The past week has been gray, cloudy, and rainy.  If I were typing this from the Pacific Northwest, that statement would mean nothing, as most days would be gray, cloudy, and rainy.  However, I live in the desert and I am accustomed to enjoying dry, sunny days and being the envy of my friends and family around the country.  It is not surprising, then, that I have felt lethargic, fat, and old this week. My cycling has been less-than-inspired and I would rather do almost anything than get my butt on my bike.  I suppose I can try to see this as a life lesson: perseverance will lead to success in whatever endeavour I choose  to pursue.  Case in point: I just tested for my first degree black belt in taekwondo this weekend and am pretty proud of that accomplishment.  That took three years of consistent effort and energy, despite how I felt on any given day.  Now I can enjoy the fact that I’ve attained a certain level of competency in that martial art.

(Some days, I think I would enjoy cycling more if I could punch it.)

Eye on the prize, even though I don’t always enjoy the process.  On a brighter note, raising my handlebars a wee bit has greatly helped my sore neck and shoulders.  I still have soreness in those areas, but it’s definitely more manageable and does not occur in the first hour of riding.  I may have to get a shorter stem and get my handlebars raised even more, but for now, I’ll continue observing my body while I ride my bike with this new measurement in place.