Living Deliberately Strategy: Triathlon 04 Mar 2008 07:00 am
First Combination Work Out
Bike riding is going to be like guitar playing for me….imperfect in method and style I’m sure but fantastically joy-producing!
What fun! It’s been a long time since I was on a bike. There is definately something timeless about the feeling it produces; I easily remembered rides when I was scrappy tom-boy, racing up the unpaved K-5 Lane to get home before a summer evening storm, bare feet and bare head and dust flying.
Such momentary glimpses of peace are more than welcome right now. And it’s energizing to have fun doing something that has such slow progress it’s easy to get discouraged with.
After an estimated 3 mile ride I attempted a 2 mile run. Ha! *Attempted* being the operative word! I didn’t think I was tired after the ride at all but it sure showed in my lack of endurance while running/walking. Oh and plus…I had mental freedom while riding and mental drudgery while running. Quite the contrast.
I suppose a good part of that is just practice and repetition to build it up. Another part is equipment: the bike is no racer, the shoes are still pathetic, I need a helmet and some reflectors and better mirrors. Riding in the country means that dogs can come out of nowhere and of the 20 cars that pass you, 1/3 will be dirty old men in rusty trucks who slow down to stare, 1/3 will be women in shiny NEW trucks who won’t slow down, and the other third will be kids in cars with lots of base boomin’ while they jab on the phone…can’t be trusted to even see you. I can see the benefits of riding with a buddy…and maybe a tazer too!
on 17 Mar 2008 at 11:41 am 1.Joy said …
Congrats on starting the cycling!
Riding in traffic is one of my biggest challenges here in Atlanta. I have found a sort-of-solution for being more visible. Bright colors & the little reflective strips don’t always do the trick.
Dressing like a girl does though. Cars give me far less space when I’m neutral or in “boy” colors, with my ponytail tucked into my helmet. If I’m wearing a pink top, or my riding skort with a pink scrunchy visible on my ponytail, drivers give me a bit more space. I’ve tested my theory on the same stretch of road; so far it’s holding up.
Except for those women on cell phones. They’re oblivious to everyone on the road with them.