Red Neck Eloquence & Aggie Courtesy

With my Aaron sweater crammed into the rear side basket that usually holds lunch, I pulled out of work around 5:08 wearing grey shorts, a maroon long-sleeve T, gloves & of course the helmet & safety glasses. Weather was perfect for my ride, yet I was a bit frustrated. It seemed like I was pedaling Slow! My breathing was pretty normal; I could have been carrying on a conversation. But my legs wear Screamingly Tired. They were burning. In reality I was a little slower. My drive was below the wheels at 5:51.

My legs recovered pretty quickly, so after dinner I went for a 2 mile walk( I couldnt seem to manage the running). I am getting shin splints. I am not a wimp, but these are pushing towrds pretty darn painful. I fell into my featherbed at 10pm & was Out.

That little amount of clothing was perfect. Wearing thick socks & gloves seems to make a world of difference for warmth. Combining those items with the shorts & long sleeve T was plenty warm enough for me while pedaling, though I could feel a chill while waiting on some of the longer lights.

As I am riding w/out headphones, I was lucky enough to experience another first. I’ll call it a moment of Red Neck Eloquence. I am pedaling on a residential arterial with a steady flow of vehicles impatiently coasting by. A mid ‘90’s white Chevy ½ ton slows beside me & the passenger window comes down. The driver shouts out his thick witted concepts of romantic drivel. (It must not have worked for him yet, as the passenger seat did not contain a woman!) Crazy at it is, the very next block this happened again only as a whistle along with words. Poor guys, maybe they need bikes of their own!

TAMU school colours are Maroon & grey (and this town bleeds Maroon.) By accident I just happen to be wearing these colours( hey I only have a couple of long sleeve ts). This created opportunity for the other weird anomaly I noted while pedaling… The extra nice Aggie drivers. Suddenly they were waving for me to go thru the stop, or go ahead of them or giving me a gentle War Hymn honk (only one did this). The thing is I couldn’t take them up on their niceness….. What if the other drivers at the stop signs weren’t buying into the Aggie Niceness? I’d be a little dented. So I kept declining the friendly waving hands. Hopefully none of them were mad.

I prepped to pedal this morning, but didn’t ride. Grand pianos were falling from the sky along with a torrent of cats & dogs. It was nasty. I wasn’t expecting it, but my body is Stiff! Thankfully the marathoner was in today so we discussed some stretches. I probably won’t get any activity in today... which kinda bums me out (I may try to jump rope for 5-10 minor just stretch!!)). I am enjoying a girl’s nite out, meeting several ladies for dinner, drinks & face aching amounts of laughing!

Pedaling tomorrow!

! Yes I DO Ride the 45 Lb Bike!

Call me a pansy! I chickened out yesterday. (Or I made the wise for me choice...) With wind steadily blowing 25mph & Gusts up to 36 NNE, against me… I thankfully accepted a ride home. I had been worried about struggling against the wind, trying to walk/run, then getting up in the morning & pedaling in to work again for the 3rd day in a row.

On the way home, my ride graciously stopped at one of the LBS. I popped in to ask if they could tighten up whatever was holding the crank arms to the bike (Discussion & observation with TexaFornia concluded that these parts were loose, thus creating the grating squeak). One of the shop guys said, “yes”, then strangely followed me out to lift The Beast out of the truck bed( it must have been ‘cuz I still had my 8-5 clothes on. I was wearing a knee length layered kick skirt & low heels, so I didn’t Look like a cyclist…But since I don’t yet own any cycling specific attire I never do.). He reached over the side of the truck to heft The Beast out. Right then it started.

“How much does this bike weigh?” Wheeling it in & parking it, while he removed a nice bike from the stand, he’s calling the other 4 guys in the shop.” Come ‘er, you gotta pick this thing up.” I was feeling a tad embarrassed to have all these bike guys attention focused on my lugger! The shop also had about 7 customers in it listening to this commentary over the ’sturdy frame that could take a pounding… etc’. I explained the problem (inserting Brett’s name for customer reference support) finishing up by explaining that 3 weeks ago I had begun bike commuting the 8 miles to work. The guy wrenching on The Beast literally fell over. (He was astonished) I don’t know if he was surprised due the bike, or me. I just ignored the reaction & went on.) $10.85 lighter, I was heading out of the bike store (still ogling The Amsterdam) when the bike tech helping me wheeled in a heart happy piece of bike candy.

It appears that my nature is going to react to bikes similarly to the way it responds to autos. I don’t know if you will understand. I didn’t have teen heartthrobs on my walls when I was growing up… I had muscle cars (and a few pictures of body building pictures of Arnold Schwarzenegger!). I want artistic beauty that makes my heart smile, smooth sleek curves wrapped in gleaming paint hinting at the power inside, or aggressive contours, shiny chrome backed up by a motor that makes your heart skip beats! The bike at his hand was a bike version of an air-cooled VW, an electra 3 speed with a yellow & orange dasiy scheme. Click here for the picture(links are in green). You would have to smile every day you got on this thing! BUT it didn’t look up to a 16 mile/day commute.

This morning pedal in was PERFECT! It was 33 degrees, 15 % humidity (just the way I like it), wind 6-10 mpwh SSE against me, the bike wasn’t squeaking, the sky was clear Beautiful! I wore black quick dry shorts, a long-sleeved T, the Aaron sweater, gloves, clear glasses & helmet. Departed 6:55. Arrived 7:33. I got to see the pink flush of the sun rise. This mornings biking was Zen. I was_what I was doing.

Biking this morning, I experienced a great sense of community. Before my half way mark, a cyclist dressed in fancy gear passed me with a quiet good morning. I caught up to him at the light and we exchanged a few pleasantries. I didn’t get his name, but won’t forget his red socks! On alternate mornings he will either run or pedal 3-4 miles before driving to work (To myself; I wondered why he needed all the bike specific gear for so short a distance….)Is this an American only trait? That we think we need specific gear for specific activities? Are we being subliminally suckered into believing all the marketing for gimmicks & unnecessary whiz-bang gadgets?( In other countries individuals bike commute to work or the train station in their work clothes. They may just wear their everyday tennis shoes or boats for a ‘day-hike…) at another light the only vehicles waiting were myself & another woman bundled up on an equally poor quality bike. We said howdy in passing. On my ugly hill I managed to gasp out a howdy to an Asian man walking a Basset and a smaller mop shaped dog that I have seen the last few days.

The pedal home should be good too. It’ll be around 55, 33% humidity, winds will be 10-15 SSE(with me!!)

And my hair even decided to behave after the pedal! It’s a lovely day!

First Back to Back Pedal In

I pedaled in yesterday. I pedaled in today. That’s another first.

The pedal home yesterday was uneventful aside from the sweat dripping itchy-ly down my scalp and stinging-ly into my eye (and the pedals squeaking! They squeaked this mornign too! AFTER I used the teflon dry lube I had purchased!!)). Ugghhhhh so far I prefer the 36 degree, low humidity weather over 60 & 98% humidity or pedaling!! My face & scalp perspire profusely. Ladies may ‘glow’… I was simply bright pink & dripping. I had a bit of a headache going home.. I think it was due to dehydration (I didn’t drink enough water over the weekend...& had a bit of sangria) Even though I drank 64 OZ(2 bottles full) plus a couple of hot teas, during the day… it wasn’t enough o catch up from the weekend. Over the weekend, my sniffer seemed sensitive subsequently I was repulsed by the scent of chlorine in the water.

