My first few days on the tour were spent in and around Ayr, Scotland (the birthplace of Robert Burns, Scotland's greatest poet.)
As I began my trip, my knee was giving me huge problems to the point where I couln't bend it. In the Glasgow youth hostel, I met a fellow cyclist who was just finishing his trip. I told him about my knee and he gave me some sage advice: Bottom line was that I was pushing myself too hard. He recommended that I take it easy, to get off the bike and to walk up the hills.
"You are proving nothing to anyone by staying on the bike as you climb," he said. "Most importantly, you are resting your cycling legs (that is, you are using a different set of muscles as you walk.) Especially at the beginning of a tour."
His advice was invaluable for the pain subsided within a day or so. As the tour unfolded, my stamina and strength increased and tackling mountain passes became a non-issue. |
