September 28, 2004

good ride.

So from the park-n-ride just across the river to work is about 7 miles... we went really easy (read slow) and it took just about 30 minutes so right around 14mph average. Going over the I-5 bridge sucked ass for me tho. We had to stop to let another biker by and between the traffic on one side and the sheer drop off beyond the rail down to the river on the other it was all I could do to stave off a panic attack. I hope I don't get lost going back... and hopefully I can do it faster. To work there is a lot of up... going home, a LOT of down!!! :D

For my first ride on this bike I have to say I'm impressed. I've never been a road-biker so the brakes and shifting (as I mentioned yesterday) to a bit of getting used to... I don't like not being able to brake from the top bar... but the benefits of the bike outweigh that issue for sure. First of all, this bike is LIGHT!!! It took nearly no extra effort to go up hills. I am not used to the stiffness of the ride tho... big soft tires absorb a lot more of the road imperfections than skinny high-pressure ones do. I am glad I went with the carbon fork and seat post tho... they do soften the ride a bit and absorb some of that. I need to swap out the pedals still (I'm not a clip-less rider), but my headlight (cat eye) and tail-blinker served me well. I may also need a reflective vest for these morning rides, so I'll be lookin' for one of those soon.

I'm performing a wedding today as well, so thank GOD for the gym showers!!! I am wearing a skirt... I did my hair and I EVEN shaved my legs! The whole ceremony will take 5-10 minutes, but hey... I can't be all disheveled at my first wedding ya know? I'm not going to have time to run today (thus the bike) so I'm hoping I can get a 4-5 miler in tomorrow. This schedule is STILL not situated properly... but hopefully it will settle in soon.

*sigh*

Posted by Lexy at September 28, 2004 07:53 AM


Comments

The bike ride sounds fun. Are you planning to commute to work?

I can't contain my curiosity -- in what sort of religion/practice are you ordained?

Posted by: Megan on 09/28/04 @ 08:03 AM


Hey Megan... I will probably commute a couple of days a week. I am an ordained minister by the Universal Life Church... which ANYONE can do in about 60 seconds at http://www.ulc.org. This is why I became ordained:

"We believe that everyone is already a member of the church and is just not aware of it as yet. The Universal Life Church will ordain anyone who asks, without question of faith, for life, without a fee. Just select "Be Ordained" to complete the process right here on our website. The church has two tenets: the absolute right of freedom of religion and to do that, which is right. Anything else within the law is allowed.

The Universal Life Church will not stand between you and your God and recognizes that each person must choose his or her own path. Each person in the ULC is free to follow any path as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others."

Posted by: brenna on 09/28/04 @ 08:27 AM


Wow -- you are a busy lady! Glad you are enjoying your new bike. Just wait until you are ready for clipless pedals, that will make it even better!

Hope you can find some time to take your bike out on a nice long, quiet road and not have to worry about traffic and scary bridges!

Posted by: Laura on 09/28/04 @ 09:57 AM


I'm impressed you tried that ride. I don't know if I'd be brave enough to do it. But I think that I'd love road biking, so I guess someday (when I have the money and time for a road bike) I'll have to get used the traffic and other scary things.

I think it's great that you're doing a wedding. I'm not particularly religious and my boyfriend certainly doesn't go to church, so someday when we get married, who knows, perhaps we'll have someone close to us do our ceremony. Always good to know it's an option =)

Posted by: Nicole on 09/28/04 @ 10:20 AM


Gosh, Brenna, just reading your journal lately has me out of breath. :)

Posted by: Mojodiva on 09/28/04 @ 04:07 PM


If you haven't already done so, I highly, highly recommend getting used to riding clipped in. Your power is so much greater and smoother, and the additional workout will help build muscles that are otherwise neglected, causing leg imbalances from your calves and (potentially) ending up in shin splints. Clipped-in biking is great cross-training.

Posted by: Richard on 10/12/04 @ 08:57 AM