trifecta achieved

I have a bike!

chaiya and I went to the yard sale we had seen advertise having a bicycle, and lo and behold, it did. A men's mountain bike, but with a smallish frame. They inflated the tires for us (it had been sitting in a garage for years) and I rode it up and down the street several times with the seat at various heights, playing with the shifters, showing chaiya my posture (as a bodyworker, she has valuable insight on these things.) What modifications might need to be done to the bike were discussed. In the end, though, it was priced at TEN DOLLARS which, if you know anything about bikes, is clearly a price put on it by someone who doesn't know any thing about bikes.

The plan we worked out is that I'll buy the ten dollar bike and all the non-specific-to-that-bike accessories that I would need to ride it around a bit: helmet w/ mirro, lights, lock, reflecting pantsleg straps. Then, ride it around a bit, specifically a week or two. If it works out, then I can spend money upgrading that particular bike (new tires, perhaps new handlebars, storage racks, fenders.) If it doesn't work out, I can probably sell it for more than $10!

I avoided the temptation to ride it to Waltham (~10m) yesterday for bleemoo's birthday party, but I'm about to take it down to the Cambridgeside Galleria (where I will get an eye exam to get a prescription that will get me new glasses online!)

I was right: I can at least be happy about my shop-fu. Other aspects of life, not so much. ("Stormy Weather" has been playing in my head too much lately.)

trifecta achieved

I have a bike!

chaiya and I went to the yard sale we had seen advertise having a bicycle, and lo and behold, it did. A men's mountain bike, but with a smallish frame. They inflated the tires for us (it had been sitting in a garage for years) and I rode it up and down the street several times with the seat at various heights, playing with the shifters, showing chaiya my posture (as a bodyworker, she has valuable insight on these things.) What modifications might need to be done to the bike were discussed. In the end, though, it was priced at TEN DOLLARS which, if you know anything about bikes, is clearly a price put on it by someone who doesn't know any thing about bikes.

The plan we worked out is that I'll buy the ten dollar bike and all the non-specific-to-that-bike accessories that I would need to ride it around a bit: helmet w/ mirro, lights, lock, reflecting pantsleg straps. Then, ride it around a bit, specifically a week or two. If it works out, then I can spend money upgrading that particular bike (new tires, perhaps new handlebars, storage racks, fenders.) If it doesn't work out, I can probably sell it for more than $10!

I avoided the temptation to ride it to Waltham (~10m) yesterday for bleemoo's birthday party, but I'm about to take it down to the Cambridgeside Galleria (where I will get an eye exam to get a prescription that will get me new glasses online!)

I was right: I can at least be happy about my shop-fu. Other aspects of life, not so much. ("Stormy Weather" has been playing in my head too much lately.)

bicycle day 1

I didn't intend to, but I rode almost 10 miles today! (According to gmap-pedometer.com - thank you anitra for introducing me to it.) I rode from my house to the Cambridgeside Galleria, where I had an eye exam, and shopped a little for glasses and other things. While there I got a call from siderea and set up a time to meet her in Davis Square a little later, so I rode there. At some point there I realized that one of my purchases from the mall had fallen out of my tote bag along the way (follow the saga of asking the b0st0n LJ community to find my underwear here.) siderea and I had dinner at Boston Burger Company (excellent), and then I retraced part of my route back through Inman Square before giving up and returning home.

My butt hurts. I'm not certain if I will end up needing a new seat, or if I just wasn't used to it and rode 10 miles on it! My knees and back are a little sore, but only a slight bit. I'm fairly certain I still need to adjust the seat height a little higher, even if it means more discomfort when stopped. Camberville is hilly and I change gears a lot, but the gears available on my bike are good for this and my ride is comfortable! All of which add up to A+++, will ride again. Maybe to work tomorrow, unless my butt is bruised.

Also, endorphins are a nice thing, and I hope you all support my getting hooked on them.

bicycle day 1

I didn't intend to, but I rode almost 10 miles today! (According to gmap-pedometer.com - thank you anitra for introducing me to it.) I rode from my house to the Cambridgeside Galleria, where I had an eye exam, and shopped a little for glasses and other things. While there I got a call from siderea and set up a time to meet her in Davis Square a little later, so I rode there. At some point there I realized that one of my purchases from the mall had fallen out of my tote bag along the way (follow the saga of asking the b0st0n LJ community to find my underwear here.) siderea and I had dinner at Boston Burger Company (excellent), and then I retraced part of my route back through Inman Square before giving up and returning home.

My butt hurts. I'm not certain if I will end up needing a new seat, or if I just wasn't used to it and rode 10 miles on it! My knees and back are a little sore, but only a slight bit. I'm fairly certain I still need to adjust the seat height a little higher, even if it means more discomfort when stopped. Camberville is hilly and I change gears a lot, but the gears available on my bike are good for this and my ride is comfortable! All of which add up to A+++, will ride again. Maybe to work tomorrow, unless my butt is bruised.

Also, endorphins are a nice thing, and I hope you all support my getting hooked on them.