July 12, 2011 (Day 5)

Today I sported my new jersey, which was a bit snugger than I expected, but research online assured me that it was supposed to be snug to properly wick the moisture as well as avoid flapping and nipple chafing (that just sounds wrong!).  I also had a mission to pick up a couple other items we needed to give me a goal and keep from chickening out.  It all went pretty well.  I was a bit nervous without my oversized T-shirt, but frankly, once I got there, the last thing I was thinking about was what I was wearing. 

On the way home, I managed to actually stop and walk my bike back down the path by the railroad tracks then only have to be on the highway a short distance.

Addendum:

More research revealed that the seat was woefully low.  It took me a moment to figure it out, but I got it raised so that, per the internet, my leg was barely bent at its lowest point of the peddle’s circle.  I decided I should make sure it was alright for the next morning, so all decked out in my garb, I went through the neighborhood.  On the way back, I shifted gears, and the chain slipped.  I lost control but was able to find my balance and the ground with my feet.  I took a pretty hard smack to the shin from one of the peddles before putting the bike down.  Thankfully, I was within walking distance of home and was able to walk the bike there in short time.  I think it was my fault…I pushed off hard and suddenly at the stoplight that morning to exit Wal-Mart, and I felt the chain jerk slightly.  I didn’t check that aspect before taking it out again.  My guess is that it wasn’t quite right, so the whole thing came undone when I used the derailleur.  I was able to fix it and get the chain going again.

July 11, 2011 (Day 4)

More internet research led me to conclude some of my problem is that I have no water with me.  It was even suggested that it might help my windedness.  I also picked up some fingerless gloves for good measure.  With sweat-covered cotton T-shirts after every ride, I decided to reward myself if I made it as far as the nearest Super Wal-Mart (about two miles away) by buying one of the Schwinn cycling jerseys as my research suggested that they would wick the sweat away better.  Last night in the car, we drove the length of ours and the two other subdivisions for the path with the least highway cycling as possible, so that’s the way I went with all my new paraphernalia as well as a backpack strapped to my back as I left the house at 6:05 am with until 7 am before my wife had to head to work for me to get back.

It’s true that you observe your surroundings more going slower than in a car, and one of the things I observed on the way through the neighborhood was a young fox that must be making his home somewhere nearby as he trotted on the sidewalk, not even glancing at me as I passed.

There’s a short distance that requires a multi-purpose path, which isn’t too bad, but the bad part is that the path abruptly ends at railroad gravel then up an embankment to the train tracks and a highway.  I stopped at the end of the sidewalk and drank the water (man that felt good!).  Taking a deep breath and resigning myself to the task, I led the bike up the embankment to the highway.  After a false start where I almost dropped the darn thing, I walked the bike to the other side of the highway so I was on the right shoulder and going with traffic on the way to Wal-Mart. 

Once there, my heart pounding with excitement, I locked my bike up at the racks, ignored my awareness of my skintight shorts, and headed in.  In there, I picked up my reward.  The cashier looked me up and down (I still had my helmet on, too) and asked if I’d come far.  “Just a couple miles—I just got started,” I admitted.  With my purchase quickly stowed, I headed home.  It was a bit of a task, and my legs were throbbing.  At the down path, though, I panicked at the sight of all the gravel by the railroads, so I ended up staying on the highway for fear of sliding on the loose rocks.  I was able to get into the subdivision soon enough, though.

July 10, 2011 (Day 3)

Research into bicycle safety via the internet has me concluding that I need to avoid the unpredictability of a multi-purpose path where a dog could lunge at me.  I resigned myself to getting over my old fear and taking the road, so I got all decked out and, with a rush of adrenaline and a bit of terror, I entered onto the main street that cut through our subdivision and connected us to the other two in succession.  With a nice bike lane, I made my way along.  Of course, someone came out of a side cul-de-sac on her racing bike and quickly left me in the dust and feeling every bit of my inexperience, but I remained steady and steadfast as I made my way through the subdivision.  I know there are hand signals, but I can’t quite take my hands off the bars to even try.  But I stopped at all stop signs.  It was early, so there weren’t any cars as I continued along.  I have to say, I’d been disappointed that I hadn’t felt any of that true burn I was expecting to tell me I was affecting my muscles.  Holy crap, I felt that burn all across the tops of my thighs as I passed one street and continued along before turning around and heading back.  Another real cyclist passed my amateur self then sped off on a 20-mile ride, no doubt, while I made my way, winded and sweaty, back home.  It was a longer trip, and I was feeling it.

July 9, 2011 (Day 2)

I woke up ready for my first bike ride.  My heart fluttered as I put on the bicycle shorts (wow did they make a difference, though they took some getting used to!), a T-shirt, shoes, and strapped on the helmet.  I almost backed out as I led the bike to the front of the garage and opened the door. 

Then I managed to get on and start slowly down our street then enter onto the multi-purpose paths along the greenway.  Wow, there are far more hills than I realized while we were pushing strollers!  Sadly, my lungs were feeling it a bit as I made my circuit, nodding proudly to the few people I passed who were jogging or walking dogs.  I pretty much avoided all roads as best I could.  When I pulled back into the garage, the asthma and new exertion left me sweaty and winded, but I’d done it.  I have no idea how long the first ride was, but I’m guessing it was only about 10 minutes.  It felt much longer!