I did a few chores, had an apple, gorgonzola& pine nut wheat pizza for dinner (the salad stuff was a bit too ripe... (How I Miss Ignacio and his dear green mug!)) Since I didn’t feel too tired (legs) I actually walked 1.5 miles. I should be walk/running since I have my first 5K on Feb 24th but I didn’t want to be too tired to manage the ride in this morning as I knew the wind was going to be against me.

According to wunderground the wind will be against me both ways today! Pedaling in it was a moist & slimy 62 degrees w/ 99% humidity and a steady breeze around 13 mph SSW. Going home, it’s supposed to be 70 degrees w/ 15% humidity and wind at 26-(36gusts) mph NNW. I’ll appreciate the reduced humidity even if it will be a struggle the entire way home against the wind! ( update.. I may cave & accept an offerred ride. when the wind was 13 mph , I was thinking I could handle that I still be able to pedal to work tomorrow... BUT I am afraid that if I expend all the struggle to make headway against winds at 26 mph with gusts up 36 against me... I will be so exhausted I will be unable to pedla to work tomorrow.. and it may be better to accept the offerred ride, go home & do a little walk/run as a pedal subsitute. The choice is between disspaointing myself regardin completing my first full back to back days.. and conserving the effort so I can continue pedaling the rest of the week.)One thing good, I slept with windows open & Mollie was out chasing leaves. There’s a saying down here that goes like this: “If you don’t like the weather, wait a few hours, it’ll change, This IS Texas.” Obligingly the temp tomorrow morning will hover around 33 when I’ll be starting out.

Now to the important stuff. At the end of this week, it will be 1 month since I started bike commuting the 8 miles to & from work I have decided that as much as I dislike biking in humid conditions… I can and will sustain the commuter biking. I have added the challenge of completing a 5 K. Out of curiosity I started keeping track of my food intake. (& noted that I eat too much cheese, creamy things, chocolate& generally don’t manage my portion sizes, especially for dinner. I eat dinner too late & am overly hungry so I eat too fast! I need to increase veggies. I am so-so for fruit & am doing well with the variety of whole grains.) So here goes

I refuse to utilize the term DIET.
It’s only a 4 letter word, yet is drowning in implicit negativity. However in addition to increasing my awareness of what/why I am eating something, further modification is needed if I am to rid myself of the less alluring half of me. As easy as a prepackaged plan might be, I am not up to the expense of one. I am not keen on diet pills either. Any ideas here? For the past 3 weeks, when eating something sweet. I have been trying the ‘3 bites rule’. I am considering setting myself a more controlled menu during the week, then allowing myself reasonable indulgence on the weekend (or maybe just 1 day of the weekend). But is this like allowing the alcoholic to drink only on Saturdays? Does it work better to allow access during the week to chocolate by keeping 1-2 dak chocolate individual sized squares available? What about my daily 1 cuppa tea in the morning? I have an earl grey with 2 tsp sugar & real cream? ( I can’t stand the idea of the chemical fake stuff! I use stevia for other things… I could substitute this for the sugar.. My largest daily issue is dinner. How bad would it be if I started to purchase frozen dinners? (For quicker mealtimes) Any brand you can recommend as being tastier/healthier? Ones I should avoid? (I prefer organic but don’t have to have that. I have a strong preference for whole grain!) What about those shakes/canned liquid meal replacements? I have never really attempted any of those… I think I would feel unsatisfied.. yet obviously I I have been over satiating my taste buds to the point of numbness… so perhaps a little discomfort is part of the purging? What about initiating anything with a fast? I normally do a 24 hour water fast once per month (usually on a quiet day over the weekend). I am not sure about fasting while biking 16 miles or walk/running (prep for the 5K) or any other daily exercise… I need to begin sneaking around my efficient metabolism... and or really kick starting it out of super-saver mode.

All the commenter’s are providing me the great resource of their encouragement. I have begun to explore other individual’s blogs. So many amazing people out there in the running or tri universe were once in similar shape to me I can’t help but be aware of hte many admirable folks out there! Thanks for reading & offering your 2 cents! I’ll be interested in the response regarding lifestyle food changes (if we need to use the term diet temporarily.. I suppose we can)!

Trip to the Bike shop/ Signed up for My First 5K

( greeen text is linked)Friday during lunch I tagged along to 2 LBS. I can definitely say one should visit the bike shops first with a bike aware individual that is already a confirmed client of the shop. What a difference it makes! There are parts & strange gadgets in assorted textures of black dangling from hooks everywhere. The shop guys are in the ‘work area’ in back, wrenching on sleek steeds with Italian looking names. I have ventured into both the shops before, but the level of service felt different. Before, I was comparable to a woman in the auto-parts store looking for a car part (I am actually very comfortable doing this;-). I was in the shop but unable to really articulate what I wanted/needed. ( “What kind of commuter bike. A single speed, a fixed gear..” Brett responds, “No, no she needs gears!”)

One of the guys Brett is coaching for his first tri found a used commuter bike in the corner… cheap. Since I am not yet in the market for a bike, I was hesitant to get on; but after watching him pedal around the shop (it was raining outside), I got on.

Wow! The handlebar grips were Squishy. The seat was comfy. The bike weighed so little I could raise it above my head with 1 arm. I got on. With 1 rotation I was Sailing! It felt as if there was no bike between my knees. I was amazed. Having no comparison.. I had failed to understand exactly what Brett meant about The Beast being a $40 Wal-Mart bike. Understanding hit on a deeper level, while balancing on what felt like a dream. I didn’t get the bike. I did daydream about the feeling of it this weekend (but wished it was a different coulour). I looked at 2 more costly bikes (I think I want a green one.. or purple.. some day!)

I also flipped thru a catalog of woman’s cycling apparel. To my surprise, the company had pretty jerseys, shorts (even wrap around skirts with matching socks!!) in my size! (Though since they are form fitting, I would probably feel uncomfortable wearing the shirts) To my disappointment they only had a few sports bras and none above a C. (I’ll keep looking!). I could have spent a fortune in that catalog (luckily my sense of balance kicked in…) it would be silly to have fancy biking clothes and be pedaling away astride The Beast!

I didn’t do any pedaling this weekend. Both days I walked/jogged 4 miles. I have never liked jogging. I usually get shin-splints (sp). BUT I paid for my first ever 5K. So I have to be able to finish it! 3.1 miles maybe nothing for you fixated tri-types.. but I am intimidated. My goal is to finish it. I can walk 4 miles. I can’t yet run 4 miles. I can walk/run 4 miles! The Armadillo Dash is Feb 24th. I have exactly 1 month!! Anyone wanna come cheer me on, or run along side of me??(as I know even less about running then I do biking) Should I go walking/runing after I have dinner, once I am home? I was debating on signing up for a yoga class, but I think I will sign up for the march one… as I don’t feel ready to do yoga M/W after pedaling...

