However, for the actual race, I'll be riding a real bike. Confession time: I haven't been on a bike in at least 15 years. Maybe more. I really don't know. The only time I remember owning a bike was in early elementary school, and even then it was likely one of my sister's. Fortunately, my roommate, Michelle, owns a bike; and fortunately, she's nice enough to extend me an open invitation to it, telling me I can use it whenever I want.
Saturday was my big, final brick workout, in preparation for the race. (Which is THIS Monday -- September 1, Labor Day.) I'll write more about this workout in a separate post. Michelle helped me get her bike rack fitted onto my car, as you can see. There was something about having a bike and a bike rack on my car that made me feel like the outdoorsy type. :)
Anyway, I told Michelle I was a bit nervous about riding a real bike since it's been so long, and she said, "Don't worry, the only tough part is changing gears." Uh oh, changing gears? That sounded hard. The last bike I rode back in elementary school didn't have gears -- I don't think. She showed me how to do it, and I rode around the parking lot for just a few minutes to see if I could get the hang of it again. It was...okay.So down I went to Town Lake for my long workout. After swimming and transitioning to the bike portion, I hopped on the bike and took off on the Town Lake Trail. It's true what they say, that you don't forget how to ride a bike. Thank goodness this is true, otherwise I'd be in real trouble. Although it did take me a few minutes to remember a few things, like how to turn corners. In the beginning I'd get nervous when I had to pass someone -- especially if it was another biker. And I had to continually remind myself that if I needed to slow down, stop, or change directions, I did not need to take my feet off the pedals and onto the ground.
I only almost biffed it once, as I was turning a tight corner onto a narrow-ish bridge, with another biker, dismounted and standing to the side. I believe it was in this instance that I got my only battle wound from the bike ride. I'm pretty sure this bruise is from the pedal.
However, by the end of the ride, I found myself saying, "Where has biking been all my life??" Simply stated, I'm now infatuated with bike riding. There's nothing cooler than riding fast on the trail, the wind in your face, covering a lot of ground in not a lot of time. It's so fun! After the triathlon, I plan to buy myself a bike, and more importantly I plan to use it!
5 comments:
Have you ever seen the Frasier episode about the bike race for charity? HA HA HA! And Niles and Frasier both stink at riding bikes.... It's high-quality television, that one is. "Gee.... I hope I don't crash into that really BIG mailbox over there...." Hahahaha!
Oh, I love biking! Since moving to Portland and selling my car, it has been my mode of transportation.
To make things easy because I never learned how to properly use a geared bike, I bought a single speed. While it works well, it makes going up hills terrible and I would recommend gears. Also instead of going to overpriced new bike shops try and find a used one on Craigslist.
Good luck on the triathlon!
I COMPLETELY sympathize! My hubby bought me a bike and trailer (for the kids) with our tax return, and my experience has been really similar. I'm hopelessly addicted now! A month ago I popped some tires and had to wait for funds before getting them fixed. It was horrid! I felt like my wings had been clipped. I dont' know what I'll do when the weather turns bad.
Very fun to hear about the bike adventures! I've been thinking it would be fun to start biking, but, obviously we came from the same family: I don't think I've been on a bike in, oh say, 20-25 years. Besides, I'm not sure I would know where to go riding. I'm not too keen about putting a bike rack on my new car and I definitely don't want to bike around my neighborhood. Too many busy streets and I don't want the neighbors to see. :) Plus, that whole winter thing is going to start soon which can cause issues with biking. Well, and I don't have a bike. Excuses, excuses.
Biking is so much fun! It's great that I am not the only one who loves it. Of course, I don't do any serious off road, up and down hills or even serious workout biking, but I can honestly go weeks on end without getting in my car because I ride my bike all over town. Of course, I don't have any gears - mine is a classic, complete with pedal brakes and big soft seat. Still much fun though!
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