Uphill both ways
A couple months ago, I purchased a Dahon folding bike. I rode it twice and then found lots of excuses to not ride it (too tired, weather too cold, weather too snowy/rainy...).
The biggest excuse/reason that I'm not riding is that since I haven't ridden for years and am very out of shape, it is difficult to start riding again when you have to go uphill to get anywhere. Or downhill, in which case, you have to go uphill to get home! Even when I did ride a lot previously, I didn't like riding on hills, and fortunately, there weren't many hills in either Saskatoon or Ottawa, at least not where I chose to ride.
So, it is tough to get started again, but I'm determined. After all, I bought this bike so that I could exercise. Today, I went for a short ride, alternating between riding and walking. I'd ride the bike until it got too tough to pedal uphill, and then I'd walk to the next level section. I went a few blocks, and then turned around and coasted home. I'll just have to keep trying, until I can ride up this route comfortably.
My bike helmet is a problem though. I'm not sure where I'm supposed to wear the chin strap and I always end up feeling as if it is choking me. I wonder if I need to invest in a helmet that has a chin strap designed for double-chins? :-)
I don't anticipate riding to work anytime soon, but maybe by the end of the summer if I'm really energetic. Or maybe I'll wait until next summer instead.
The biggest excuse/reason that I'm not riding is that since I haven't ridden for years and am very out of shape, it is difficult to start riding again when you have to go uphill to get anywhere. Or downhill, in which case, you have to go uphill to get home! Even when I did ride a lot previously, I didn't like riding on hills, and fortunately, there weren't many hills in either Saskatoon or Ottawa, at least not where I chose to ride.
So, it is tough to get started again, but I'm determined. After all, I bought this bike so that I could exercise. Today, I went for a short ride, alternating between riding and walking. I'd ride the bike until it got too tough to pedal uphill, and then I'd walk to the next level section. I went a few blocks, and then turned around and coasted home. I'll just have to keep trying, until I can ride up this route comfortably.
My bike helmet is a problem though. I'm not sure where I'm supposed to wear the chin strap and I always end up feeling as if it is choking me. I wonder if I need to invest in a helmet that has a chin strap designed for double-chins? :-)
I don't anticipate riding to work anytime soon, but maybe by the end of the summer if I'm really energetic. Or maybe I'll wait until next summer instead.