Friday, March 28, 2014
Bought a Salsa Vaya
The decision to go has gone like this...
1 day, I'll be "Yeah yeah yeah! Let's go!" The next day, I'm picturing navigating the most arduous, monstrous jeep trails on skinny tires at 2mph, stranded, alone, in the dark, uphill both ways. I picture being attacked by wild dogs and packs of angry 'Stanians. I even dreamed one night about being stuck in a town east of Istanbul, surrounded by 30 heckling children, and then realizing (in the dream) that I was supposed to be in China yesterday. And how would I get there!?
It very much feels like the anxiety that keeps you from falling asleep the night before a big race or event. I think the anxiety has been greater because I have not committed ($$) fully to the tour yet, but am having to project what might happen in the future in order to close on the decision for myself.
But then I ran into the Salsa Vaya (2012). That bike just feels steady freddy (but not too slow). I forget that I do actually know how to cycle (easy to forget these things over the winter). And taking the Vaya around the block in not-cold weather just feels lovely.
The bike is orange.
So now that I have a new bike, I reckon I'm going on this trip! (And didn't I know that all along? "You were so scared of the monster at the end of the book!") I'm pooling my funds for the trip into an account; I reckon I'll be writing a fat check in the next week or so.
1 day, I'll be "Yeah yeah yeah! Let's go!" The next day, I'm picturing navigating the most arduous, monstrous jeep trails on skinny tires at 2mph, stranded, alone, in the dark, uphill both ways. I picture being attacked by wild dogs and packs of angry 'Stanians. I even dreamed one night about being stuck in a town east of Istanbul, surrounded by 30 heckling children, and then realizing (in the dream) that I was supposed to be in China yesterday. And how would I get there!?
It very much feels like the anxiety that keeps you from falling asleep the night before a big race or event. I think the anxiety has been greater because I have not committed ($$) fully to the tour yet, but am having to project what might happen in the future in order to close on the decision for myself.
But then I ran into the Salsa Vaya (2012). That bike just feels steady freddy (but not too slow). I forget that I do actually know how to cycle (easy to forget these things over the winter). And taking the Vaya around the block in not-cold weather just feels lovely.
The bike is orange.
So now that I have a new bike, I reckon I'm going on this trip! (And didn't I know that all along? "You were so scared of the monster at the end of the book!") I'm pooling my funds for the trip into an account; I reckon I'll be writing a fat check in the next week or so.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
LOI Uzbekistan
Oh yeah. Just got my Letter of Invitation for Uzbekistan. (And already got the Tajikistan one.)
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Big doubts about going
The first challenge in riding the Silk Road with Tour d'Afrique is deciding to go. I have largely been been presuming I'd go, but waiting for the payment deadline - Apr 9.
Last week, after returning from a class trip in the UAE and Bahrain, I was hit by a huge wall of Laziness. Maybe having to be engaged and "on" socially and professionally wiped me out - I don't know. But I suddenly had little desire to do anything – unpack my bag, do laundry, go to work, clean house, and definitely not ride my bike. And a moment of terror hit, as I realized the commitment I had so excitedly jumped on.
Sometimes, it can be pretty hard to get started on new endeavors. I often dread the beginning of swim season because I simply don't want to get wet. Now, I'm dreading getting out one of my bikes because I don't want to be cold, and I dread playing with Boston traffic.
But this is all temporary. For now, I have time. I still have a ton to do to finish out my grad school degree this semester, and I imagine when the weather finally warms up, I won't be able to stand to do anything but be outside on my bike. In the meantime, I reckon I'll stick to my guns and my conviction that this is the trip for me, even if now I'm a little bit scared and nervous about the whole thing.
But this is all temporary. For now, I have time. I still have a ton to do to finish out my grad school degree this semester, and I imagine when the weather finally warms up, I won't be able to stand to do anything but be outside on my bike. In the meantime, I reckon I'll stick to my guns and my conviction that this is the trip for me, even if now I'm a little bit scared and nervous about the whole thing.
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