If you pay attention to the very fine print in my header, you’ll notice it says “Knitting, reading, bicycling, and cat parenting.” “Hmm,” you’re all thinking. “What’s this about bicycling?!”
‘Tis true. Once upon a time, I was a cycling fiend. I wasn’t ever into having the latest gear or the latest bike – my beat up old Specialized crossbike was always good enough for me. I would get on that bike and go go go, because cycling was the activity that totally worked for my body. Running – hatey hate hate. Walking – good, but my #@$*(!&* bunion starts to rebel after enough days of walking. Biking? I feel strong and fast and sleek.
In fact, one of my favorite vacations ever was in September 2004, when I rented a cabin in the Black Hills for a week and biked over 100 miles on the gorgeous George S. Mickelson Trail across three different days.
Until this past Saturday, I hadn’t been on my bike in over two years.
Remember that pesky surgery I had last fall? For nearly two years before my surgery, riding my bike would trigger a nasty period. Can you think of a better disincentive?! Obviously, I couldn’t bike for a while after my surgery. And then it was winter. And then it was spring, but I was feeling pretty blue and just couldn’t seem to bring myself to pull out the bike and get it operational.
However, several weeks of regular walking have upped my energy level and mood, so on Saturday, I dragged out my bike, cleaned and oiled the chain, pumped up the tires, and hit the Greenway to reacquaint my tush with the feel of a bicycle seat. It was a short ride (only 3.75 miles), during which I added air to the rear tire four times. Hmm…
Yesterday, armed with a good reference manual and a set of tire levers, I replaced the rear tube – the first time I’ve ever done any significant bike maintenance on my own! 🙂 (You would not believe how unhandy I am – and how uninterested I am in becoming handy.) No reinflation was required during the subsequent 6.1 mile ride, and I feel ready to add cycling back to my exercise routine.
“What’s going on here, Mom?!” *sniff sniff sniff* -Chaos
“Big kitty, where are the stripey socks? I’m scared.” -Mayhem
Aww, poor kitties! Another activity which excludes them 😉
It’s a good thing that they’re more independent and not like dogs, who would have their sad faces pressed against the window, watching you leave or waiting for you to come home!
Good for you getting back on the bike! I often think I’d like to bike for exercise, but I know the bike would just sit in my basement unused until I finally get rid of it. Don’t ask me how I know.
yay! good for you! I don’t think it’s easy for anyone to find an exercise, sport that really works for them.
My swank red and white retro MadWagon sits in my living room as artistic testament to that perfect feeling you described: strong and fast and sleek! Why artistic? Because it’s upside down and it does a particularly good job of gathering cat hair and dust 😛
Once my back is better…
Proud of you, though. Keep a-going!
yay for biking! I really enjoyed biking when I last had a bike. I really think I should get one again, it’s great exercise. I’ll enjoy it through you for now : )
That is so cool! Getting back to something you love will be grand! Where ARE the stripey socks, Chaos?
Yay! I’m so proud of you! *sniff* *Brigitte hops back on her bike*
You know, ever since I found out about those levers – do you think I can find them ANYWHERE? So I used an old coffee spoon, and it did the trick.
Yay! That’s awesome, Chris! I’m totally impressed at the bike maintenance…this coming from someone who is quite unhandy herself.
Whaoo!! Seriously–major wahoo! And The Greenway is the perfect place to start. You didn’t bike the whole thing did you?
What’s next? Biking to work?
I’m going to have Aerosmith running through my head all day–totally worth it.
Good for you!
Now, of course, I am feeling like I should be getting up a half hour earlier so that I can bike before Number Guy leaves for work in the morning. Can’t really expect Neatnik to keep up with me – and don’t want her on the busy roads, either frankly.
I am impressed with your mechanical skills! Enjoy your rides.
“I think she’s trying to turn herself into US.” – C’ “But where is the FUR?” – M
We’ll have to get our bikes out together soon!
Yay for biking! I too, can’t run and can’t walk very far (plus it’s too slow) – biking is the way to go. So much fun!
Keep it up!
Mr.Motorcycle keeps trying to convince me that he should be allowed to work on his bike in front of the TV – I’m not going to let him see this 😉
i’m just glad that isn’t a severed hand in the photo
Way to go, you bike quite far 3, and 6 miles for your first time back. I just started cycling again on my old bike too, but do my thighs sting!!!!
Chris- Good for you- it’s terrific exercise.
My son has systematically ruined my Mountain Bike. It’s for one person and he piles all his friends on it.
