COVID and the End of 2021
I now only go for bike rides on major US holidays.
But not on purpose! My last big ride had been on Thanksgiving. After coming back from Vermont, things were busy with the other holidays approaching. Then suddenly, I started to not feel well again. I was experiencing the same symptoms as the cold I had right before Thanksgiving and assumed that it was just another cold coming on.
It was COVID.
Anyone who is in New York City and is reading this is likely not surprised but I still was! I am diligent about wearing my mask (even while sitting at my desk at work), washing my hands, socially distancing when possible, etc. but I still fell victim. I had not yet had the chance to get my booster shot but was at least fully vaccinated. My symptoms lasted 16 days and the duration was likely due to my being sick only a few weeks prior. I had a sore throat, terrible congestion, a cough and body aches. I lost my sense of taste and sense of smell and was so weak, I could not even stand to take a shower.
Quarantine was tough for a few reasons but I found ways to try and get through the days. The New York Bicycle Film Festival began on December 18th and I was able to break up my viewings into a few different days. Towards the end of my quarantine period, I was feeling a bit stronger and took the opportunity to finish the film festival while cleaning my road bike (which was STILL COVERED IN SALT FROM MY RIDE IN VERMONT OMG I’M ASHAMED).
I miss riding since I haven’t done much lately so this was a fun way to reconnect with cycling. The films featured in the festival were inspiring, eye-opening, emotional, devastating, and meaningful. I experienced a lot of different emotions watching this festival and I came out of it longing for a cycling community that I feel I really belong to. I still haven’t found that yet, and it might be harder now with the weather getting colder, but I haven’t given up hope - watching the films and seeing how cycling has brought so many different people and communities together just reassured me that that is something I want to be a part of.
So, eventually I got better but it really wasn’t until around Christmas Eve that I started feeling close to normal. I was alone for Christmas so I was happy to be feeling good enough to get out on my bike. Christmas Eve featured an 8 mile spin around my local neighborhoods.
It was a pretty mild day and it felt good to be riding again after moving from one horizontal surface in my apartment to another during my self-isolation.
I’m fostering two kittens in addition to my own two cats so Christmas morning was spent with them trying to open catnip toys I had wrapped for them. There was a little rain during the day but that cleared up and I was able to ride down to Dyker Heights to see some Christmas lights. I’ve never been and after having gone, I think it’s a bit overrated, but it gave me something to do since I was alone for the holiday.
My main take away from visiting: who in their right mind would DRIVE through Dyker Heights to see the lights?! Traffic was backed up for blocks and cars were barely moving so I’m not sure the people in those cars got to see much. Riding my bike was so much better, though at least six people tried to drive me off the road as I left the area for my ride home.
I was able to get one more ride in over the weekend, when I took a pedal assist CitiBike home after walking around Boerum Hill for a bit on Sunday.
Strava provided me with my stats for 2021. This year featured the longest rides I have been on (70+) miles but with a lot of the medical issues I experienced in the second half of the year, I wasn’t able to get on my bike as much as I would have liked.
My riding goals for 2022:
Complete my first century ride
Ride at least 1,500 miles
I know there aren’t many of you, but thanks to the people who have been reading this and following along on my cycling journey.
