Some Early, Bikey Birthday Presents

On Saturday, my husband surprised me with some early birthday presents at breakfast. He'd had them shipped from the USA via my accommodating parents and hid them somewhere around the house. Most of the items were, of course, bike related.

First off, I now have my very own copy of "Bicycle Dreams", the award winning documentary on the Race Across America (a physical endeavor I cannot fathom attempting). I've never seen it, actually, but have wanted to for quite some time. Last we had access to Netflix, it wasn't available in their collection. There hadn't been a screening nearby either. As it would figure, they got a showing of it in Cleveland shortly after we moved here. The luck. Oh well, now I can watch it whenever I want and give my copy of Breaking Away a break during the trainer rides.

I also received a heart monitor. Though I'm certainly no competitive cyclist in the traditional sense, I am "training" to get in shape and meet my cycling goals. One of those goals is to ride the German Fairy Tale Route, a 600km (370mi) trail that runs from Hanau to Bremen and passes the places that influenced many of the tales of the Brothers Grimm. Its chock full of castles and nature. That would be something to see by bike, and it can be done by a cycle fit person at a pace that allows sightseeing in a work week. Anyway, according to the experts the use of a heart monitor during workouts is the best gauge at determining progress, plus I've noticed you certainly need one if you want to follow any cycling specific training programs or a trainer dvd.

I also received a good sized collection of reproduction vintage cycling posters. Our stairway up into the house is a giant mass of white paint. When we were looking at the place, I thought, "cycling art would really spice this space up, cuz there's no way we're painting." Well, thanks to the Mr. and Mom, it's well on its way to getting some spice. I'm hoping to pick up some more while we're here too.

It's all a lot of fun stuff that I'm going to enjoy playing with while I'm pushing fluids, still trying to get over this cold. Hopefully it's going to leave soon, because it's getting warmer this week and that means non-trainer rides are coming soon.