12 Miles...
So I got a bike about three weeks ago.
Okay, long story short-- my mom has a new boyfriend, a guy named Mike who she's known for about 30 years or so. Mike's wife died earlier this year, and mom and he fell in together after the fact.
I've known this guy for most of my life, and when I was 17 I sold him my bike so that I could pay my insurance on my car. So a little while back, he brought that bike, my most favorite bike in the whole world, back to me as a present.
Now this bike is probably 20 years old itself. And as such, the tires had pretty much rotted off the rims. In an attempt to find tires for it, I also discovered that both of the rims were bent. And that they don't make tires that size anymore (24 inch dirt bikes never caught on, dig?). And that the rims would be something like $50 a piece.
But I was really gung ho to ride. And a little heart-broken to boot. When I explained my situation to the guy, and the problems I've had with every bike I've had since that most favorite bike in the whole world, he had answers. Bike's too tall to ride comfortably? Buy the right frame size and not a height determined by the tires. Tough to ride on the streets? Don't get a mountain bike (the only thing Target and Wal-mart, et al carry). All kinds of good answers.
And this bike we picked out, it was mightily expensive. But then I found out I could get $150 bucks from my pay check processing/benefit provider company towards exercise equipment, and I was in like, well, Flynn. Or Flint. Whoever.
So that was a few weeks back. I've ridden my neighborhood some, and around a path at a park. I've done 4 and 6 mile rides.
Last night I did a 12 mile ride, with the Louisville Bicycle Club. Well, sort of with them, anyways. You see, the hills killed me-- each one I came to put me a little bit farther back, until I was between the front group and the back group, and out of sight from both of them.
And that's when I got lost the first time. Through neighborhoods, Cherokee Park, down major 4 lane streets, I made my way. I found myself and lost myself again three times. The ride that was supposed to take an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes turned into two and a half hours as I went way outside where I was supposed to be. I walked some of those hills, too. But I did it. Didn't call for someone to pick me up, didn't catch a bus, nothing. I just did it.
The fact that I didn't have a phone or any money helped this fact a little, because I was riding in full dark with no lights by the time I got back to my car (which isn't the safest thing to do on Lexington Road or Cannons Lane), but it worked, and I made it.
Yay me. And yay mom, for getting a nice boyfriend for a change. And yay Mike, for giving me back that bike in the first place and starting this whole thing.
Oh yeah, I'm gonna go ride when I get home ;-)
Okay, long story short-- my mom has a new boyfriend, a guy named Mike who she's known for about 30 years or so. Mike's wife died earlier this year, and mom and he fell in together after the fact.
I've known this guy for most of my life, and when I was 17 I sold him my bike so that I could pay my insurance on my car. So a little while back, he brought that bike, my most favorite bike in the whole world, back to me as a present.
Now this bike is probably 20 years old itself. And as such, the tires had pretty much rotted off the rims. In an attempt to find tires for it, I also discovered that both of the rims were bent. And that they don't make tires that size anymore (24 inch dirt bikes never caught on, dig?). And that the rims would be something like $50 a piece.
But I was really gung ho to ride. And a little heart-broken to boot. When I explained my situation to the guy, and the problems I've had with every bike I've had since that most favorite bike in the whole world, he had answers. Bike's too tall to ride comfortably? Buy the right frame size and not a height determined by the tires. Tough to ride on the streets? Don't get a mountain bike (the only thing Target and Wal-mart, et al carry). All kinds of good answers.
And this bike we picked out, it was mightily expensive. But then I found out I could get $150 bucks from my pay check processing/benefit provider company towards exercise equipment, and I was in like, well, Flynn. Or Flint. Whoever.
So that was a few weeks back. I've ridden my neighborhood some, and around a path at a park. I've done 4 and 6 mile rides.
Last night I did a 12 mile ride, with the Louisville Bicycle Club. Well, sort of with them, anyways. You see, the hills killed me-- each one I came to put me a little bit farther back, until I was between the front group and the back group, and out of sight from both of them.
And that's when I got lost the first time. Through neighborhoods, Cherokee Park, down major 4 lane streets, I made my way. I found myself and lost myself again three times. The ride that was supposed to take an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes turned into two and a half hours as I went way outside where I was supposed to be. I walked some of those hills, too. But I did it. Didn't call for someone to pick me up, didn't catch a bus, nothing. I just did it.
The fact that I didn't have a phone or any money helped this fact a little, because I was riding in full dark with no lights by the time I got back to my car (which isn't the safest thing to do on Lexington Road or Cannons Lane), but it worked, and I made it.
Yay me. And yay mom, for getting a nice boyfriend for a change. And yay Mike, for giving me back that bike in the first place and starting this whole thing.
Oh yeah, I'm gonna go ride when I get home ;-)