I missed a post- and a few years ago went to Salem Mass.- and burst out laughing in the Witch museum- good times.
Being handy means dirty hands…lol…I’m not fond of being “handy” myself. I’ll stick to knitting.
So, healthwise, did the ride affect you?
Cool.
Great to hear you’re back in the saddle again!
Good for you! I still haven’t replaced a tube, but I do have all the necessary gear. I love picking a direction on a Sunday and just riding.
*only* 3.75 miles?! I’m impressed!
You should be here in Iowa this week — it’s RAGBRAI week! (http://www.ragbrai.org) 450+ miles through Iowa with thousands of other people! Tomorrow night’s stop is right outside of Iowa City, so I’m going to (hopefully) meet up with 2 cousins who are riding in it.
I used to love riding my bike when we lived out in Colorado but I won’t ride here on the streets because its entirely too dangerous w/out bike lanes.
woo hoo! You go girl!
How wonderful that you are able to bike ride again without any ‘episodes’ – hurray for your health!
Yay for you! Glad you are back on the bike. Exercise is a great mood enhancer and health booster!
It’s so great you can enjoy it again! My bike has actually been out of the storage area since Teen got his license last week. More out of necessity than enjoyment, but I’m not complaining.
Good for you! I’ve been thinking about getting a manual, too, as I want to be able to look after my own wheels.
Good for you! Back in the Stone Age summer when I biked ~25 miles a day to school and work I felt the best I ever had (and could eat whatever I wanted :-)). Biking is the only exercise where one has a built-in breeze to keep self comfortable.
Now I should follow my own advice and get out my own bike. But there hills and gravel here, and I am a wimp. Lazy, too.
Photos of the new biker? Whoohoo on fixing the tire! I’m not that handy, either…it’s always such a charge to do something of a fix-it nature!
(((hugs)))
Hooray! Back in (or on, in this case) the saddle again!
Wow, that is the best description of why cycling appeals to me that I have ever heard! I’m not a runner either, and walking is fine but slow. Cycling – lean, mean, cruising machine! I can’t tell you how impressed I am that you fixed your flat – I need to learn to do that still.
I used to log about 2000 miles (total) a year on my Gary Fisher and my WizWheelz TerraTrike. That is, until I bought my Vespa….
I bet your area is beautiful to ride thru.
Congrats on getting back on your bike again and fixing it up. I used to ride my old trusty Frankenstein bike a lot. That was when I lived somewhere much flatter. I got rid of it a few years ago; it was actually a little too tall. I’m missing it now though.
I’m tempted to cycle, too but I’m so rusty that I can only wobble a bit. We’ve found a place to rent bikes and ride them in a traffic free situation so I can build up some confidence again.
Bye, kittens! Bicycling is pretty addictive. I do love to walk but you can just go so much FARTHER on a bike.
And oooh! Look at that handy hand!
Good for you! I used to bike quite a bit, mostly tranportation, but it added up to a lot, esp during long hilly trips and winter commutes. I even rebuild a derraileur (can’t even spell it anymore) once… but there was this odd extra part. Still worked though. Sadly I sold that old Raleigh, it had a brake set up that dated it to one of two years, 1974 or 5. Now I need a helmet to set a good example for the kiddo… ought to get one, maybe I’d get back on the bike… and it’s not so much the tush but the push (??!!) that I need to get back used to sitting on that bike seat!
Love your guardian pictures. I wish I could find one that would look alright in front of my house. We really need a guardian right now. Unfortunately our house is an early 60’s ranch style which doesn’t exactly go really well with guardian lions or raccoons or gnomes or whatever. Maybe a guardian heliocopter or jet fighter.
Ann in Dallas
Hooray for biking! I need to get back to that, too. Sadly there’s not much space on the road where I live for road bikes, and I don’t own a mountain bike. 🙁
Yay for you, back on the bike! It really only took a couple of weeks of walking (after the surgery and such) to feel more energetic? I’ve been going to an exercise class 2x a week (hey, it is more than I have done in about 5 years), and it just seems to make me hungry and tired. I’ve gained weight!
In any case, back to you–keep on biking!
I miss riding my bike! 🙁 We need more bike roads! I’m going to write another letter…
Hurray for biking and DIY! I need to haul ye olde Bianchi down to the bike shop and buy a new front brake dealy as someone stole that little teeny part while my bike was in the bikeroom over the winter.
I’m glad you’re feeling well enough to bike again. If biking triggered that type of response, I wouldn’t have been too keen on riding again either!