Riding with the bobbies today ! - highlight of the day

I was really looking forward to the 30 mile ride with my riding buddies, Bobbies since midweek ( Thanks Lisa B ! ) This expectation had helped me plough through all the crap. I had not ridden with them since mid June when I started my taper for IM AU and I was really craving to be a part of the pink-train again. ( Can cycling with a group be addictive ?? well it seems for my obsessive personality I certainly am addicted ! )

Usually when one expects a lot out of something, there is a high probability of being disappointed.

However todays ride was a definite exception to that rule.

The whole ride met and exceeded my expectations, I saw a lot of faces that I had not seen in a while we talked,laughed ... just rode. I feel very strong healthy when I am riding, today was no exception.

Keri ( the map guru !!! ) had mapped out a great 30 mile route which passed through a winding beautiful shady trail.

I mentally bottled all the energy, the genuine / sincere good vibes that I got from every rider ( I think we were around 20-25 riders ..not sure ) and stored it away securely to be used when in need ;o) Lisa P. gave everyone a pink leather strap so they could wear it for me. Lisa B. gave me a Bobbies pink bandanna !

I immediately put my pink strap to use, put a 'Courage' charm, 2 evil eye beads ( which my friend Seda had given me last week ) and a bike charm on it and it is not coming off until the next time I am getting on my bike with this group !

The 30 mile ride had more effect on my perception of the world than the Xanax (which I probably will use sparingly, gave me a weird out of the body feeling which I did not like) I had taken for the first time in my life 2 days ago.

It is phenomenal how morale and group energy has an impact on one physically. I did not feel any of the psychosomatic symptoms I was complaining about the whole week ! This will keep me going for a while for sure.