Stepping it up

I've tried to keep up my cycling during the winter, but haven't been successful. I've ridden to work most of the time, but other than that, I haven't been on the road as much as I would have liked.

The obvious answer is an indoor trainer, and I got one yesterday. What a choice I made. I didn't get one that holds the bike safely in place. Oh no. I got the ultimate trainer that forces you to produce a better form at the risk of falling off. I got a roller. It's like learning to ride the bike all over again. On ice. With a little silicon lubricant thrown in. They recommend you start out in a doorway until you learn to stay on the thing, so I get in the one doorway where the bookshelf is on my left and the shelf with Wifey-Do's breakable special stuff is on the right. Can't afford to crash.

After minutes of slipping and skewing and reprovements from Wifey-Do to return the roller, I'm able to stay on. Several things become clear; my pedaling is jerky, I've developed a kind of squirrely hip movement I didn't know about, and I tend to lean forward. The roller is quick to teach.

I'm going back to Pendleton in a few days. I'm taking the roller and the Somec with me. For the next two weeks I will be riding with my new teacher, unlearning the bad habits I unknowingly programmed into my muscles.

Check this dude out. The roller king.