T
Tacomaboy
Guest
Today, since I didn't have a lot of daylight left, and because I really feel the need to improve my
endurance levels, I decided to ride the Veloway. The Veloway is paved, and therefore, not the most
fun I have ever had. But it is relaxing and peaceful, yet can really get your blood going, since it
has lots of twist, turns, and hills. Today I decided to do 10 miles. 10 miles isn't much for most of
you, I know. But I have been riding three weeks since my last period of riding years ago, before my
bike was stolen. Not to mention I weigh 230 (225 after that ride hehe), and I am 5'10". Also my bike
is full suspension, which isn't exactly known for street riding abilities. I decided, midway through
my second lap, that this was the day I could really get my third lap in. Each lap is about 3.2
miles, so I needed to actually go more than three laps to hit my goal. At the 9 mile mark, I knew I
had done it. Alright! Now I call myself a bicyclist. The end of the third lap marked 9.5 miles.
Hmm... fortunately the Veloway has a few cut throughs for smaller laps. I decided to run one of the
small laps. Of course, at the 10 mile mark, I wanted to raise my arms and cheer... but as luck would
have it, I hit 10 miles exactly in the middle of a sharp turn. Oh well.. maybe when I hit 15 miles.
So, as of now, that's my best distance. And I did a 14 mi/hr average to boot! However, my best ride
yet started off with my worst start yet. I replaced my drive side crank before the ride, and forgot
to put the gears back on a lower setting. I had both gears on the highest ratio. Ughhh... So, when I
arrive, I am feeling great, ready to ride, looking good on my shiny bike with new cranks. Clip my
pedals in, without bother to kick off. Push down... pedal.. won't ... turn... cant.. maintain...
balance... uh... oh... falling... SMACK. Fallover on my right side into the gravel. And of COURSE
there were plenty of people to witness my graceful dismount... you know, the type where you can't
unclip fast enough and end up scraping your elbow and knee all over the gravel like a moron. Some
girl asks if I am ok... I reply, well.. only my pride is hurt, how freaking embarrassing. I know I
know it happens, but not when you JUST get on your bike!! Ahh well now I have some goofy carnage
tale, and I feel like doing a more technical ride tomorrow. What a day. I love my bike
endurance levels, I decided to ride the Veloway. The Veloway is paved, and therefore, not the most
fun I have ever had. But it is relaxing and peaceful, yet can really get your blood going, since it
has lots of twist, turns, and hills. Today I decided to do 10 miles. 10 miles isn't much for most of
you, I know. But I have been riding three weeks since my last period of riding years ago, before my
bike was stolen. Not to mention I weigh 230 (225 after that ride hehe), and I am 5'10". Also my bike
is full suspension, which isn't exactly known for street riding abilities. I decided, midway through
my second lap, that this was the day I could really get my third lap in. Each lap is about 3.2
miles, so I needed to actually go more than three laps to hit my goal. At the 9 mile mark, I knew I
had done it. Alright! Now I call myself a bicyclist. The end of the third lap marked 9.5 miles.
Hmm... fortunately the Veloway has a few cut throughs for smaller laps. I decided to run one of the
small laps. Of course, at the 10 mile mark, I wanted to raise my arms and cheer... but as luck would
have it, I hit 10 miles exactly in the middle of a sharp turn. Oh well.. maybe when I hit 15 miles.
So, as of now, that's my best distance. And I did a 14 mi/hr average to boot! However, my best ride
yet started off with my worst start yet. I replaced my drive side crank before the ride, and forgot
to put the gears back on a lower setting. I had both gears on the highest ratio. Ughhh... So, when I
arrive, I am feeling great, ready to ride, looking good on my shiny bike with new cranks. Clip my
pedals in, without bother to kick off. Push down... pedal.. won't ... turn... cant.. maintain...
balance... uh... oh... falling... SMACK. Fallover on my right side into the gravel. And of COURSE
there were plenty of people to witness my graceful dismount... you know, the type where you can't
unclip fast enough and end up scraping your elbow and knee all over the gravel like a moron. Some
girl asks if I am ok... I reply, well.. only my pride is hurt, how freaking embarrassing. I know I
know it happens, but not when you JUST get on your bike!! Ahh well now I have some goofy carnage
tale, and I feel like doing a more technical ride tomorrow. What a day. I love my bike
