A small sense of accomplishment
A couple three weeks back I purchased a brand-new bike. I haven’t had a bike since I was in high school, but when I realized that its only 3.2 miles from my place to my job, and with the cost of gas, it seemed ridiculous to not be riding to work.
Behold my Trek 7.2 FX:
Which turns out to be the same bike that Jerry has. He rides all over, so was all inspired to jump right in and expected to be instantly riding everywhere while my car collected dust in the garage. Unfortunately the reality wasn’t quite what I experienced from my body. My first ride was over to J&S’s place about a mile from my place and I very nearly died when my lungs almost exploded. So its a work in progress. I’m still figuring out changing gears and how to ride and not fall over, ect. My grand plans of riding to work each day haven’t been quite so simple. The first three times I rode, when I got home I was so sore that I could literally barely walk up the stairs to my room. It took several minutes to get my legs to lift that high that many times. I knew I was out of shape, but I didn’t realize it had gotten this bad. Hills just KILL me. I did manage to ride to the grocery store and back once.
This past Saturday I decided I would take advantage of the extremely lovely spring weather and be very determined and ride my bike downtown in order to take in the Arts Fest weekend. I headed down the very hilly Court St. and made it 1.6 miles, a distance that I would determine later on via my car, before I collapsed along the sidewalk and threw up from the exertion. How pathetic am I? Although attempting a hilly bike ride on an empty stomach in 80+ degree heat probably wasn’t the smartest move I’ve made lately. More disheartening than not even making it halfway to my intended destination was that I had to go back
[and I just choked on my own saliva while sitting here typing and had to get a drink and then wipe off my screen. pleasant. ok, back to my story...]
home the same distance I’d just come. Guh. I went around a slightly less direct route that avoids most of the hills of Court Street, but there are some hills closer to my place that can’t be avoided. And then to add insult to injury, my chain slipped off about a block from home. I walked myself and my bike home from that point, then I changed my clothes because I had sweat three buckets and drove downtown and had ice cream with my roommate.
Sunday I let the bike rest. After work today, I was determined to get to my gym and back and not have to walk home or call someone to get me. I did manage to actually make it over to my gym and around the block of that area and all the way home in just over half an hour. I was pretty darn happy and not too sore. My goal for the week is to do this at least 4 times this week and then next week start riding to the gym, working out, and riding home next week. I think I might be able to ride to work by mid-July. Scott Blvd. looks so tough!
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Good for you! Keep at it, it will get easier!
That’s great Wendy! Keep it up, you will be in awesome shape in no time.