Bike Fest Day 1 & 2

After all the usual hubbub and confusion, the Chihuahuan Desert Bike Fest began in earnest Thursday morning as a couple hundred cyclists rolled out for hours of mountain-biking goodness.  There were various rides of varying lengths but everyone had a wonderful time.  For my part, I was one of the ride leaders for the 30 mile Rincon Loop.  It was a beautiful sunny day, the trails were in excellent condition and we all rode like champs.  That is, until I got back to Bike Fest HQ.

About an hour after returning from the ride, I had developed a deep, fairly immobilizing, pain in my neck sorta near my right shoulder.  By the end of the night, it was causing me a lot of discomfort.  After a good long stretch, an unfeasable amount of ibuprofen and a bit of arnica, I put myself to bed in hopes all would be better in the morning.  Alas, such would not be my lot.

Waking Friday morning, I could barely move my neck or shoulder without wincing in pain.  Sigh; my plans of riding a leisurely 17 miles around the Dome Loop had been thwarted.  Wanting to hang my head low with sadness but unable to move my chin towards my chest for pain, I began furiously sending text and Facebook messages in the hopes of securing a massage.  By noon, my saviour arrived.  Carah, visiting from Austin who led Wednesday’s yoga class, is a very talented woman specializing in Thai massage.  She pulled, she twisted; she drove her heal into my neck and walked across my body.  It was brilliant.  After about two hours of Carah’s magic I was feeling so much better.  And not just my neck/shoulder, but my entire body felt renewed.
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While riders rode, I reunited with friends, ogled pretty bicycles and even learned of some very big, exciting, personal news which I’ll discuss in an other posting.  As folks returned from touring around the desert trails, kegs of beer were tapped, helmets were tossed aside and party hats donned.  There was whiskey and there was pizza.  There were guitars, an accordion and even a flute.  There were unicorns drinking glitter beer and children running amok.  Knowing I’d be up at 5am to begin my refueling regime for an 8am ride time, I and my neck were in bed by 10 pm.

And now, it’s 6:30 am Saturday morning, I’m fed and caffeinated and looking forward to riding the 59 mile Epic Loop with friends old and new.  I’m also looking forward to getting some more body work from Carah and, to the arrival of the Austin Bike Zoo!!

2 Comments on “Bike Fest Day 1 & 2

  1. Hey Alex, just found your blog and wanted to say thanks for leading us around on the Epic ride Saturday and helping me get situated after crashing on that sandy switchback descent. I’m enjoying reading some of the compelling stories here on your blog and appreciate your holistic outlook on cycling.

    Thanks again and happy trails!

    Jason Baker

  2. Hi Jason,

    Thank you very much for the kind words. I’m happy to know you made it out alive; how is your arm doing?

    Hope to see you again next year!

    Alex