The beat goes on, the beat goes on. I got some new gear this week. It is a convoluted picture but one is a bike trainer and the other is a Maxpedition MOLLE utility pouch as seen on my pack. Neither is directly involved in my trip but both are necessary at this time for training purposes.

I am not a wimp by any means, but I am motivated by my comfort and safety. As a result, if I can’t get my daily practice walk in during the daylight hours it doesn’t happen. For this reason, I am adding the bike trainer. There is a second, good reason as well.

Last weekend I did my first trail hike. I would have liked to die based on my fitness level. I planned a 6.8 mile hike but little did I know that it took an extra mile to get to the trail head. Within the first 0.15 miles after climbing a large hill, I was already huffing and puffing. At two miles in I was thinking I wasn’t going to do the whole thing but I would see how far I could go. By mile three I was going from tree to tree to catch my breath. I made it on sheer will power but it proved to me that I have a long, long way to go.

Overall, I did 8 miles in four hours. The previous week I did 8.5 miles in 2 hours 40 minutes. Flat land walks after work are just not going to cut it. I need more, hence I ordered the bike trainer. I am hoping to add bike training as a cross training opportunity as well as a supplemental one when I can’t get out there.

I will admit that I just set it up and have done some test pedaling. Will it ultimately work? I guess we will have to see. I will be honest, this trainer has been something that I have wanted to get since I was in college when I dreamed of regularly mountain biking. I would like to do more bicycling and this seems like a way to stay in bicycling shape. Getting on a bike once a year is a good way to end up with sore contact points.

For those of you saying ‘that is fancy’ I would say maybe. But it was only $80 and you use the bike you already own. Not only that, the bike is not stuck on the trainer, it can be removed and ridden with one quick release connector. It also folds up and so you can ride you bike, bring it in and train. Certainly, you can pay a lot more money as this is no Peloton. While specialized equipment yield the best results, this is a low barrier of entry.

It is recommended that the back tire be changed to a slick tire. I figure, I will wear out the one that is on there before I do that because changing a rear tire is a hassle. I kind of don’t want to either because it is neutering my mountain bike. Who am I kidding, I haven’t mountain biked in thirty years, why start now. I have considered even buying a new bike and converting my current bike into a casual rider. That is if I actually start riding more.

The pouch is for the dog training remote. I don’t always take it but I should. Since I have started this effort in earnest, the dog starts going crazy when I put on my shoes and stalking cap after work. She is good and trainable, unlike me. I am working on not pulling like a sled dog on the leash and the training collar is the most effective tool for the job.

In the early fall I was training the heel command. She definitely seems to have that down. As a result I put the training collar down and incrementally she started pulling again. What I have discovered is that it is difficult to hold the leash and the remote at the same time. When I put it in my pocket, it is hard to access and is prone to errant triggering. That is definitely no bueno. So I thought I would try this.

As tacticoolly enamored as I am, I am drawn to all the gear and do-dads that company’s make to add to the MOLLE web system. This is no exception but it is my first. I am not even attaching it to a MOLLE web but that is OK. I just want a secure place to store my training remote that has easy access and won’t shock my dog carrying it.

End Your Programming Routine: Strictly speaking, the dog is not required for training and she is certainly not going on the hike. But, she loves it and there is no reason that if I am just walking around town I shouldn’t take her. If she is going, then so is the remote. The bike trainer is in lieu of joining a gym to extend my training hours and by proxy get as fit as I can before the hike. So, neither is needed for my trip but both are critical for my trip going well.