This morning I pedaled my 8 miles in. I left at 6:55 & arrived 7:38 Since it was 44 with 90% humidity & a light wind SSE I skipped the Aaron sweater & just wore the clear glasses, orange shorts, white turtleneck, gloves& helmet. The fog was skimming about 2 trucks tall off the ground with a visibility of about 3-5 trucks. Everything was muffled. Pedaling went ok, except that my pedals began to SQUEAK loudly with every rotation. After changing into my 8-5 clothes, I had to put my hair up too, as it wouldn’t cooperate into the twists that I wanted it to be in. (well I was going to add a couple of pictures of The Beast, & 1 of myself after riding inn & changing into 8-5 clothes.... But am experieinicng issues when trying to upload images from my cell...)
The ride home should be pretty similar. 60 degrees, Wind 10 mph SSE, 30% chance of rain… Another Grey day in the neighborhood.

Riding into the Wind (or my E/mental Hump?)

Going home yesterday was the longest pedal yet, aside from the Test ride when I walked 4 miles!Was it my emotional /mental state? I left the building feeling mentally strong having declined the offer for a ride ½ way, uttering the truth that I need the exercise. I was a little under the weather with cramps & a small headache, but nothing terrible. I didn’t think it would be any worse then wishing I was home in pj’s with a cuppa hot chocolate.

It took me 75 minutes to pedal home! (The same 8 miles that I have once made it in 38 minutes.). The ride took forever! Even telling myself I was 1/3 of the way, or ½ way didn’t work , as I needed to start encouraging myself before I even turned off the road employment was located on. I never got off & walked, though that may have been a faster mode of transportation. I was pedaling in easiest 6 gears and my legs were burning. My breathing was mostly ok, more laboured then usual, but my legs were aching. Muscles in my neck were aching. The trees weren’t bending towards the ground, on the leafless types; you could barely detect a breeze. There was a wind about 8-10 mph NNE so it was against me. The evil wind was determined to keep me from home. Several times I wished for a car or truck of a friend to pull over, or even a random stranger offering rides to Maine for.

After I finally wobbled wearily into my driveway, I let the cats out, shoved The Beast in & immediately got together my 8-5 clothes for the next day, made a lunch, then dinner for myself( I was starved by then so I wolfed down Way to much too quick!) I was getting ready for my first back to back pedal. It started raining at 8:30p.m.

I didn’t make the back to back pedal. My resolve weakened. A friend called. I accepted a ride into work. This may be for the best as when I woke up this morning, I still had menstrual cramps, a small headache, but more significantly, my entire body was SORE. In my 3 weeks of commuter pedaling, I have never been this sore. Everywhere. I feel like I need another 4 hours sleep. AND my scedule for sleep/pedaling/life has been pretty similar to last week.

Is it the wind? Can the monthly steak & chocolate craving harbinger cause such difficulties? Do I just need to whip my emotional /mental state to the next level; firming my resolve to ride daily? Since rain is becoming an issue (our winter is Jan-March) what is my best next purchase? Slicks with slime or rain gear? How have you urged yourself thru a hurdle?

I think some of it is mental stamina. Even though I turn down the offer for rides (sometimes) simply hearing the offer, places the idea in my head and my idle brain gropes the thought while my legs are pedaling. I can recall how very tired I was the first week I rode every other day, pedaling 3 days. I literally came home feed the cats, got ready for the next day then collapsed into bed. To wake up having never moved.( But feeling pretty darn good with satisfying still in bed morning streches)

Tomorrow, it’s a 60 percent chance of rain, sleet & a winter storm warning. I will probably make arrangements for a ride. (Though today was also a winter storm warning with a 60% chance of rain…. And it has cleared to a backlit aluminum grey with a steady wind at 15 mph NNE. This will be even more challenging to pedal into then yesterday!) My opportunity is either adjusting my emotional/mental pattern and /or how to better conquer riding into the wind. I think the answer is to just get out there & stop being a wimp…( or maybe initiate menapause...)

I'll get better. I can't get myself a new bike next Dec. unless I do get better!

Dank & Skivvieless

Warning: I may be querulous today.

Yesterday ended feeling miserably cold. I was glad that I had only pedaled ½ way to, & not at all on the way home.

I didn’t want to pedal to work this morning. I woke up with a hot little headache creasing across my forehead. It looked wet outside, not from rain; just from air so thick you almost needed a scuba mask & tank. After a shower & breakfast, I climbed into my usual riding attire (orange shorts, sports bra (I ditched wearing 2 bras! & I can now breather a bit better!) white turtleneck& Arron sweater) After making the bed, settling the cats(procrastinating?) I hopped on the seat at 6:48 a.m.

I am taking 1 commenter’s advice & riding w/out an earpiece full of music or a pod cast. I seem to have better control of my breathing when I can hear myself. Though I have decided that my head gets too hot for a woolen, I wonder what exists out there to cover my ears? My ears got cold then I developed an ache in the left one extending down my neck. My legs immediately turn reddish purple and slick over from the moisture condensing out of the air on any object it can rest on. The potholes & poor road maintenance feel like they are causing bigger bumps then usual. The air was dank, grey clouds merging with the streets creating a sense of claustrophobia. Everything seemed quieter then usual. When I left the house it was 36 degrees.

More whining; as I am pedaling, I feel the dull ache then onset of cramps. 99.9% of the time I Love the fact I am a woman. Then there’s that .1% of the time. Ughghhhh. No wonder I had a headache. Now I have cramps.(soon I’ll be craving a mostly raw steak & dark chocolate.)

My breathing is mostly smooth. It’s my legs that feel tired today (they shouldn’t as I only pedaled about 2 miles yesterday). I make the hills, but they take almost as much effort as the first week. I roll The Beast into my office at 7:28 a.m.

Only to discover I am skivvie-less! TexaFornia had shared some of his stories about issues surrounding bike commuting (I had snickered to myself, positive that I could be better organized.) I roll my eyes & grumble at myself! After all it’s one thing to go commando when you have planned on it! It’s another thing entirely when it’s by accident on a day when one is already a bit under the weather.( I can hear my granny’s voice saying, “Now DawnRenee make sure you have on clean good underwear, in case the plane crashes….!”)

At least I’ll have some delectable homemade chcicken & portebello soup & sourdough biscuits will have risen to greet me, when I get home. And my neighbor will have brought a sample of dark chocolate from Spain! The weather for the pedal home will be 43, 85% humidity with the wind against me at 5mph.

On a positive side note: I have noted a few of my pants getting looser (more on that later!)

38 Minute 8 Mile Pedal & a Stock Trailer

Yesterday morning I was all ready to go. Dressed in my usual orange shorts, turtleneck, Arron.

The weather was perfect! 34degrees, winds NNE 6 mph, partially cloudy.

Somehow I managed to leave the house at 6:52. 10 Minutes LATE!

I felt good & the weather was nice so I pedaled like crazy (for me) I used the higher gears & really tried to push.., Made Both hills, (but since I was hurrying.. I thought my heart would burst out of m chest)

I made to work at 7:28 am. 8 Miles in 38 minutes!! My hair was a sweaty sopping wet mop of curls.

