Spring is Here
The weather is finally starting to warm up outside and that means it's time for me to begin my new "bike life" pursuits.
I posted on here awhile ago that I got a new bike and that it's my intention that I will ultimately stop driving and rely solely on my bike as my mode of transportation (with the exception of trips out of state*)... well last week I began the process of moving in that direction. The results were less than ideal**.
*With two of those already scheduled for the next month and a half, I'm thinking there may still be a fair amount of driving in my future.**I was honked at once*** and got a new appreciation for bike shorts... they have quickly moved up the list of things I need to purchase in the VERY near future!***As a side note, I looked it up when I got home: it is NOT okay to honk your horn at bikers. Drivers, you need to deal with the fact that it's legal (and necessary) for road bikes to be ridden in the road. Pass when you have the chance - this guy had the chance - but don't honk... you risk startling the biker who may then lose control of their bike and create a bigger problem then just a brief traffic slow down.
The reality is that, while I rode a bike from the time I was a little kid until I graduated from college****, over the last ten years I've actually only been on a bike once. It was a great experience and it inspired me to want to ride regularly, but there seems to be a learning curve when it comes to getting back into biking***** - particularly where sharing the streets with cars is concerned.
****I have pictures and a broken arm to prove it!*****"It's like riding a bike" is accurate to the actual "moving-forward-while-pedaling" part, but there are a lot of other things to consider that make cause that cliche to be a little over-simplified.
I did end up riding twice last Thursday and once on Friday, each time getting progressively more ambitious with the distance I was willing to cover, but I'm still a little leery about being a serious city bike rider. I think it's just a matter of getting my confidence up, but I have to confess I'm swallowing a lot of pride after advertising my desire to give up my car... and I'm still driving it.
Oh well, I think there's a life lesson in there somewhere. And I haven't given up... I'm just pacing myself!
@Kevvo, I have a ZMR and i also ride the bike non-stop.
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