That Guy

This last week a good friend of mine had a heart attack.  He is 52 years old.  Lately I know he had been trying to lose some weight and get in better shape because I have seen him "jogging" past the house.  I wish him the best in his recovery, and I'm hoping that he will live a long and healthy life.

This experience gave me pause to ask myself, why do I ride?   I recently posted that is was simply for exercise.  A good friend of mine and a fellow Wheelman gave me a piece of his wisdom about 15 years ago.  He had just purchased a new bike and when I questioned him how he got the "kitchen pass" from his wife to spend that much money.  His response was, "It's cheaper than a heart attack".  Now, whenever I come back from Biker's Edge, my wife asks me how much I spent and, all I have to report is that it was cheaper than a heart attack.

You see, I don't want to be "That guy".  You know who I'm talking about.  That guy who died of a heart attack in his 50's because he was seriously overweight and never exercised.  That guy that everyone said was too young to die that early.  That guy who has serious health problems way to soon in life.  That guy who has trouble climbing a set of stairs without pausing half way up to catch his breath.

I think I would rather be that guy who rode a century when he turned 60, or 70, or even 80.   That's the guy I want to be.

Commuter

OK, I didn't make the cover, and it isn't the Rolling Stone, but check out the commuter column on page 12 of this month's Cycling Utah Magazine.   


March Cycling Utah Magazine