The rest of the day (we had a trainer in so it involved lots of sitting on a hard desk) I felt pretty stiff around the knees. I had to keep getting up & walking around.

I had another little scare.

I was actually on a good part of the pedal, on a medium residential arterial with bike lane. Due to the curve angle of the next intersecting residential street I could observe a man into his 6th or 7th decade getting into a ¾ ton & backing down the drive with a 16 ft stock trailer on the back. He got out of the drive way, straightened out & edged towards the intersection with the road was pedaling on.
I really feel like we made eye contact. I turned my head so I was looking right at him. I could see his eye coulour was either blue or grey. I could almost swear we made eye contact, and then he pulled out right into me basically. I braked, and swerved to avoid the front driver’s side corner of the trailer, & was in the oncoming line by a little bit. Luckily the oncoming driver had reviewed the scene & already slowed down. The oncoming driver asked how I was, and then we all went on our ways. On my way home though I pedaled past his house & got the license off the truck (the stock trailer was illegally plate-less & lightless) . Thursday is sale barn day & I am positive he was heading to the stock sale( so next Thursday I will be watching out for him!!)


This morning/ I was all set to ride today, then 10 minutes before I was out the door it began raining/sleeting.

Any one out there pedaling in rain/sleet? What special things do you do? Any item of equipment that you really appreciate?

I am going to need to pedal lightly this weekend to get up to the 48 miles… Next week I will no longer have access to a neighbors car. It’ll need to be an 80 mile pedal week.

2 years till a cost savings!/ Rain day

After being told I was being picked up yesterday by a new but very caring co-worker (whom works in another building & was actually off work!); I didn’t ride home yesterday.

I was actually a little frustrated! After enjoying my best, problem free morning commute, to date…. I was ready for another pedal. Brett couldn’t understand why/how I was being offered a ride for bad weather… He uttered that such action would never occur for a guy! I was prepared to ride home as it wasn’t really raining right there. However once we got to my ½ mark, it was raining pretty well. I would have smelled like a wet sheep!

Once she got me home & we yanked my heavy hunk of a bike out of her SUV, we talked & I explained my sincere appreciation for the concern, along with my growing desire to bike when possible for the health benefits. So I got the message thru to one very kind caring individual!

I still haven’t had any luck getting any interest in a car-pool 1-2 days (or bad weather days) per week. This is also frustrating. Any ideas on how to get a car-pool, or ride when You want/need one rather then when a helpful individual Wants to give you one?

It was supposed to rain all day today…. So I drove the car I have access to. This is the last week I will have car access.( I must be more girly then I thought…its nice to be having a ‘good hair’ .. since I drove!) Maybe I should have pedaled just top get the experience, but as of yet I don’t have any rain gear. I do feel a bit stiff. My hips are twinging, that little pain that is a precursor to cramping. I think I will walk around the track 1 block from my house when I get home.

I used a gas saved calculator for bike commuters to figure out how much gas I was saving biking 5 days per week, 16 miles per day w/ gas at $3.10 & the bugs MPG as 30 miles per galleon. The annual savings was around $422. Figuring what I have spent so far on the $40 walmart bike I was given for free.. And vaguely contemplating future bike needs purchases.. It will be 2 years until I realize a financial cost savings.

So far:
$40.00 tune-up
$20.00 front basket (for back when I was meandering to the Farmers market for local produce, eggs & raw honey)
$83.00 rear folder baskets & platform they hang from
$9.00 screws & locktight
$ 6.35 raw wool Arron sweater from Goodwill

Around $160 so far.. & I am borrowing Brett’s old helmet, would love some skinny smooth tires… could use a better front light… & after all that.
I have already told myself 1 thing. If I ride my bike at least 3 days per week( even after I get a running vehicle).Then come December, I am putting a better commuter bike on lay-away!!

I know I am gaining MAJOR health benifits. Less carbon footprint, Biking is a great destresser! Anyway I am just tracking costs vs savings.

Lock-tight to the Rescue

A friend came by after work yesterday with lock tight & an assortment of screws. Dirty fingers later, lock-tight was in place!

Since my clothes were packed for 8-5, I was pretty much ready.

This morning’s ride was Good! The baskets stayed on! It was cold; 38 degrees, no wind, totally overcast. I took the advice of a commenter from Portland, & pedaled with no tunes, no pod cast. It was weird & quiet. This may have helped me breath better. I was breathing smoothly & quietly all the way. I did hear the cardinals. Hearing the deisels, even louder, seemed to enhance the smell of deisel fule as they passed. Yuck.

Riding attire was the same orange shorts, really thick socks, the turtleneck & the arron sweater. My friend also gave me a pair of wrap around clear safety glasses. These were great! My eyes didn’t tear nearly as much! The glasses did steam over when I was breathing out thru my mouth. The clear glasses ar ea keeper!

I pedaled up BOTH my hills! Slow, but this time my heart wasn’t trying to escape my chest! I left home at 6:46. 8 miles later I was pulling my bike into my office at 7:25. I feel like this may be the start of the the bike commute getting better.

Lunch was in Northgate today at Burger Boy. I saw fixed gears with nice colourful wheels everywhere. And a set of red Velocity deep Vs.( I know nothing about these, they just looked cool. I placed the link in the name.)

Fore the pedal home; the temp will be around 53 degrees, 58% humidity, winds will be 5 SSE with a 40% chance of light showers. I sure hope the rain holds off till after I get home…..

Tomorrow its predicting a 60% chance of rain… Its not looking good, as I haven’t located a car-pool prospect. Maybe I’ll get lucky &it will rain from 9-4…

Monday07/14 My Bike is a Lugging Hunk of S***!!

Recall from Friday, that the dang screws came out of the rear basket arms & I lost the rear light (which Brett found while biking for a haircut at lunch). We zip tied the basket & I made it home fine. Even completed a leisurely pedal over to the library on Sat.

Monday morning starts out looking good. Its 34 degrees, wind is 5 mph NNE. My 8-5 clothes & lunch are packed. Attire is those orange quick dry shorts, squishy socks, a maroon long sleeve, & the Aaron sweater, with isotoner gloves, helmet(no wollen). 6:45 hop on the raised seat, start pedaling. About 1.5 miles later, I am Swearing in whatever language comes to mind first! The loud noise of basket arms scraping the tires, The rack & light bouncing heavily on the rear tire stop me. Ignorance is NOT Bliss.( I need to learn all about bike maintence….)

I’m closer to home then I am work. I turn around & start humping back, shoving the dreadful contraption alongside me. I walk then run, then walk. Pushing along my hulking worthless brute of a bike. Right now I am hating it! The only thing I am feeling grateful for is the cool temperature and maybe the hope that I won’t be late.

It’s my last week to have access to a neighbor’s car. I had planned not to use it for work at all this week. Plans hold no power over the universe; one should simply just be. (prepared for anything and accepting of all). A pocket knife isn’t always the right tool, even if it is the only tool you have.

I had thought to broach a scary subject I contemplated some more this weekend It won’t overcook for being simmered another week. But if my poor chubby, underworked body can pedal 16 miles per day…. I wonder what else I can do… and what all these similar overfed folks can do that they are just unaware of. I have always said that just because I had a layer of fat (for that nuc-cle-ear winter (say it like GW)) doesn’t mean I don’t have any muscle. Now I am developing some slow wind (endurance?)

