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.