Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 6

"Runnin' Down a Dream"

You don't need an explanation as to why this is a great cycling song...

Especially when you're doing a long ride...

And then facing a long climb...

That road seemingly headed straight up...

Whew!  I did this...!

I thought I would share a video I made using this song

from a road trip we took 2 years ago... enjoy!

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 5

Some rides are just for fun...
Like this song...
Just something upbeat to listen to while
riding around.
During a long ride, it gives just a little bit of extra energy,
and if it weren't for the fear of bugs in my teeth,
I might just sing along...

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 4

Given that it's the Fourth of July,

I am going off the shuffle for a day to bring up

one of the other songs in my playlist:

I have a lot of songs on my playlist that are for inspiration.

Especially when I face new challenges.

In comparison to how far I've come,

10 miles doesn't seem very far... 

but it was the climb that was the challenge.

This was one of my first ones...

I call these "lung vomit hills"

because I honestly feel like my lungs are going to burst

up out of my throat...

Songs like this one, and some others in my playlist

really help.

And of course add to the celebration

when you get to the other side

and race downhill...!

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 3

I've known my friend Melinda since college.

Just recently, we've both started riding separately

and earlier this year for the first time together...

50 miles, crazy elevations...

I think about her because of the next song in my shuffle:

"Tainted Love" is one of the soundtracks of my college days.

I love hearing it when it comes on during my ride.

It reminds me of being 20 and carefree.

Dancing all night as though my legs could go on forever...

I need that little inspiration sometimes on a ride.

Especially when faced with a challenge like this one:

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 2

Today's shuffle brought up

The Time (Dirty Bit) by the Black-Eyed Peas

Everyone knows the starting riff is from Dirty Dancing's 

"I've Had the Time of My Life"

but much more techno...

I like that it gets my heart going

and gets my legs pumping.

I also like that it reminds me at the onset

"I've had the time of my life,

and I owe it all to you..."

My husband was initially against my getting a bike.

He argued about how dangerous it was.

He argued about how no one respects cyclists.

He argued, and I bought a bike anyway and started riding.

Now he supports my riding.

He encourages me to get out on the road.

He drives me to locations and drops me off.

He's picked me up when I'm riding home, 

and it's suddenly started raining.

And, now he's driving me to biking events...

And, I keep having the time of my life... 

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 1

I can't believe I've been doing this over the last 5 years.

Wow, time sure flies...

This year, I thought I would blog about the music in my

cycling playlist:

one because it's great music,

but two, as I look ahead to turning 49 this month

I really have to start thinking about taking better

care of this body so that it can last another 49 years.

So, I am hoping that I can be re-inspired

to start riding more regularly again...

And maybe do a 100 mile ride instead of my usual

50...

So let's begin...

The rest of the month I'll be doing a true shuffle,

but this first song is almost always my first song on a ride...

I don't know what it is about this song,

but the opening is ethereal;

those first 20 seconds are like a heart beat.

As I start my ride, it's finding the right position,

making all those fine adjustments for the ride ahead,

and then getting settled in the seat... 

At about the minute mark, the pace of the song changes

which is about the time I start to pick up the pace

stretch out my legs

adjust the gears

find my cadence.

Around 2:35, the rhythm

picks up suddenly.

I'm starting to get warmed up,

all the adjustments have been made

I'm in the zone.

Then there's a sudden lull at 3:19.

Soft piano music

then back to the initial ethereal heartbeat rhythm.

I have a moment to remember to breathe.

Then the singing starts again,

and I continue my ride...

Stealth Mode

Excuse my absence, but after the April Challenge

I usually need some time to decompress.

And, this Challenge was harder than usual because of my

chosen topic and being on the road at the time.

Now I've had some time to relax,

get back into work mode,

and actually feel like writing again.

And, I made a promise to myself that I would start blogging

more seriously,

more frequently,

even if no one's reading...

or are they too in stealth mode..?