As a teen in the 1970’s, cycling from Capistrano Beach to Torrey Pines (104 miles round trip) was considered a very good morning ride. On some rides, the future Race Across America (RAAM) record holder would help set the pace. Back then, Spinning consisted of riding rollers in the hallway at home with a very large fan.

Fast forward about forty years, through college and most of my career with no bicycle riding, people noticed me walking with a slight limp. This limp got worse, and the Doctor recommended a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan. The scan results were not promising – severe Spinal Stenosis along with five disc issues (ruptured and herniated). A few Doctors looking over the results were surprised I could still walk.

In March 2013, after additional tests and physical therapy, spinal surgery was done to help fix some of the major issues. The Neurosurgeon’s post-op instructions were to take it easy and do not lift anything heavier than the Sunday newspaper. After three years of taking it easy, my weight ballooned from 150 to about 210 pounds. During those three years, the thought of cycling did not even come up.

In the Spring of 2016, I started to work with a Personal Trainer on building up my core strength and trying to lose some weight. My long-term goal was to lose fifty to sixty pounds and return to cycling. My first ride was painful and lasted about two city blocks. A quick internet search found Studio SWEAT onDemand, and then everything changed for me. Over the next few months, with a combination of a turbo trainer and a few Studio SWEAT onDemand videos, my indoor cycling increased to about an hour per session.

Now with my core strength built back up, fifty pounds lost, and some indoor cycling completed, it was time to return to outdoor cycling. In the first half of 2017, I have completed over 1,000 miles of cycling. I’m still a long way from those 100 plus mile days on the bike. With a little luck and hard work, this Fall I will try a metric century (62.1 miles). I’m getting there.

Here’s what I did last weekend, and if I can do this, so can you.