Live from the Katnip Lounge, The Kat Pack!

Starring: The Baby *Tiny Johnson * Felix * Rupert * Scouty * CC * Sweet Pea * Maui * May Ling * Salem

and...*Angels Grayce, KonaKitty, and Sylvester* always loved, never forgotten




Sunday, November 18, 2012

Cycling with Sheebie!


Friends and Kitties!


Without further ado, the news is that Scott and I bought bikes.

Now for the back story.

Eonicals ago when we lived in Illinois Scott and I both worked for a local municipal water treatment plant, in fact, that's where we met.  There must have been something in the water (snort) because three couples met and married in the same year in the department.  We're all still living in connubial bliss (double snort) too.  However, all was not sweetness and light at work--Scott had a tyrannical micro-managing boss, and the facility director was a complete failure at his job.  Even now I'd like to kick him inna fork...what a wussy.

Scott was miserable and to combat his funk he ate and ate and ate, and knew he needed to work out.  My boss and our friend (Hi Kyla!) was getting into cycling, so Scott gave it a spin and liked it a lot--which was saying something because he detests "standard" forms of exercise.  He bought himself a Giant (brand) touring bike and started riding.  The treatment plant was located right next to a bike trail and the two of them started doing daily rides at lunch, almost 30 miles, as well as going on organized rides.  I was working second shift at the time, so I didn't participate but I did want to go biking with him on our days off.  We got me a bike, and I spent some time on it, but it never really "took".  I imagine the fact that I was starting to slide into a deep depression curbed my desire.  Eventually Scott quit his job at the water department (long story in itself) and his cycling tapered off.  We moved to Nevada two years later in 2001 and sold our bikes in the move.

Fast forward to 2005, and Scott wanted to take up cycling again--but there were no good places to ride.  Our house is at the City limit and there weren't any trails nearby and the roads, well, let's just say rules of the road here in Vegas are optional, at best.  Furthermore, our immediate neighborhood is quite hilly, i.e. discouraging, for starting out.  Scott purchased an inexpensive bike and gave it a good try, but the lack of anywhere to go easily killed his desire pretty quickly.  

Things have changed in our corner of Henderson in the past few years though.  The County and City have jointly constructed miles and miles of hiking and biking trails, one of which is--you may have guessed it already--right across the street from us in the new park-to-be!   It links up with  paved trails all over the valley, around the mountains to Hoover Dam, and even goes by both of the water treatment plants where I am employed work.

Predictably, Scott got the bug to ride again.  I suggested looking on Craigslist and he found a sweet Trek mountain bike almost right away, like it was meant to be.  Then a blogging pal (Hi Barb!) got herself a groovy ride named Elvira...and I turned 637 kinds of green because I didn't have a bike.  I wanted in on the fun, too, dammit.  So Scott trolled Craigslist again and found me one for a hundred bucks, just to see how I liked it.  Well.  I liked it, very much.  I cannot believe I've let this much time go by and not had a bicycle.  Sometimes I'm a real idiot.  I rode my hundred-dollar bike all over for a week, then for a lark I tried Scott's out--mind you his has all the high end stuff--and if you thought I was green with envy before you should have seen me after my spin around the block.  Call me Kermit.

My husband, being an extremely perceptive man, made the only decision he could for uxorious harmony intelligent choice.  He looked on Craigslist for the third time and found me a better bike--not quite as "robust" as his, but then he weighs more than I do--with disc brakes, fancy-pants shifters and full suspension.  I love it.  I've been out riding every day.  I even have a tiny saddle sore on my nethers!  (I got some padded pants on Friday to help with that.)  We're gonna keep the first bike in case we have company who'd like to ride with us.  I have a ways to go to build up some stamina because my lungs give out before my legs do, but my first goal is to easily ride the five miles of the bike trail to where I work on Fridays and Saturdays.  It's uphill most of the way, which means downhill all the way home!  I'm gonna try it out on my days off this week and see how far I get.  I predict I'll croak on the first big hill, it's a doozy.  

All in all, we're both having a blast whinging about sore muscles, sleeping great, and (best of all) eating more chocolate.  Because now we can!

Just back from a ride!
Don't panic, I just took my helmet off.  More like I need pads--I spilled earlier and skinned  my elbow.
Yes, the same one I landed on when the shopping cart attacked me two weeks ago.
Happy Sunday, and have a Great Week!

XX  Sheebie  XX

50 comments:

  1. This almost--hey, I said ALMOST--makes the Human want to put air in her tires!! Cheers on the biking!

    P.S. Salem, Can you tell me more about the Warm Washcloth of Delight?? Cause I think that sounds kind of interesting.

