2002-08-23

 

I just rode my bike home from work for the first time. Going into work on Wednesday was pretty easy - it's downhill most all the way. Coming back was another story, but not a completely miserable one. The ride into work takes about 15 minutes if you do it right and you don't go down San Pablo and get forced onto the sidewalk (like I did the other day). The ride home takes about 30 minutes, with the first 5 being easy, the next 20 are difficult, and the last 5 aren't bad (save crossing Telegraph). I think I'll do that at the light at Ashby next time instead of pissing off traffic by enforcing my right to cross at the crosswalk and getting honked at. I was okay for the first 10 difficult minutes, then I stopped to adjust my helmet (read: let my heartrate return to something resembling reasonable) and continued in first gear the rest of that uphill way, easily passed by a half-dozen cyclists. But I'm not unhappy that I did it. I don't feel too bad now. When I mentioned to Stevie that everyone passed me, he said, "Well, there's only one thing for that - more of it." I know he's right. So, I'm going to ride into work at least twice next week, and then I'll work up to three times a week over the next month. I need a new bike saddle, though. That one makes me numb after awhile. Stevie's not feeling well today, so he's in bed eating soup that I just warmed up for him. Hopefully, he's better by tomorrow so that we can go down to Japantown with Karen and James. I sent flowers to Shirley and Doreen the other day - an orchid for Shirley since she's doing so fabulously with mine, and a big bouquet for Doreen to lift her spirits. She seemed really down when I spoke to her on Tuesday. I just called her and she said that she'd call me back in a bit. That will be a nice chat.

posted by bethanye 6:33:00 PM