It’s a perfect afternoon for a pedal home, no wind, 51 degrees, and I will be driving. I won’t get to smile at the cute little dashund, or test my timing against the lights.

Today began frustrating. I have struggled with that emotional set the entire day. I need to pedal or walk or something, my neck is tight.

Tomorrows’ another opportunity.

Will power: Declining 1 ride for another

Friday afternoon’s pedal was beautiful (well the half I pedaled, but I get ahead of myself here). The weather Friday was perfect, 61, no wind, clear! I graciously (bravely?) declined a ride for the bike & I, 1/2way. Things started off great. I am learning to use the brakes & time the lights.. .So I don’t have to put my feet down!!(This feels like a great accomplishment as I Whoop, thru my second intersection!)

1/3 of the way I pass a fancy cyclist with his skinny tires & logoed jersey (maybe from the TAMU cyclist team?). He nods, legs spinning as we exchange a passing,”Howdy”. Next up is the wire-haired dashund & his mum. I exchange a grin with her over the dandy cuteness of her K9 friend. This isn’t bad!

At ½ way, I almost jump off my seat. I am pedaling all out on the flat spot!( this is the scary area of the ride because it is like a narrow county road with no bike line & the sealcoat is terrible with craters & hilly patch jobs of assorted questionable substrates.) A 1-ton diesel dually whips past me honking, and then swerves over in front of me. A friend, determined to rescue me. Seeing no gracious way to decline the ‘kindness’, I load my bike, grab the ‘oh shit’ handle & clamber up. 30 Minutes later, I am still glumly sitting in the truck, as she just had to make 1 stop.... I could have been home by now.

How do you graciously decline rides from well meaning friends… Yet convince them to offer a car-ride when the weather is vile?

After 2 weeks of this pedaling 3 days per week, I am beginning to be able to breathe… and it’s a tad exhilarating. All I can think is how amazing the human body really is: Mine in no way resembles an athletes’, yet even in its overly upholstered condition, after only 2 weeks of pedaling (and an hour off the bike), my legs are fine, & my lungs are catching up.

The Good & the Brush with a Small Delivery Truck

This mornings pedal in was a combination of the best pedal yet, and bad events.

( yesterday's commute 8 miles home was uneventful except for seeing a lovely little wire haired dashund, walking his owner!)

Air temp was 35, humidity 56 %, with no wind. This mornings riding attire: flame orange quick dry shorts, green converse, the white turtleneck wicking shirt over 2 bras, & over all that a wool Arran sweater(scored from the local Goodwill yesterday in quest for some ‘merino wool’ in an obnoxiously loud colour), isotoner gloves, & the helmet(no woolen). I pulled out at 6:42a.m., listening to Korn, the Blaggards, Flogging Molly, & the Drop Kick Murphys(Korn was a bit hard for the predawn).( Must get another podcast or some other tunes loaded into my phone!) Any reccomendations for pedaling tunes or podcasts? I have about 40-65 minutes time avaliable each way.

Breathing was going well. I was an upper middle hard gear. Cold air was tearing my eyes something fierce (but I still seem to like the cold better then the one ride I completed at 70 degrees w/almost 60% humidity).The skin of my legs was cold, along w/ my toes, but if you have ever grown up overseas at all… schoolkids will be wearing shorts, shirts & cardigans or sweaters, so cold legs doesn’t really matter.

Went up the first hill with no walking, no stopping. Even the lights were ‘with’ me!

Prior to the first hill, I got a bit of a scare & was pissed (let me interject that while I am not a full fledged road rager when driving… I am a Very Verbal driver. Is courtesy too much to ask, no matter the mode? I have oft wished for small artillery guns mounted below the blinkers on the bug). I was pedaling on a minor collector street in a residential area. It was still dark, but my lights were on. A small delivery truck (looked like the type that delivers the single milks to the elementary school right there) began pulling out, hesitated then moved forward some more. TWICE. Initially I was scared, I wobbled. Then I was angry. I felt like the driver was messing with me! I wanted to climb up his door & invite him to step out for as moment… It’s possible that he didn’t see me. I suppose.

Saw a guy on recumbent bike coming from the opposite direction! How cool.

I might have made the second hill, Except the Darn gears wouldn’t down shift! Halfway when my knees where screaming & I thought my chest would split, I walked. Things seemed to really be squeaking, scrapping on the back. I looked at the brakes; the screws had come of the support arms of the folding rear baskets. The basket arms were inside the bike frame. I pulled them out started again. Still Horrible scrapping. Swung off & looked again. Everything looked ok to my uneducated eyes.

I got back on, determined to pedal; horrible dragging, scrapping noise & resistance to my pedaling aside (Couldn’t be late to work!!). Somewhere along the way in during this torture, I lost the bike seat gel pad & the rear light was torqueed off from scraping against the rear wheel.( can you say 1 track determined mind)

I wheeled in at 7:24 a.m. Jeans Day,Yippee! After Brett pedaled in (Zen & the Art of Tri) I had him look at the bike. We zip-tied the basket arms back into the correct location.

After viewing some of Brett’s bike porn (pretty wooden fenders, The Amsterdam), I sure wish I could get a fancy commuter bike….(not too patient am I?)

The pedal home should be good, as long as the zip-ties hold. 57 degrees, 41% humidity, 7mph winds SSE. Watch out hills here I come!

Breakfast:
Earl Grey, cream, sugar
Oatmeal, blackberries, walnuts, crushed flax

Snack:
Earl Grey, creamer, sugar
1(attempting will power…) delicious homemade choc chip & pecan cookie

Lunch:
Amy’s spinach lasagna
Another cookie…( I know… dang!)

Snack:
Apple
4 vanilla wafer & pb cookie sandwiches( needs milk!)

Dinner
( planning on PIZZA!!, feta, mushrroms, turkey pepporoni)

Pedaling Shame….

I drove today (I still have access to a vehicle for another wk), thus am writing about some thoughts/feeling that crossed my mind while pedaling.

Remember I am not a cyclist, tri, or other exercise obsessed mitochondrial enhanced anomaly, just an average ‘plus size’ under-exercised woman. Commuter biking to work is not about choosing for me. It is the only option! About a month ago I got a new job. On 12 /the beloved 47 yr old VW motor blew shrapnel everywhere. It’ll take a few months to save for a replacement motor, or an ugly little commuter car (neither are items I can really see the credit union giving a loan for.)

My initial week of pedaling revealed a huge sense of shame welling inside. Some of it stems from sadness surrounding The Pill (the bug). Much of this feeling seems reactionary to the kind comments offered by well-meaning individuals around me. EX. “I would Never ride a bike 8 miles to work.’ ‘How can you do That.’’ Isn’t there anyone you can ask for a ride?’ ‘I would get a job closer to the house.’ ‘ I would quit.’….. ad naseum. Nary a thought enters their minds that I wouldn’t(initially) be doing This, were there any other viable option!( I don’t happen to think getting a loan for a motor or an ugly used car is feasible for me at this time. If I wreck my planned budget, & acquire a new auto w/ correlating loan & monthly payments the bug will just sit & rot as I can’t affords both!)

