Takin' It to the Streets Part II

Don’t ask me where Part I is because its probably buried somewhere in the 500+ plus entries I’ve written over the past 2 years.  One of the most annoying parts of biking on the open road is the numbness that I feel in both my hands and perineum. . I never have problem with the latter in spin because we are so much out of the saddle and the pressure and therefore the numbness is not really a factor. The solution from my readings is in the saddle design (there are a few types) and adding bicycle shorts to the uniform, which have panels to cushion this common problem that can have deleterious effects for male riders. 

The comparison between spin and cycling out of the CS begins and ends with the pedal stroke and outside of the fitness level never the twain shall meet (What twain? The twain on twack twee!) In spin we can hold a Zen-like trance induction because there is nothing to be on the lookout for except listening to the beat of the music for cadence and adjusting the resistance wheel and of course absorbing the exhortations of the MC at the head of the class.  Outside there’s traffic, other riders, pedestrians and  the elements.  I have found that riding in the rain can be most refreshing especially on hot days and as a sentient man there’s something special about getting soaked right through to my socks that makes me enjoy being alive.  Of course it goes without saying that slippery conditions must be paid strict attention to because falling off a bike at 20 miles per hour would not be pretty.  

The Silent Verse

When this reading appears it is in the form of pure energy and is not concocted by what might have come before or worse yet the projection of clear images from the smoke of our fears.  Often wearing the disguise of our imagination fear the False Evidence Appearing Real never bears the truth in which it claims to have been born nascent from.  

Now that I can tell myself what it is not how can I know the silent verse is being whispered to me and not just my ego giving me the dead air of wishful thinking? The silent verse is not written in my conscious or even my unconscious rather these revelations are naked and are not shivering from the cold of how I’d like things to be. 

Even positive thinking with no disrespect to Dr Peale cannot reveal truth when rose colored glasses we don.  The silent verse is a gift that bears no wrapping or even a gift box it just comes served unadorned in this way we can see life’s angles and can give the proper measured response. Even Mary Pickford with big eyes can’t help.  

AIDS LIFECYCLE

An extraordinary time was had by all this late Saturday afternoon at the benefit for AIDS cycle spearheaded by the twins as we so affectionately refer to them Marjorie and Rose.  These young 30 something’s are always smiling, have a good thing to say and are at the ready with a kiss on the cheek that embodies their genuine enthusiasm for life. 

This was a gathering of friends rather than acquaintances and whenever one of us needs support for a benefit or to participate in a celebration like Michael Korol’s exposition this core of beautiful people is always there without question. And so we were for a great cause dear to the Twins’ heart and by all accounts it was a successful fundraiser. We can always make it better but let us enjoy the intention and let the results take care of themselves.  

Tripp Doherty after teaching his own spin classes in Scarsdale and Manhattan gave of himself in his own indefatigable way teaching two more sessions here. His donation can never be measured in dollars and cents but can be in determination, commitment and as a devoted friend. The girl’s thank you from their beating hearts and we thank you for taking the time and helping make AIDS CYCLE a success.  

Yes & No

When I was but a wee boy yes meant yes and no meant well, no. Nowadays, I just can’t be sure. At least not all the time anyway. Take for instance the new age phrase that has me baffled: Yeah-no. What that means I am told is that its an agreement (yes) that what preceded it was a no.  I am not quite sure why we need to say yes first before we say no but maybe it just gives the negative an exclamation point.  

And then there are times when we say yes to someone but we don’t really mean it and just can’t dole out the truth, which is NO.  And the same holds true for no when we are asked: Did I wake you? Were you sleeping? Did I catch you at a bad time? All answers should be yes but we opt for No instead. I suppose its out of politeness we do these things or maybe we just don’t want anyone to know we were sleeping or the moment isn’t propitious right now. 

How about when we ask someone did you say that? And along with a look of incredulity we get fed: I never said that! So even when we are confronted with what is a yes we decline because we’re embarrassed or hit the panic button because we get caught. Most times we are telling the truth but when we get face to face with someone we or they say no as if what was said never transpired.   

Or there’s the one that I especially love when someone is crying and we ask why are you crying? And the answer gets shot back at us: I’m not crying! I suppose that’s just a rain dance your eyes are doing.  

When did the line between yes and no become so blurred? I’m not sure but maybe it was when men stopped wearing hats.   

Change

When a bend in the river arrives suddenly it takes a strong hand make the turn with swiftness and certainty. In the natural order of things change is inevitable but often its unpredictable. And change is not always greeted with applause but more often than not its just the spirit that breaks us out of the trance that we can find ourselves in when faced with life on life’s terms.  The easier softer way is to resist change and just remain implacable but that and 2.25 gets us a ride on a dark hole in the ground to nowhere.