Bike: Day One--wow!
Oct. 4th, 2005 12:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
winterbadgerI took the morning off (I have the nicest boss in the world :-) and took my new buddy out for a spin. Well, started training myself would be more like it. I took an hour: half an hour of riding around a small grassy field, and then half an hour of riding up and back a nearby bike trail (part of the Accotink Creek trail) (fortunately with very low population density).
initial thoughts:
1. I asked for a very durable bike. I think I got one. If Hagrid rode a bike, it would be like this. SOLID. And possibly a little tall for me, but I think I will grow into it (meaning I think I will be comfortable with being higher off the ground as I get more experience, not that I think I will get taller ;-) I may mangle the gears (I managed to pop the chain off the front derailleur within miutes of getting on the bike), but I'm not going to damage the frame without a blowtorch. (Which is just as well, se Point 4.)
2. Wow! I can see why people love this pursuit. I got up some speed once or twice, and just the ability to move fast and to *make* myself stable was a thrill. Learning to steer/lean out of steering errors was cool. And just because one goes off the trail doesn't mean one has to stop, if one can steer back onto the trail (again, the wide-tire semi-hybrid was a wise choise over a pure road bike--more forgiving of bumbling learners).
3. Good exercise. Not at all hard on the knees, as promised, but no one told me it was murder on the lungs, sheesh! Copious breaks for water and breath, and I think when I take it back to get it checked out I'm going to ask for an additional bottle mount (it will fit two). Totally exhausted.
4. Also no one told me that bikes are attracted to solid objects. Any time I got near one, Rupert headed straight for it. In the first half hour I hit two trees, two stumps, and a concrete park bench. (See Point 1). On the trail I hit two thickets, almost hit one or two trees (managed to avoid them--learning!) and one bramble bush (getting the brambly creeper out of the rear derailleur will be some evening's entertainment...)
5. I didn't realize it had gone back to being summer, and--concerned about hitting the ground frequently--I had worn jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt. Not next time.
6. Mounting and dismounting are an art I need to learn. I tripped over the top bar twice when getting off (suddenly).
7. I was actually able to steer past runners and a small group of people (though I nearly hit the latter). Slowing down when approaching people was a good idea; but maybe in future I'll stop and walk past...
OK, quick shower, then off to work.
initial thoughts:
1. I asked for a very durable bike. I think I got one. If Hagrid rode a bike, it would be like this. SOLID. And possibly a little tall for me, but I think I will grow into it (meaning I think I will be comfortable with being higher off the ground as I get more experience, not that I think I will get taller ;-) I may mangle the gears (I managed to pop the chain off the front derailleur within miutes of getting on the bike), but I'm not going to damage the frame without a blowtorch. (Which is just as well, se Point 4.)
2. Wow! I can see why people love this pursuit. I got up some speed once or twice, and just the ability to move fast and to *make* myself stable was a thrill. Learning to steer/lean out of steering errors was cool. And just because one goes off the trail doesn't mean one has to stop, if one can steer back onto the trail (again, the wide-tire semi-hybrid was a wise choise over a pure road bike--more forgiving of bumbling learners).
3. Good exercise. Not at all hard on the knees, as promised, but no one told me it was murder on the lungs, sheesh! Copious breaks for water and breath, and I think when I take it back to get it checked out I'm going to ask for an additional bottle mount (it will fit two). Totally exhausted.
4. Also no one told me that bikes are attracted to solid objects. Any time I got near one, Rupert headed straight for it. In the first half hour I hit two trees, two stumps, and a concrete park bench. (See Point 1). On the trail I hit two thickets, almost hit one or two trees (managed to avoid them--learning!) and one bramble bush (getting the brambly creeper out of the rear derailleur will be some evening's entertainment...)
5. I didn't realize it had gone back to being summer, and--concerned about hitting the ground frequently--I had worn jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt. Not next time.
6. Mounting and dismounting are an art I need to learn. I tripped over the top bar twice when getting off (suddenly).
7. I was actually able to steer past runners and a small group of people (though I nearly hit the latter). Slowing down when approaching people was a good idea; but maybe in future I'll stop and walk past...
OK, quick shower, then off to work.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-10-04 05:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-04 05:18 pm (UTC)Rupert: After either this Rupert or the one in here. Fast, fun, exciting, heedless. :-)
no subject
Date: 2005-10-04 05:33 pm (UTC)*blink* Jan... something the audience needs to know? Hey I must be feeling a little more like me right? Do you need a demo dolly?
no subject
Date: 2005-10-04 06:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-04 06:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-04 06:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-04 07:25 pm (UTC)Rupert
Date: 2005-10-04 09:12 pm (UTC)So, not this Rupert, then? http://www.ashead.com/ashtea.jpg
Re: Rupert
Date: 2005-10-04 09:21 pm (UTC)Re: Rupert
Date: 2005-10-04 10:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-04 05:20 pm (UTC)Yes, it's quite a workout for the lungs and heart.
Be careful with any high speed stuff for now, because a sudden stop will send you flying and could damage you. You may find that a gel seat and/or padded gloves will be helpful if you're going to spend much time on the bike, as well.
no subject
Date: 2005-10-04 06:30 pm (UTC)I'm being very careful with the brakes (in fact, it was only partway through the "practicing on the grass where if I fall over it won't hurt so much" period that I even remembered the brakes at all.) The stick-figure illustration in the manual of what happens if you brake too suddenly is quite graphic and scary! :-)
And, yes, I'm thinking that gloves may be a good idea later on. And a chain/lock. And a pump. And a patch kit. And, although the bike came with a great maintenance policy, at some point I should learn how to o repairs & maintenance myself, which will mean tools. A new hobby to buy lots of little trinkets for--just what I needed! ;-)
no subject
Date: 2005-10-04 07:39 pm (UTC)Gloves and lock should be high on your list. If you break down you can lock up to a tree and walk back.
If you start doing longer rides, padded bike shorts will help. You can get padded mountian bike shorts if you're worried about how they look.
As you get more serious, a pump or CO2 cartridge, a spare tube or patch kit, a multi-tool, tire levers and something to carry them in. I use a rear-rack and pack.
There is a guy who sometimes teaches classes on bike maintenance in Falls Church. Didn't see him listed this year but I took part one of his class a few years ago. Good basics.
You're right to practice. Stay with easy trails, paved areas and grass until you get comfortable. Then you can go north of Accotink to Wakefield Manor for some fun on those trails.
Once you get comfortable with riding near other people, you can try the W&OD or Capitol Cresent Trails. And Beach Drive in DC is closed to cars on weekends. Like having a 25 foot wide bike path.
no subject
Date: 2005-10-05 02:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-05 01:22 am (UTC)Hurrah for bikes!
no subject
Date: 2005-10-05 02:44 am (UTC)But, yes, yay for bikes! :-) I thought that post might get a comment from you . :-)