Is a percent of American self worth measured by the auto you endlessly feed money to? Does a car-less individual represent a lesser class of citizen? In a state that promotes, “everything is bigger in TX”, it can unquestionably appear so! In a town with a neglected poor quality public transit and no/or minimal bike lanes; if you are biking because you ‘have to’ instead of because you ‘want to’ it seems easy to slide down the slope of negativity. In a society that places more value on appearance then competence (Do business clothes actually enhance your problem solving or other thinking skills? That answer is easy look around your place of employment…), newness rather then lasting quality… becoming a bike commuter pulls the black sheep from the herd.

Well I have always been an individual. The bumps & swerves of my life path have yet to create herd mentality in me. Tomorrow I will be pedaling again.

This morning’s ride was the BEST!

This morning’s ride was the BEST! Universal components collaborated to offer me a flavour of why individuals ride bikes.

Since I drove yesterday, I went home & jumped rope on my trampoline (forgot to time it, but it was very short!). I was anxious that this morning’s pedal was going to be a struggle. Selecting the 8-5 clothes was a challenge. I was having one of those rare ‘I don’t like any outfit I put together’ moments. Finally, an hour later, lunch & work clothes were ready. I sprayed the squeaking pedals & chain with WD40 & slipped between chilly sheets, snuggling into my featherbed.

5:10 a.m. I staggered bleary-eyed towards the shower. A leisurely breakfast of tea & oatmeal & blueberries, was followed by heating broth to go w/ kitty kibble. 6:42 I was on the bike. Due to the temp, I was in my bag lady attire (see First Ride: minus the woolen cap)

What an ideal morning for me to pedal to work! Air temp was 41, low humidity (for E TX), & winds NNE 7mph. No Squeaking!! Even my heels weren’t banging the front sides of the rear baskets! I pedaled in 2 +6 (I have no idea yet, what to name the gear levels) most of the flat way & even those sneaky slow inclines.

I pedaled (wobbled, gasped!) all the way to the top of my first incline! And never got off, or stopped to rest. I rested; waiting on the light sequence then started off again. Halfway. I passed an older jogger, dressed all in black, his head tipped uncomfortably to the side. The darn light right before the second incline got me too. BUT I pedaled all the way up it! AND Never Stopped! Believe me, any one of you could probably have been walking faster then I was pedaling! But the point is I did not get off & walk. 1 small triumph for me! Let’s see if I can keep the trend.

I hit the back door of work @ 7:24. I like cold, low humidity, no wind days for pedaling! (Does this imply I should consider moving N or NW??) Even my flat on top, wildly untamed mess of hair doesn’t impact the quiet excited buzz I feel.

The New Year Podcast from the Kboo Bike Show provided my entertainment( though I almost fell off my bike when a guy was discussing that he 'liked to be finished riding 60-80 miles by 2 pm when taking a bike trip so he could enjoy the area stopped at'). Texafornia over at Zen & the Art of Triathlon reccomended the site to me, as a resource for a beggining bike commuter.

I did see one thing that appeared surreal. Pedaling past the local Planned Parenthood, I was busy contemplating the first incline & was spooked by a tall almost gaunt silhouette of a man. Standing there in the dark, pressed up against the fence, glaring in self-righteous indignity and mournful wrath at a structure empty of inhabitants, not yet open for the business of perpetuating the sins he perceives. Creepy.

Muscles around my knees are a little tight, but not bad. My toes were trying to cramp when I zipped my boots. Weather for this afternoons pedal, should be pretty decent. 65 & maybe the winds are going to flip over to S 5-10 mph! I am anticipating the pedal home to be nice.

Breakfast:
Earl Grey, cream 2 sugars
Oatmeal, pecans, blueberries, cinnamon

Snack:
Apple slices, 2 cubes of Colby
Mint tea
1 Ghirardelli dark choc raspberry square

Lunch:
½ order of shrimp Pad Thai
some trils mix of nuts & rasins

Snack:?

Dinner?

Hmm I am seeing that I don’t heat enough veggies, too much cheese, & have reduced the chocoholic tendencies, but still have a major creamy sweettooth.

Monday evening commute, Tuesday RAIN( I drove today)

Well, Disappointing as it may be… I won’t be pedaling everyday this week. It was raining, steadily this morning. While my neighbor is out of country, I do have access to a car. This access only lasts for another week, so I may continue to only bike 3-4 days in to work. Honestly I feel relieved about this! I was worried that going from 0 miles1 week, 48 miles the next & 80 miles the 3rd week would be too much! I don’t mind being tired, but I don’t want to be too sore (I am not training for a tri-crazy…. (yet))

So what do commute bikers do regarding light rain? Anyone have a recommendation for a shirt/jacket they appreciate that reduces the rain, whilst not boiling the one inside the jacket?

Maybe this will give me a little time to get my breathing pattern figured out! Since I am a well padded figure; I have no wind! As soon as I get on the bike I start breathing loud, hard, huffing, then once I settle into a rhythm of pedaling my breathing smoothes out until I reach the inclines( its as if I am either unsettled or nervously trying to store up breathe for when I can’t seem to get enough).

Monday’s pedal home was almost great! I am still awkward getting my bike & self out of my office, out the doors, banging about feeling as if I am creating ruckus. The dank humidity was clinging to my skin. My plastered shirt was probably exposing the multi coloured layers of bras( 1 reg bra, 1 sports bra)… the long loose board shorts got all twisty.

It was super cloudy, almost dark. The wind was mostly from my back at 20-25 mph gusts. All the urban grey seemed to glow from the evanescent lightening from behind the flowing clouds. I pedaled better then usual. The chain never fell off!!! The chain/pedals/something is SQEAUKING when I pedal and it is Awful! The driveway arrived at 5:50 p.m.! Usually I am a little shaky for about 20-30 minutes after the ride. But this time I seem to recover in 10 minutes. I guzzle room temperature water (cold water has caused me to chuck.) After about 2 hrs, my legs don’t seem to remember the bike ride. Now if only my lungs would catch up. They are still a bit coughy & tickly after a pedal.

I think I will begin making a wish list of items, as I become aware of them.

The new plan of the week is to pedal tomorrow & Friday. Making it another 48 mile pedal week.

I am not going to scare myself & say that this bike commuting could be good for weight-loss(words like diet usually involve someone's ridiculous idea of sustaneance from cabage soup ad naseum), however I do have some old Isshin_Ryu videos, or a personal trampleion & jumprope at home.( maybe I can look for another Isshin_Ryu sparring partner). So I plan to do something aerobic this evening to make up for night bike commuting 16 miles.

First Day of (hopefully) a 5 day pedalling week.

Monday morning the temp was wonderful around 68-70. Humidity was 87%, with a constant wind at 14 mph S (of course the direction I am pedaling). I run thru the shower, get the cats organized, enjoy a cuppa Darjeeling & oatmeal w/ bluberrys, walnuts & crushed flaxseed. The pavement was damp & clouds were scuttling whitely against the blacker night sky.

For riding attire, I have one an old pair of Quicksilver board shorts, white car show t-shirt, Chaco sandals, & the helmet.

