My turn for a post after a year's riding. I started riding again this time
last year, after a long break since I was at high school.
Some highlights for me:
* Getting into commuting into London. I didn't think I'd be doing that when
I first got a bike, but reading here and riding rapidly changed my
perceptions of long distance to the extent that it's now an easy little trip
for me. I remember thinking 11 miles was a really long trip for me back
then.
* Buying too much at wiggle mostly. I've spent HOW much in the last year?
* Buying a CoPilot Limo child seat and taking my toddler for rides. He
loved it even more than I do.
* Buying a Burley D'Lite trailer and discovering how much better it was for
my purposes than the child seat.
* Going shopping with the trailer has to be one of the most rewarding
experiences I've had in ages.
* Fetching my little boy from nursery school in the trailer. It's together
with an infant and junior school, and so we get lots of attention. Many of
the kids now know my boy's name and call out when we ride past. 🙂
* Learning that riding in the winter through the rain and even occasional
snow is actually fun, usually more so than the days with good weather. I'd
probably not have learnt the joys of riding in horrible weather, only I had
been forced to by the school trips.
* Starting to lust after a recumbent and doing all the research, and then
buying one. Wow, even more fun than the normal bike. I love the cockpit
"surrounds", and the feeling of flying when riding one. I'm even starting
to enjoy all the attention LOL. Finding out my commute took 15 minutes
longer on the 'bent didn't put me off either, just about nothing beats the
grin factor of a 'bent for me.
* Getting my recumbent legs over the next few months and then knocking 7
minutes off my personal best from before on the normal bike was a good
feeling too.
* Improved balance on the recumbent to the extent I can now negotiate one
particular farcility and not have to put my hands or feet down any more.
That took a good 1000km to do consistently.
* My first audax, what a lovely experience. I can't wait to do some more
rides like this and have entered several this year. It's just a pity I work
weekends as that severely limits my ride options.
So in the last year I've managed some 4700km, or almost 3000 miles. I'm
slightly gutted I didn't break the 3000 mile mark, but no matter, I'm pretty
happy all the same. I know to most of you that's only a small distance, but
not for me!!