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  2. Cool! Watching what they were doing over there paid off I see! Were you the first to bike the new trail?

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  3. That looks like fun. M & D had bikes a long time ago. Then eventually M got back problems and something happened to D too - riding bikes just kind of fell away. Now M has such poor balance because of Parkinson's that she doesn't feel she can ride a bike anymore.

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  4. Our Mommy is very jealous. She is afraid of those "saddle sores" though! HaHaMeow! Ride safely. XOXO

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  5. Oh, sa-weet ride! 5 miles? UPhill? I have a ways to go before I can get as aggressive with my riding. srsly.

    Plus, no bike trails nearby.

    And I can think of more excuses if I need to.

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  6. Mommy is very jealous, but she gots a trike this summer! She still feels like she is falling off it though! (12 years ago she was in a car accident and broke one of her middle ear bones and fall over a lot - still)
    Kisses
    Nellie

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  7. Way to go! Having a system of trails sounds really amazing.

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  8. Cycling is great - provided there's no traffic (and the hills are gentle!!!). Here the city has fantastic cyclepaths and it's quicker to cycle to town than bus in. However I am a total scaredy cat with the snow and ice so only cycle in the summer.

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  9. My human never got into the bike stuff - she says it makes her butt hurt. She's more of a dancer - give her a vigorous but complicated cardio dance routine and she will keep practicing until she flies through it!

    BTW, I take after her... and I am much more graceful!

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  10. Don't talk about bicycles ! I am in Amsterdam right now to celebrate grandson's 2nd birthday and everybody cycles ! There are 3 to 5 bicycles per family ! there thousands and thousands of cyclists here ! not fun to ride a car or even walk ! they just run you over ! They are the kings of the road !
    I am getting allergic to bicycles ! lol

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  11. Mommy has a basket on her bike where Whisky sits when they go for rides. Sadly, she rarely rides nowadays in part due to the high crime rates. She worries about some moron grabbing Whisky and taking off.
    We don't have bike paths so it's also very risky to ride out of the housing area...

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  12. purrr, I know all about momma's who bike! My mom rides her bike all the time...but for some reason she refuses to put a basket on there for me. *pout*

    xoxo Cory

    all us kitties thinks it's cool that you are riding your bike!

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  13. WoW - Great for you - be careful with those spills though! T.& "the gang"

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  14. Get on yer bikes an RIDE!

    We really have no idea what that is, but we think it sounds hen-couraging...

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  15. Oh that is such a good idea. You two should be very proud of yourselves.That would almost be as much fun as riding a horse and even better than riding a horse since you don't have to feed that bike or clean up after it. Take care.

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  16. Our human is envious of your mom and dad to be able to ride. Purrs!

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  17. Our humans don't ride bikes...they say the bears will chase them. Wimpy excuse.
    The Maple Syrup Mob
    XXXXXX

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  18. You look stylin!! I wish I could cycle but hives from pressure kinda rule it out.

    Hey my air skinned pal - don't forget sunscreen.

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  19. Cool! The mom wants to get into biking when she has more time. She says when she retires from her job (which we hope is soon!) she's gonna get herself a bike and go all around the island. There's lots of places she's yet to see here...and she's lived here 10 years! Some of them you can only go to on bike or foot. Have fun!

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  20. I'd never get my Lard Arse Humom on a bike, we have one in the garage, it has never seen daylight.BOL. Ouch skinned elbow's. Have a great Sunday xx00xx

    Mollie and Alfie

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  21. Look at you on your bike! I love your shirt AND your bike. Have a ton of fun, and I'm really glad you wear a helmet. :)

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  22. Good for you. I find riding my scooter far less tiring.

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  23. Well done you! I will stick to golf I think, much safer for me. Fell from a bike when I was little and hurt myself badly so not been on once since. Glad you are having fun. :)

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  24. right on! now I'm jelly :D I used to do a lot of cycling but since Wriggley joined the family, I don't have the time or energy to run with him and ride. I think you've given me the bug now to work with him more on running beside my bike! I always loved cycling - the places you can go and the things you can see :) have fun!

    ~C

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  25. Yay for chocolate! Oh, that looks and sounds like so much fun! Good for you, Sheebie (and Scott)!

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  26. Soon you'll be up to the 50, 62, 75 and 100 milers with me!! Glad to see both of you back on 2-wheels!!

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  27. Wow, there was something in that water and you go girl! Hubby is a rabid 5X week mountain biker. I used to love biking girly style with a wicker basket but it's too hilly here for me.