I wheel out @ 6;40 a.m.& get the play list on (Godsmack, Korn, Days of the New) & push off. Things seem to be going well. I am pedaling on a bigger (harder to push) gear & still breathing ok. The damp feels good blowing against my skin. The good felling dissipates quickly… the wind is working against me & my legs are slowing down, while my breathing is chuffing louder. At the first incline I am already breathing as hard as I had done the week prior at the top. I gear to a lighter pedal, just as I get passed. By another better equipped female bike commuter!! Enviously I stare at her clothe panniers, blinking rear light & skinnier bike profile. Out loud I remind myself I am halfway, 4 miles to go! I am off walking before the usual parking lot and it feels dangerous as cars whip by.

Rain drops come down randomly, hitting my skin and seeming to steam off. I don’t feel wet unless you count my head. Wearing a helmet is Hot! I start walking at the beginning of the second incline too (obstinate stop light is always timed against me….) it’s not far past the second incline to work, maybe 2 miles. I pull in ay 7:45. Can I blame the wind for my over hour commute for 8 miles?

Wheeling my bike in, I am pleased that no one is here yet. I put my bike in my office, & head to the loo to change. I am sweating & damp. My hair is soaked, Ick! I brought tan outfit I like,. After slipping into my skirt, shirt, & dusty turquoise suede jacket, I am surprised at the rapid recovery of my legs & breathe. The hair is a different story! It will just have to be a wildly curly, fuzzy mane haloed out around my face.

The wind is up to 20-25 mph gusts, thankfully still from the S, so as long as it doesn’t rain. Going home may be pleasant.

Brekfast:
Darjeeling tea, cream 2 sugars
Oatmeal with bluberries, walnuts & crushed flax seed

Snack:
Baby carrots
Mint tea
Colby cheese cubes

Lunch:
Chunky chicken & blackbean in a whole wheat tortilla
Chocolate cake with chocolate icing

Snack:
Apple slices
Yougurt w/granola

Dinner:
Milk
2 whole wheat tortilla tacos of corned beef, cubed swwet potatoe, tomatoe, sprouts & feta

Snack
constant comment tea, cream, stevia
cinnamon roll( homemade whole wheat)
?

The 48th Mile

It’s Monday so I’ll do a quick recap off my Friday ride home& an even briefer yak about my weekend

Fridays ride home was tough. I seemed to be breathing ok, yet I was Tired. Not in the painful aching way, just weary. The chain came off 3 times….. that really sucks the momentum out of you! It keeps coming off when I am changing from pedaling like mad on a hight gear to 'oh sh*** here comes a slope'! It was 6:30 p.m. when I wheeled into my garage loft. I was starved, so had a glass of milk. Later at Koppe Bridge I surprised my dinner partners by scarffing down almost all of my Swiss-mushroom burger & fries. The Shiner-Bok that night was possibly the best beer I have ever swallowed! I was asleep by 10 p.m… Jason Strathum & his awesome car chase scene couldn’t keep me awake. I had successfully biked( huffed, swore, wobbled) 48 MILES my first week!!

Sat. I woke up @ 5:30, got a drink & fell asleep again until 9:30 a.m. Noticing my muscles above & below my knees were sore, I decided that the best thing for them was to go for a short bike ride. I meandered over to the farmers market & the library. The rest of the day I lollygagged, napped, & did chores.

Sun. I popped out of bed to go check out the chrome & muscles at the Chicken Oil. There were eye-candy & heart-stopping ‘vroom vroom’ noises everywhere. The collection of Shelby clones were inspiring & the Houston Corvette club had a large turn-out, but my favorite 3 cars were: 1) 08 Roush Mustang 427R 2) 53 Mercury 3) 68 white w/ blue stripe fastback( also the 08 Austin Martin, 51 Porsche, the cool AirStream project trailer!!!) More chores, a brief walk, & figuring out my ‘playlist' options on my phone. Packed my clothes & got ready fro my Monday morning ride.. with no little sighing over my own stubbornness & some concern for the weather.

2nd Day of the Reluctant Bike Commute

First a note about last night’s ride home:
Work ends at 5pm. I changed into my biking clothes(same motley assortment from the day prior) loaded my work clothes into 1 collapsible wire basket & jacket & woolen in the other on the rear, hopped on (With a wince for my poor sore ‘butt bones’! Ouch, just doesn’t sound expressive enough!). It didn’t seem too bad. I kept telling myself things like… ‘¼ of the way, ½ way, almost there’.

My front light went out right about dusk (of course) Well nothing for it but to keep pedaling; that area of town doesn’t have sidewalks either. It wouldn’t be any safer to walk the bike. At least the back light is still working. (It wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t add this next bit.. just don’t laugh too loud!!) Pedaling with your back hunched, arms & wrists supporting a percent of your body weight, doesn’t feel ‘natural’. The back of the helmet is banging my back. I decided I need to crack my neck… I sit up a little straighter & commence with satisfyingly noisy results. And almost wreck out. Scraping hard along a tall curb with my right foot desperately doing a touch & go sequence repetitively to prevent a total tip over! Yep, I guess I shouldn’t try to do that again.(at least until I have more confidence, better balance & bike coordination!). The darn rear brake is still sticking when I go up any incline or for what seems like miles after I have to use them!

6:01 pm I wobble to a squeaky halt in the driveway to the astonishment of 3 pair of surprised cat eyes( as they were probably staring at the dead bug, wondering why they hadnt heard it pull in). I dismount, wheel the contraption in & immediately turn the screw that I was told would loosen the back brake. Weirdly I am Not hungry, the idea of food seems nauseating.

I pack up a lunch, pack my clothes for 8-5(Yippee Fri is jeans day!!). This time I actually load the stuff into the baskets. Yesterday I was frustrated by how long it took me to get out the door! I seemed uncoordinated trying to get the helmet on, earpieces in, mp3-playing-phone on, gloves on, keys hung on basket….. Jeez I thought I was organized! HA! 9pm, I am finally hungry so I have a cuppa herbal tea & toast (I know this isn’t good but….)

01/04/08
Preloading the bike, & parking it facing the French doors, seems to have helped!
6:42 I am on the seat (still painful!) The flat areas seemed better today. Somehow I was breathing more smoothly. Sunrise slipped through the horizon with no glimmer of beauty, only steely illumination indifferently lighting the corpse of an unfortunate possum. Today the first incline tried to kill me. I barely made it to the top before I got off I walked thru the conveniently located parking lot. I started walking halfway up the second incline. 7:34. I was peeling off gloves at the back door to work! I made it another day. The Director of the department was the only other early bird, so he held the door for my humble pink faced self.

In the bathroom, changing in to 8-5 clothes, I am feeling a little success. This isn’t easy, yet.(does it become easier for chubby, normal, non biking genetic types??) Biking to work (or anywhere) is one of those nice ideas, a nebulous feel good floater that never really incarnates into action. At least until the path leads no other way.

When I get home tonight, I will have biked (well: coasted, walked, wobbled, huffed) approximately 48 miles. 1 week ago, I had biked 0 miles the week before….
( But I am worried because the wind is picking up and the cloud coverage is thick, if only lightly grey. I hope it doesn’t rain on the way home! )

Please wish me a safe Dry pedal home!

