Day One As A Cyclist

Mind you, I haven't been on a bike since I was a kid. I didn't even test-drive this one. I told Frank, my salesman, "I am getting this. I will love it." 'Nuff said.

I went out for the first time this morning. I was not going to even attempt to leave my neighborhood. After putting on the bike shorts (which have a bit of built-in derriere in them) and then running tights on top, I affixed my Garmin to the handlebars. Well guess what! It was hard enough just to get on the thing, get going, and get my feet properly on/in the pedals. There was no fidgeting with the Garmin! The bike came with a Garmin-esque device, anyway (that tells, distance, speed, total time, time of day, etc.) That was sufficient.

It was fun! I never fell. I still have not mastered the gears, but I definitely mastered the brakes. That's enough for ride number one. I did 2.52 miles in 16:15. That's 9.3 miles per hour. I was frozen after that. The cold (40 degree) wind cut me in half. Tears streamed down my face. I hate the cold wind! Nonetheless, it was great fun!

A short while ago I went out for round two. 2.52 miles is just not enough, considering how excited I am to have DAISY (which is what I am calling her, at least for now). It was a whopping 50 degrees, so the wind wasn't nearly as bad. The tears still streamed, though. Oh well. They're just wind tears!

I look like the Michelin Man because this time I wised up and wore two coats.

That is the neatest water bottle ever! Except I have not used it mid-ride yet...

Round two amounted to 2.66 miles in 15:10. That's 10.52 miles per hour. I did the opposite direction around the neighborhood this time. It was a bit tougher, yet I did it speedier. I guess I am getting the hang of it, I guess. 5.18 miles for day one.

Chasen, whose measurements aren't drastically different from mine, took a spin once I was done.

Chasen, the engineer, was equally impressed and sore. He said it had good bearings and rode smoothly.