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  28. Ride away mommy...ride away....Mama's just taken up walking. It will be ages before she'll attempt cycling again. Maybe the static indoor one? purrr....meow!

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  29. Don't go too far away from home, we wouldn't want you to get lost!

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  30. Nice gams! A little pale, but I'm sure the light reflecting off them helps at dusk. Hee, hee.

    No, really. The lady has a treadmill in the garage. It is covered with cobwebs. Good for you for getting out there!

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  31. Sheebie!!! OMCs what a fantastic story and the very first thing out of Mom's mouth was....are you ready?....
    Madi Sheebie has very coordinated cycling attire. MOL She must have been referring to some of your wild and wacky indoors attire.
    Hugs Madi!! Hey don't get mad at the messenger...MOL
    Madi again

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  32. My mom gets exhausted just reading about your bike rides *mol*
    I can tell you she have NO excuses what so ever for not riding the bike , since we live on the countryside !
    I´m thinking of buying her a bicycle basket with a roof so I can come along , maybe then I can manege to get her use her bike ??!!

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  33. Whoa! A Senile Sunday. Sorry about that Ms Katnip Lounge. You look like you're in great shape. The peeps sold their bikes when they sold the house. Pop used to go to Roosevelt Island and ride but they discontinued the ferry.

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  34. Woohoo!!! Look at you go on that bike! Glad you usually wear a helmet. Safety first I always say. I haven't ridden a bike since I was about 21 years old. Haha! Looks like fun!
    xo Catherine

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  35. Aren't you just the 'bees' knees' -- well, Sheebie's knees, anyway!

    How wonderful that you have finally taken to your bike, and it to you for that matter (it 'takes' quite a close relationship to develop blisters on your bum!).

    Keep it up, both of you!

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  36. Hooray for you! My Mommeh got rid of her bike many years ago, so she's looking a little kermit-like herself now.

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  37. You asked about the Organic Hemp Ale Jelly. A local craft brewery makes this incredible Ale where they use hemp berries for flavoring. (we have a lot of hemp growers and hemp products around here) Smell is of clean lager malts, crisp hops and floral honey. There's a grassy (yeah yeah) note in there. The hemp essence is there. Not the skunky astringency of cannabis, but the nuttiness of roasted hemp seed, like one of those hemp seed energy bars. Weird, but it works.
    Taste is how it smells. You can taste the Hemp seed oil. I added some lime (to help the pectin set) and - of course sugar.
    When I poured the jelly into the jar, I got quite a froth and the jars look like a glass of beer with a head.
    Tastes great, and I will get requests for more as I do with all my beer jellies.
    Nellie's Mom

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  38. Ooooooooooooooooooo,cool ride!!
    Mom says she gotta walk before she can ride :/ (yup, she is sorta out of shape) heehee
    Purrs Tillie and Georgia,
    Tiger,Treasure,JJ and Julie

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  39. Yep, PLEASE wear your helmet ALL the time---it's so important!!

    Glad you are back enjoying your bike AND getting a good workout. I love my bike...it's fun to get out of dodge and see some new sights. I'm jealous that you still have nice bike-riding weather.

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  40. It's been ages since our mom has been on a bike. She bought one a few years ago, rode it around the block once, thought she was going to get herself killed, so she returned it. Mom said walking is more her speed. But it sure looks like you are having fun Sheebie!

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  41. Awesome, nice bike too!

    Too much snow here for any bike riding to happen. Oh yeah, and there's that too lazy to get off my butt thing happening too, lol

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  42. Mommy said those danged shopping carts. One almost murdered my mom last June!

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  43. Mom wishes she was as motivated! Great work!!

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  44. You're looking mighty fine on your new ride! Wheeeee!

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  45. Just reading some of the comments:
    the "warm washcloth of delight" DOES sound interesting.....to mom also....

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  46. congrats on getting exercise! I am still looking for something I can do that doesn't cause my crazy body to flare up somewhere & spaz-out! Looking good on that bike & happy to hear you wear a helmet, I would need pads for all parts of my body too ;o) now all you need is special basket to carry a kitty or 2 on a short spin!

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  47. Sounds like you're having fun. My dad rides a lot. His idea of fun is a 20 mile ride after work. Mom likes to ride but only 5-10 miles at a time. She'll do 20 miles with dad if he agrees to get a tandem and he does all the work!

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  48. MeWowZa....What a fun story AND you get to eat more chocolate!! Teri has toyed with the idea of a bike but then she'd have to get a stroller to pull us around with...that might be cool but she would need to go to driving school we think!

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Oh Boy...this is gonna be GREAT!