Menu
Breakfast:
1 cuppa EarlGrey(double bergamot) cream, 2 sugars
Steel cut oats w/ rasins, walnuts, cinnamon, vanilla
Glass of vanilla soy milk

Snack:
Banana
hot green tea
1 ghirardelli dark chocolate square

Lunch:
Blueberry lowfat yogurt w/ granola
P&j Sandwich

Snack:
milk
raw cashews & rasins

Dinner:
Koppe Bridge Swiss cheese & mushroom burger(almost all of it)
shoestring fries( with salt)
1 Shiner Bok

The First Ride 01/03/08

The First Commute:

Last night I tried to prep. I packed up a lunch (apple slices, cheese, a banana, p&j sandwich) I packed my shoes & work clothes in a bag along with a barrette & hair tie & a little girly foo foo stuff. I put everything on my desk, with the bike leaning up against it.

5:20 a.m. in the shower. After starting the tea kettle, I climbed into my bike attire. Bra, sports bra, old grey yoga pants, a wicking white turtleneck. I was nervous and didn’t drink my entire cup of earl grey or eat all my oatmeal. After getting the cats their breakfast, turning the radio to NPR, I loaded my stuff onto the bike, put an a maroon woolen, then strapped on the old gold bike helmet (given to me by Brett (Zen & the Art of Triathlon).slipped on old brown Isotoner gloves, turned on the tunes, zipped the forest green stadium jacket, I wheeled everything out & locked the door. It was 6:43 a.m. The temp was 24 degrees. It was dark and I was feeling like a fool (trying to decide if I looked more like a bag lady that had ‘acquired’ a bike, or a tick at the traveling flea circus!)! I turned on the lights and wobbled off into the surreal grey that creates intimidating shadows not visible in the cityscape by day.

From the start the ride was Hard! My pedals seemed to be pushing back against me. The earpiece fell out. The front light was so dim as to be nonexistent (rather comparable to the headlights of a ’61 VW so I should have been comfy…). The dark, both compressed the space around me, and seemed to elongate the distance. My legs were tingling from cold. My rear brake was intermittently sticking. I walked up both inclines I had pedaled up on the test ride. The crimson streaks heralding sunrise were awesome and all mine to appreciate!

I was breathing like a steadily moving freight train pulling coal uphill when I rounded the corner & could see the destination. The parking lot wasn’t crowded yet. Only one co-worker was walking up from his truck to the building, so he was the lucky witness to my pink face, steaming breathe, shaky dismount (my legs seemed to want to continue the only motion they could remember) and quiet exclamation of, “Wow, I made it.” This morning took me longer, 7.6 miles in 1 hr and 8 minutes. He held the door open & the bike & I wobbled in. After leaning it against the wall, I unloaded my of work clothes & headed in to transform from ‘out-of –shape-commuter –cyclist into the ‘business casual’ 8-5er.

While legs, fingers & face were defrosting, I attempted to fix the clean but now sweaty, flat hair. I simply ignored the red face. After an hour my legs & arms weren’t shaky feeling. My ‘butt-bones’ HURT. (But I have been told I will just have to keep going to allow that region to ‘toughen up’). The slow pace means that my muscles aren’t screaming. This is good since I have to ride bike home & do this again tomorrow. Work has been fine. I felt a little sleepy at first, my eyes seem dried out, & I feel a bit bedraggles with flat hair!, but otherwise no worse for the bike commute!

Even though I am a newbie were I am employed; I am lucky. My boss & another are training for triathlons, a few other coworkers are training for marathons, 1 is training for a 5K, and 1 is a power lifter. While they may not comprehend, the painful trials and sense of shame that can accompany being overweight, out of shape and exercise attempts…. they are encouraging my endeavor of bike commuting to work. (Realistically with a deceased motor and the lousy public transit in this town, biking is my only and best option. Even at my slow huffing pace, it is still faster then public transit, and it’s an opportunity for me to get into shape by developing some muscle, reducing some weight, or gaining some wind, while not spending cash on gas!)

Wish me a safe pedal home!

PS. While this is to be primarily about my personal experience becoming a commuter cyclist. I am going to try to note what I eat…


Todays menu:

Breakfast:
Glass of water
½ cup of earl grey tea( cream, 2 sugars)
Steel cut oats w/cinnamon, pecans rasins added

Snack:
Banana

Lunch:
Whole wheat p&j sandwich

Snack:
Apple slices
Slice of Colby jack cheese

Dinner:
?

The Test Ride

Howdy ya’ll. My test ride was 01/01/08.

But first let me tell you a tad about me. I am a sample of your ‘average’ overweight (I prefer the term undertall!)30’something, redheaded American woman. Having lived & traveled around the world courtesey of youth hostels & a good ol’ tent; my feelings and reactions are an improbable mix of TexaCali. Back when my muscles were less upholstered, I had a KHS bike, surfed, lifted weights, & backpacked. Exactly 1 month ago, I began full-time employment in College Station near Quiznos. I reside up in the Bryan Historic district. I drive; no I used to drive… a 46 year old VW. On 12/31/07 a loud bang, oil on the window and tons of smoke signaled a colossal transformation for my commuter habit. After calling the tow, truck, enjoying a few too many Guinness, & the obligatory champagne, I toasted the New Year..

A friend of mine graduated in May and had a bike her parents purchased for her. After 4 years and no use, the bike came to me. It’s blue Pacific SE2000.R. I think it came from Target. It has a gel seat pad, a front light (which I have already been told should be replaced& a back light. Now I have added a front wire basket & 2 wire collapsible back baskets, a bike lock & chain. Saturday mornings, I occasionally made the leisurely ride up to the Bryan Farmers Market.

I decided to blog about my bike rides to work, in all their hoary detail. Maybe it will help someone else realize, they can do it (or Not!). For sure; it will detail the misery, my lack of knowledge about bikes in general, my bike specifically, my general unpreparedness, moments of amazement, and my small (hopeful?) triumphs.

I used maps.google to plot my route & eased onto the seat around 12:30 pm. Air temp hovered around 43 with a light wind coming out of north. Only 7.6 miles, one way, to go! Aside from sounding like a broken old steam engine, my ride was uneventful. I coasted a lot! I pedaled slow on the light and middle gears. I stopped once in a parking lot at the top of my first incline to breathe(gasp really). I fumbled with my cell phone that poses as an mp3 player (Sony Ericsson w810i w/ a 4 G stick). 47 minutes later I was sitting on the grass at my destination, soaking up the sun. Surprised & mildly proud to have made it! (Little did I know!!)

After 20 minutes rest, I started for home. Right from the beginning it was hard! The wind was in my face. My nose was running. My eyes wear tearing. My gloveless hands were numb. My wrists hurt. The good thing was that since I had purposefully pedaled slow & coasted, my (atrophied) muscles weren’t screaming in agony! At about 4 miles the chain came off. Frozen, tired, & miserable, I sullenly began walking. The return trip took about 2.5 hours.

Once I got home, & my brain began working, I realized that I just needed my fingers to reset the chain. Then I was mad all over again, at myself.

All in all; I did it, so test ride successful.

Ps. This is my first blog.