Here is an article that I wrote back in 2007 (yeah that long ago!) I believe for my good friend Ernest as a recommendation for cycling.  It’s interesting for me to read the stuff that I wrote a long time ago and wonder at the timid and fearful write that I was.  I have added a couple of my comments (they are in the italics called Dan’s note) where I reflect back on what was partially honest or tainted by my limitations and fears.  I feel that I have come a long way in those areas yet the underlying message is still a strong one for me, so I share it with you here.

Dan’s Cycling Confessions

What has cycling done to make my life better?  Oh, let me count the ways!  Weight loss, cardiovascular strength, muscle building, more energy, stronger immune system, and the list goes on and on and on without even touching on the ascetic aspects of riding a bike (seeing nature first hand, exploring neighborhoods, meeting passionate people, etc).

Let me give you a bit of my history and how I came to become a cyclist. A few years ago I was a fairly successful corporate type (Dan’s note: Here is a fine example of one of my FEARS.  I wouldn’t even admit just HOW successful I was in the corporate world!) who worked in a high-pressure sales environment. Which can essentially be broken down into the following daily habits: unhealthy doses of stress, lots of coffee, fast food, and lots of sitting at a computer (all hunched over like 90% of the people who work at computers do). After 9 years of that, my body decided to tell me it had enough and my back/hip went out on me. I bring this up, because it was a life-changing event that still plagues me to this day. I wasn’t able to sit, let alone stand for more than 15-30 minutes at a time. After seeing a LOT of different doctors, physical therapist, and chiropractors one message came through to me…I had to lose weight (I was 285 lbs)(Dan’s note: I was actually closer to 295lbs, guess when I wrote this I really wasn’t ready to admit that!) and I needed to strengthen my core muscles.

I began a light gym regiment that my physical therapist put together that focused on core strengthening, but I wanted more.  Fate has it, I was going through this transformation during July of 2005, and you can probably guess already that I was watching the Tour de France.  It was during that time that the thought struck me, “Hey self!  You used to like riding a bike when you were young, why don’t we do that again?”  There was a time in my life when I would have just jumped into the car and went out and bought a new bike, but being a bit older now with a house full of whims collecting dust I decided to wait and see if the desire passed.

At the end of July, the Tour ended and I still had not purchased a bike, so perhaps I was correct in my conservative spending.  Sure I still wanted one, but I was pretty sure that desire would fade like the excitement of the Tour, but it didn’t.  Come mid-August, I found myself in the Bike Doctor (Annapolis, not Crofton) asking questions about riding and explaining the young man about my weak core and bad back.  He recommended a Cannondale for me due to the way their rear forks are built it would help give me a smoother ride.  Being in my conservative state of mind, I was purely gathering data at that point so I left the shop a little information and a lot of sticker shock.  I mean seriously, $1000 for a bike, come on what am I Lance Armstrong?  I think not.

Fast forward two weeks later and I found myself in the Crofton Bike Doctor.  I was determined to try riding a Canondale and a few other bikes.  Well to sum it up, I quickly learned the difference between a $1000 bike and a $300 bike (similar to driving a Porsche vs. a Hyundai…I left the shop that day with the Porsche, spending $1200ish).  I can remember that first ride on my new Canondale R500 down the WBNA trail near my house; it was like a first kiss.   I was so proud, I road 3 miles!  I was exhilarated, hooked, and in love with cycling.

Now one might ask why didn’t I go back to the Annapolis location to purchase my new bike?  Well I did.  Unfortunately, they did not have the Canondale R500 in stock at the time and when I inquired about it, I was told that they would have it back in stock within a week or so.  By this point, the beast of compulsive purchasing was BURNING inside me.  I knew that I wanted a bike, and I wanted it that day.  So I drove to Crofton (which is actually closer to my house anyway) and was greeted at the door (it’s nice not having to search for someone to take my money) by a young man who was incredibly helpful.  When I explained my needs and story of my injury, he was quick to agree that that the Canondale was the bike for me, but suggested I try a Trek and a few others just to be sure.

Of course he was right about the Canondale (as I mentioned earlier) but he went on to explain about pedals, shoes, biking shorts, water bottles, extra tubes, tools, etc, etc.  I spent a good hour and a half learning about the all the tools of the trade so to speak.  Coming from a sales background myself, my first impression was the classic add-on sales technique.

Sure I agreed to buy a bike, now hit me with all the extra stuff to spike up the bill of sale.  But I was wrong.  Everything he told me made sense.  Cycling shoes and clipless pedals, yeah I can see that.  Water bottles, while of course!  Extra tubes and repair tools, well yeah…who wants to get a flat miles from home.  But I had to draw the line at cycling shorts, I mean come on I was a big guy and he wanted me to wear cycling shorts?!?  So I passed; which he was very gracious and just told me about the benefits of them (the next day, after my amazing 3 mile ride I was in the shop buying those shorts btw).  I even went so far as to get fitted for my bike!  Being a cynic back then, I remember thinking to myself, “Self, you already feel AWESOME on the bike!  How can it help?”  But once again, my inner cynical self was wrong (As it has proven more times than not.  Today I pretty much never even listen to that little voice).  After getting fitted for my bike, I can’t imagine NOT getting it done!  Come to think of it, I probably need to go get my position rechecked…

I suppose the most important aspect of my first few weeks was the amount of information I gained about cycling from the staff at the CBD (that’s Crofton Bike Doctor if you didn’t guess).  I really started to become friends with the staff after having an amazing week of flat tires (5 in 5 days all of which Ernest replaced for free due to a series of bad tubes he received).  Here were a bunch of guys and gals who were knowledgeable and enthusiastic cycling fiends.  Ranging from casual riders to hard core racing nutters, the staff filled the gamut of the cycling community at large.

Two and a half years later, I ride a Look 555 full carbon bike that cost me far more than I would have ever dreamed on that first day, but it’s worth every penny.  My casual ride ranges from 15-40 miles, and my passion for riding still burns strong.  Since that first ride, I have lost over 100 lbs due to riding, nutritional changes, and weight training.  I attribute my weight loss to my cycling which has driven me to improve my diet and continue to strengthen my body (which makes riding much, much easier!).

Well the sun just poked out from behind the clouds, so I’m going to get off my butt and away from this computer to enjoy my bike.  Have a great day and get out and ride!

Dan Sprietzer 2007(ish)

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • •

Filed under: Fitness

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!