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One year on my bike
19/1/06 15:15I've had my bike for a little bit over a year now--it was on the 12th or 13th that I fractured my elbow, and that was when I'd had it for only a couple days.
( This is how far I've gone in the past year. )
I've clocked at least 360 miles since July, and seen most of the cowfields, manure heaps, rural gas stations, and trees within an eight-mile radius of my apartment.
I'm more confident in traffic; I get honked at less than I used to, and I can glance back, signal, glance back, and change lanes without plowing into the curb. (Though lately when I glance back all I see is hair--must get haircut soon. I haven't had one in a year). I can strike a decent balance between shrinking in fear from vehicles and getting in their way gratuitously.
I have not had an accident since the elbow thing. That's progress.
I have spent way more on bike stuff than a person should, but it's still cheaper than owning a car--and less than most bike geeks spend: headlight, pump, helmet, new tubes for tires, padded shorts, tool doohickey, lock, and basket. (I still do not have a water bottle cage--I just carry my water in my basket). And a cycle computer which just broke, and will be $20 to fix. My incompetence as a cyclist is enough to reassure me that spending more money will not actually make me any more competent.
I go sloooow. I inch up small hills on my lowest gear, at a mere six miles an hour; I average maybe 8 mph for longer distances. I don't go longer distances; the most I've gone in a day is twelve miles, I think, when decent cyclists think nothing of going 40. But four miles along the hills of Franklin street used to seem steep to me, and seems much easier now. I know how to change a tire, and to bring my cell phone and enough food and water with me, so that I don't live in fear of having something bad happen to me when I'm too far from home.
I hope to make it to Rivendell before too much longer. And...I'm a little proud of myself for that. ^_^
( This is how far I've gone in the past year. )
I've clocked at least 360 miles since July, and seen most of the cowfields, manure heaps, rural gas stations, and trees within an eight-mile radius of my apartment.
I'm more confident in traffic; I get honked at less than I used to, and I can glance back, signal, glance back, and change lanes without plowing into the curb. (Though lately when I glance back all I see is hair--must get haircut soon. I haven't had one in a year). I can strike a decent balance between shrinking in fear from vehicles and getting in their way gratuitously.
I have not had an accident since the elbow thing. That's progress.
I have spent way more on bike stuff than a person should, but it's still cheaper than owning a car--and less than most bike geeks spend: headlight, pump, helmet, new tubes for tires, padded shorts, tool doohickey, lock, and basket. (I still do not have a water bottle cage--I just carry my water in my basket). And a cycle computer which just broke, and will be $20 to fix. My incompetence as a cyclist is enough to reassure me that spending more money will not actually make me any more competent.
I go sloooow. I inch up small hills on my lowest gear, at a mere six miles an hour; I average maybe 8 mph for longer distances. I don't go longer distances; the most I've gone in a day is twelve miles, I think, when decent cyclists think nothing of going 40. But four miles along the hills of Franklin street used to seem steep to me, and seems much easier now. I know how to change a tire, and to bring my cell phone and enough food and water with me, so that I don't live in fear of having something bad happen to me when I'm too far from home.
I hope to make it to Rivendell before too much longer. And...I'm a little proud of myself for that. ^_^
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