Day 05 - March 14

Saturday was a cold and rainy day. The original plan for a road ride would have to be substituted for an indoor trainer ride or rollers. I made the wet commute to the center, using this session as another chance to get comfortable on the new frame. I set myself up in a quiet hallway and started pedaling.

There’s a familiar pattern that played out.
The first 5 minutes often feel clunky. Lots of micro adjustments to make in my position, my shoes or my bibs. Joints and muscles are cold, and I don’t feel as sharp as I know I can be. In these first few minutes I find it’s most important to keep my attention focused on the goals of the session and trust the body.

Otherwise, it is easy to fall into a negative spiral:
”My seat feels uncomfortable…”
“There’s a small ache in my knee…”
“Is that a pain in my back…”
“This is a terrible session…”

By 10-15 minutes, body temperature and heart rate have climbed, and the legs are firing on time. This is typically when I stop fighting the bike and start moving with it.

Getting through the start of something can be its own skill.

What’s your version of the first 5 minutes, and what helps you get through them?