Why do you put yourself through 2 hours of painful cycling in spandex, hunched over a road bike, trying to ignore the chafing and your burning legs while your lungs are screaming for air… when you could be leisurely cycling the Seawall on a cute Dutch bike with a pretty basket? Why wouldn’t you call it a day after a day of heavy squats and deadlifts but instead you get the dying urge to do a finisher with 100 burpees and suicide lines? Because you live and dream exercise and sweat… you are addicted. You are a fitness maniac just like I am.

I don’t know the reasons why you exercise but I’m addicted to the feeling, the progress and the results.

I love exercise but I am constantly struggling with balance and recovery. It’s hard to have rest days when you just want to do some shameless gym-ratting or go for a nice long bike ride …but I am not of those those “no days off” fitness addicts idiots. I realize the importance recovery plays in your fitness regime and growth and try really hard to not overwork my body. But it’s really hard.

I struggle the most during spring and summer— especially now that the sun is out and Grouse Grind is opened. There is just so much to do! Cycling, Grouse Grinding, the occasional running so I can be ready for Tough Mudder, weightlifting… there is no time for rest!! Or so it seems.

I want to put in more miles on my bike but I also want to hit the gym to do my intensive full-body conditioning circuits and also increase my weights during leg day (I don’t split train but I do dedicate at least one day a week for squats and one for deadlifting). I struggle to find the balance to do it all without being sore or in pain every single day. I plan all my workouts before the week starts but I sometimes find myself straying because a supposedly leisurely bike ride turns into an intense one and then my legs turn into jelly when I try to squat or deadlift.

And that is one reason why I’m not the girl who lifts the heaviest weights or is the fastest on a bike… I like to dabble in everything because it makes me happy. I don’t care if I’m not the best but I already know I’m trying my hardest and I’m fit, healthy and happy.
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I have a confession. Clipless pedals have induced anxiety before my rides particlarly when commuting. I’m fine once I get on the road but the thought of having to clip in (and out) really annoys me since I ride through the city and have to constantly stop at lights… and the fact that I HAVE NO COORDINATION whatsoever is a worry to me. I have no problems remembering to clip out but sometimes my feet will slip a couple times or just not clip in the first time around. Very annoying especially at a busy intersection when I have to merge with cars during rush hour… or worse, when that intersection is at the bottom of a hill!

Ah, how I miss the simple times …with regular pedals. Plus I don’t see too many Ride & Grind adventures this summer because I don’t feel like carrying extra weight [shoes] up to Grouse with me just so I can hike up the Grind. Maybe I should take on the challenge and hike up in my bike shoes. Hah.

Ideally, I would get a new bike, put the stock pedals back on my current one and use it for commuting and chores. Clips are fun and I love them because they make me faster and more efficient but they totally are NOT necessary.

I still love my clips though so I’m not complaining!

I will eventually get use to them and be able to clip in effortlessly. Hopefully.

//End rambling.

Remember when I use to write about fashion and beauty on this blog? That seems like ages ago. These days, I don’t shop as  much as I once did and I think that was when fitness found its way into my life. Isn’t it amazing? Fitness CURED me of my shopaholic problems. I use to go out and buy things without even looking at the price tag but now when I do shop, I am more mindful.

…And that is probably because I’m saving to buy fitness equipment and apparel. Snowboards, boots, bindings, winter jackets, BIKES, cycling jerseys, bike shorts, workout gear in general… WHY MUST YOU BE SO DAMN EXPENSIVE? I take it back, I think fitness actually made my shopping problem a lot more complicated because I am spending more money now. But at least everything I buy these days doesn’t get thrown in the back of my closet with the tags still on.

 So now onto why I wrote this entry:

Instead of shopping for pretty dresses and tops, I’m browsing for performance gear— especially for cycling but I only own TWO actual cycling jerseys (not counting a waterproof shell and a long sleeve for cold weather riding)… you know with those handy back pockets since all roadies can’t live without. I love riding in my Under Armor and Nike tops because they are plain and simple, fit me like a glove with no flashy and obnoxious designs …but I do wish they had some back pockets to carry all my junk while I ride.

Random list of rants related to cycling gear:

• Getting lost in a world of pastel pink, magenta, turquoise, baby blue makes me dizzy and nauseous.
• The times I see the perfect black or white jersey so I pull it out of the rack …only to find the fucking pink swirls and flowers printed on the other side. Way to mess up a perfect jersey.
• When there ARE nicely designed cycling gear for warm weather riding, they have SHORT SLEEVES.  I really do not understand this whole thing with cyclists and their tan lines. MAJOR DISLIKE. That’s why I only wear sleeveless when the sun is out …or suffer in long sleeves. Yes I am that vain.
• Sleeveless jerseys: they are either a gazillion dollars, looks like shit or doesn’t fit right.
• I understand cyclists want to be seen but obnoxious logos (why do you want to wear giant logo when you’re not even sponsored) and obnoxious prints are not the way to go. You may cause a huge accident after blinding the poor driver who just crashed his car into a pole because he just couldn’t handle your psychedelic jersey.

I’m not a princess on a bike. I’m a QUEEN so give me what I want!!

Teeheehee.

Note-to-self: Get back pockets custom sewn into my perfect Under Armour and Nike tops.

Disclaimer: if you actually own one of those hideous jerseys, I promise I don’t actually make fun of people wearing them. But I would never be caught dead in one. They just don’t suit my skin tone okay. But clearly, there IS a market for women’s cycling jerseys with flowers and psychedelic prints all over them because I’ve seen many on the roads…