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Justifying a bad decision toย be a slacker
By Sarah Hansing

This is exactly the sort of awesomeness one misses when one opts for binging on Netflix over riding one’s bike. Sayin’.
Photo: Bruce Dorman
Hi. My name is Sarah, and I am a tremendous hypocrite. ย
Itโs not intentional, mind you. But nonetheless, Iโve been TOTALLY remiss in practicing what I preach, so to speak.
I want to have a โrah rah and huzzahโ message this week, but the reality is, I was a complete and total slacker ALL WEEK. I didnโt ride. I didnโt want to ride. I didnโt have an epiphany that made me go ride. And I didnโt have a come-to-jesus moment on the trails, due to the fact that I didnโt ride on them this week.
Iโm not proud of myself, you know.
Itโs just … ย I just felt shattered this week โ totally ready for a nap at any time. And even though I KNOW I wouldโve felt better if I just got out there and pedaled a little bit …
I just couldnโt motivate myself to do it.
Even though I donโt wish this state of mind upon any of you, I like to think Iโm not alone in my … er โฆ โrest weekโ mentality. Iโm trying to just be okay with it. But it bothers me, because it really WASNโT a conscious decision that was made in the best interest of my fitness and training. It was the opposite of that. I just wanted to binge watch Netflix and drink some beer and eat some things that were in no way a part of a diet that ANYone would encourage. And I did just that. I did nothing. All week. (I mean, nothing except binge watch Netflix and eat crappy food and stuff. I also went to bed unreasonably early every night.)
Hereโs the thing, though: Although I discovered I have A LOT more free time (or something) when Iโm not riding, I donโt feel great. I feel sort of lost. A bit out of sorts. Super tired. Not the most patient. (I dare say I may even get a bit stabby, when I donโt ride).
So let’s just call last week an experiment, shall we? ย
Iโm not going to promise that there wonโt โ at some point โ be ANOTHER experiment along the lines of this one (yโknow, can never have too many data points for reference, right?).ย But for now, Iโm going to board the struggle bus and force myself back out on the bike. And yes. ย I do mean force myself. Sometimes it isnโt fun to get out there. But it nearly always turns into a good thing. Good for the body, good for the soul, and good for the brain.
See ya on the trails! ย ย ย ย
โFat Tire Tuesday columnist Sarah Hansingย has been slinging wrenches as a pro bike mechanic for 15 years (with the exception of a one year stint working for Trek Bicycles in Wisconsin.)ย Epicenter Cycling scooped her up as their lead mechanic and the shop’s crewย plans to โkeep her forever. Sarah loves riding singletโrack, wrenchingย on bikes, and hanging out with her jerk-face but adorable cat Harlan. (Who is a jerk.)