Regarding bike shorts and blazers

Earlier this summer I did some educational consulting in New Hampshire, and in between sessions I got the chance to visit with an old college friend, Erika. Arriving at her house, I got out of my car and she remarked on my blazer. "Look at you," she said. "Wow!"

I own two blazers. One is white linen and the other is navy blue. I put them on when I want to look like I know what I'm doing. 

"Don't pay any attention to the blazer," I told Erika. "It doesn't mean anything."

Day 8: 9:15 am Easy Rider Cycling

I wake up at 5 am and drag myself out of bed for Total Body Challenge. Meagan is mysteriously absent today and so are Super Nice Middle Aged In-Shape Woman and Nice Classmate. I have to create my own program of cardio, weights and sit ups and it's not easy. I worry a little bit about how I'm going to carry my new love of attending exercise classes into the fall, but I decide to put off thinking about that for now.

I come home and Lucy and I take the dog for a walk. I think about returning to Mermaid Yoga at 9:15, but I know I need to conquer this Cycling beast at some point, and I've promised myself I would start at the beginning as an Easy Rider.

I arrive back to the YMCA and head downstairs to the cycling studio. I meet Bill, the instructor, who helps me adjust my bike to the 4 and 2.5 settings. There is only one other classmate on a bike, even though I'm late, and Bill seems worried.

"Just so you know, this is a basic class," he says. "Do you do a lot of cycling?"

I look down and realize I am wearing bike shorts. I've accidentally worn the equivalent of a blazer, I think.

"No! Oh no, no," I reassure him, "This is only my second time on a bike. I don't really know how to do this at all."

"But you're in very good shape, I can see," Bill says. "We'll change things up and do some Tabata intervals for you."

I manage to convince Bill that I am not actually in shape and am only getting back into working out, and one other classmate enters who also reassures Bill she doesn't cycle frequently. Bill puts on some James Taylor and we start Easy Riding.

The man on the bike next to me seems to be pedaling faster than me, and he is really working up a sweat. I realize I've seen him before. Last week when I was leaving the YMCA after Mermaid Yoga I found myself behind him in the hallway. He was walking slowly and deliberately with a walker. The left side of his body seemed to get stuck at one point, and he made a tremendous effort to move to the side to let people pass by him in the crowded hall. 

Now, looking at the wall behind his bike, I see his walker. I notice him struggling somewhat with his speech while he talks to Bill. We complete some intervals of sitting and standing and he definitely has his bike set to a greater resistance than I do. 

Bill turns on the Harlem Globetrotter theme and we all pretend to dribble and pass a basketball back and forth to each other while cycling. It is so silly that we are all laughing out loud. My other classmate starts to cross her hands and clap her thighs and Bill says, "Wow, you know the whole routine!" He starts to copy her and we all follow along. 

We end the class with some stretching both on and off the bike. I smile at my classmates and thank Bill.

On the drive home I think about seeing the Man in the Hallway last week. I didn't want to pass him because it seemed callous. I saw him with his walker and I felt worried for him, and maybe, if I'm being honest, a little sorry for him.  

I don't know why the Man in the Hallway is struggling with motor coordination. I don't know what happened to him, but I do know that I am full of respect for him as I realize his walker doesn't really mean anything about what he can, or can't do.

On the drive home I also realize I'm probably ready for regular cycling, which makes me sad in a way, because I will miss out on seeing him ride.