd when a good friend came into town, and then prompted to ask me if I would at least try it. Said friend is high enough on the friend spectrum that I tried it without protest, and was shocked to discover , I didn't hate it. Riding solo was also forced upon me in a much more unwelcome way. We all have gone into a day waiting only for time to pass untl you are scheduled to meet up with your riding buddies and burn up some trail. Then hours before your days entire fixation becomes reality, you get the call, " Hey man, sorry I cant ride today ...(insert random excuse here) ". Many times when I recieve this call, it is simply game over and I try to plan the next ride instead of focusing on my dissapointment. Well during one particular week, said rides got cancelled 2 times, and when the 3rd ride was preceded by a call, I refused to not get some dirt under my wheels. So out I headed by myself, with no real agenda, schedule, or expectation as to what the ride would be.
Much to my suprise this ride put me into a state I couldnt remember being in for over a year. I was simply out having fun with almost no thoughts as to what I was doing. Now I am not trying to imply that I dont enjoy my normal rides, quite the contrary, as a bad day riding is better than a good day with no bike activities. But this ride was simply different. I was not riding at someone else's pace nor was I concerned if I was slowing someone else down. Strolling along I played, on the trail, simply soaking in the solo saddle time. It gave me plenty of time to reflect on my natural pace and work on skills without goofing off on someone else's time. The asper-grass and the solo ride had proven they could be positive parts of my life. I do warn you not to misinterpret what you have just read. I dont love smelly urine or being on the bike alone most of the time. I cant prove that too much asparagus is bad for you, but with biking there is definitely more danger involved in riding alone. Riding alone can leave you in a bad spot if you FR or DH and have a major crash, you also could have a mother nature run in like mine (thankfully all the big cat showed me was ass and paws).
If you take anything from this, just remember that occassionally stepping outside your comfort zone, can be very rewarding. Unexpected solo rides are now a chance for me to work on skills and gauge my riding progression and weakpoints. You may enjoy asparagus and enjoy riding solo, so maybe, you take up eating sauerkraut and riding in large groups..... I dont know what you consider your bain, but I am sure we can agree that your pee doesnt smell quite the same after a heaping helping of good old Asper-Grass....
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