Secret Happiness becomes Blatant Exhaustion

Well, I admit, I went a bit overboard. I rode my bike about 1 mile yesterday and then figured I could take another ride today.

This is when you realize that you live in hilly neighborhoods! I decided to ride to the bike store to purchase a bike lock. After about two miles I was exhausted and luckily there was a Dick's Sporting Goods store nearby. I bought the lock in there and started back. I had to sit down at a park for about 30 minutes before getting on the bike to do the last mile.

After the six mile trek, I barely made it into my door and I fell down on the ground and just laid there. I almost fainted, felt dizzy and almost got sick. But, one minute on the floor and I was recovered.

Rules for "the wind, the road, and the freedom" in no particular order include:
1 - Wear a helmet
2 - Wear a backpack
3 - Roll up your right pant leg or wear shorts
4 - Bring two bottles of water
5 - Bring ID and medical card
6 - $40 cash for whatever
7 - Know your limits

I'm a far cry from college when I would ride my bike up in the foothills and the canyons of the Rockies everyday, but gotta start somewhere.

P.S. Later in the evening I did get sick - very sick. Not sure if it was from food, sun, biking or a combination of the above.

Secret Happiness - Biking - the wind, the road, the freedom

I have a secret happiness today. Spring fever set in after having one nice day this week. Since the last couple of weeks have been filled with the "Portland Mist" and cool weather, it is a relief to finally see the sunshine and feel it's warmth.

I've had the urge to ride a bike lately and so I drove home and changed into appropriate attire to test out a good bike. My entire life I've ridden bikes. I rode them on my paper routes, sometimes to school, at college, my first year or two in the DC area and as my nightly transportation in grad school. I vowed I wouldn't buy a car until I turned 30 years old, but that goal lasted until I was 28. Even then, the car sat in the parking lot most the time. When I moved to my condo, I stopped riding my bike and finally donated it to Goodwill or gave it away. That's been 3-4 years ago. Not good.

Anyway, I got to the shop and the store manager (Buck) helped me pick out a couple of bikes that could suit my fancy. He let me out the back door and I got to take some test drives around the back of Walmart, Michaels and Target. The minute I got on the last bike I felt at home. I didn't realized how much I missed that feeling of riding high up off the ground with the wind blowing against me. There is such a sense of freedom that can't be felt in a car.

I took it on one test drive this evening, but realized that the first day on a bike after a few years means sore body the next day.

Oh, and I also bought a back pack. Maybe this is a mid-life crisis? I'm reverting to how I dressed when I was 20. Hmmm.

Ok, I'm up late and Jay Leno just asked a guy why he rides motorcycles and he said "the wind, the road, the freedom."

Picture: Campground near Toronto, Canada where we rented some funky bikes way back in the 80s.

Weird: Right after I wrote this and AFTER I posted the picture, the guy told Jay Leno that he was raised in Toronto. Also, my little "Ode to Chris" entry ends up being old because my brother just barely posted in his blog for the first time in over a year. Meaningless coincidences, but nevertheless interesting.