The Daily Open Minded Writer

So, I went to the bike meet on the second night, and I have to say I think it went even better than the first night, which really says something because the first night was so much fun for me. I went there hoping to meet the same group of guys, but they weren’t there when I arrived, which was OK because it pushed me to expand my circle and talk with others. I met a few guys who all had beginner-style bikes (yes, I know I probably made a mistake by getting a bike that was too much for a beginner, but we’re here now, so I’m just going to learn the best I can and make it my first bike until I find something better). Anyway, I’m not judging, just seeing what others are riding in comparison to me to understand where I stand in terms of riding time, skill, and overall comfort level. I have to say those guys on the beginner bikes are damn good riders (crazy squids), but real riders, and they have a comfort level on the bike I still need to develop or find. I think that comes from just time on the bike and confidence in their abilities. If not, I want to know how they got it, because I really want that. Watching them take off, they don’t struggle with throttle control and don’t need to coast like I do; they just take off smoothly like it’s nothing. I’m jealous because I want that skill and confidence. I was hoping by now I could take one hand off the bars and feel steady, but I’m not even close. They all have neat mods on their bikes—from epic-sounding exhausts to new fairings in crazy colors or carbon fiber—none of which look as good as mine. But I think it’s a process: first, the bike and some gear like a helmet, jacket, gloves, boots, and pants. Then, I’ll move on from the initial purchases to customize things more to my style or to better fit different environments or rides. That’s just my thinking. Anyway, I hung out with them for a bit, then other guys and girls showed up, and I got to meet two girls who looked bad-ass on their bikes. Some other guys, including a Harley rider—which is pretty rare in the sport bike world—also showed up, and he was really cool, probably a seasoned rider. I showed them something I had on my bike that others didn’t know about and helped them make some small mods, which was really cool for me. I was invited again to ride with them, so depending on how Friday goes, I might join, but I might also be getting a treadmill that day, so it could just be another bike meet that night, and maybe ride with them on Saturday. Honestly, I’m still nervous about riding with them because I don’t feel good enough yet. The good part is I found some common ground with a few of them, and that solo experience made me want to go back next week if I can. As for the treadmill, I finally found one on Facebook Marketplace—something I really wanted but couldn’t justify the cost—yet I got it for $3,000 off, and they offered to deliver it and help me get it inside. That’s a win in my book. If the deal goes through, awesome; if not, no big deal—I’ve lost nothing and remain hopeful. The gym’s been going well, and I’ve been super consistent. Every day off work, I hit the gym, and if I get out early, I just go again to get my lifts in. I hope I can fit in 20-minute treadmill runs some days. I’m not aiming to run a marathon or anything crazy, but lowering my two-mile time and maybe working on my five-mile times would make me happy. I just want to improve my cardio—boost my VO2 max and lung capacity—without going overboard. I think that’ll complement my lifting plan well, and combined, it should help me slim down and tone up, increasing my confidence daily and making me feel better about my look. So, we’ll see how Friday goes and if I end up with the treadmill. My only real concern is where to put it. Part of me thinks the living room, but I worry it might shake the house. If it doesn’t, it stays; if it does, I could put it in the garage or the basement. I’m leaning toward the basement because in summer, the garage feels like a sauna, and in winter, it stinks from pulling out my diesel and clearing out the smog—it’s a pain. The basement seems better for that, but I’d probably use it more in the garage, although space is tight now because of the bike. We’ll see how much space it takes and go from there. 

EDIT: I am aware this is super late for posting. I just fell into a deep depression, and I am just trying to get back in the habit of writing on the regular once more.