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magidYesterday was my first bike ride of the year. Actually, probably more than a year; I didn't manage to get out much last year at all. I wish I weren't such an expert procrastinator.
Of course, it would be the hottest day we've had so far; just the walk to the bike store made me unpleasantly sweaty. I'd forgotten to put on sunblock, too. But the bike was ready, healthy after its check-up, and I was glad to get out, even for a short, introductory ride.
Hooray for exercise that brings a breeze along! It felt so good to be out moving, swooping, enjoying the speed of it all. Oh, and navigating the potholes, which is especially critical for me riding a skinny-wheeled racing bike; they can hurt! (Wrists as well as the more obvious parts of the anatomy).
The plan: a short-ish ride with Queue out to Arlington Center and then home (which for a first ride, especially in the heat and sun, would be plenty), and figure out something for dinner.
The reality: The out to Arlington Center part worked fine. Parts of the Cambridge part of Mass Ave. have been reasonably recently repaved, so there was good surface most of the way.
We stopped to cross Mass Ave. and have water, and I failed to notice for a long block or two that my odometer had gone missing. I walked back and found that it had dropped off and smashed. It had never managed to get off the bike before I had the bike store replace the battery. Sigh. I walked back to the bikes, and Queue convinced me to stop at the bike store for a replacement.
The ride back was even better than the way out, since we weren't heading into the sun, and it's a barely noticeable downhill going back to Cambridge. Plus I was warmed up (hard not to be, considering the weather), and feeling more confident. Plus I managed a left off Mass Ave. during rush hour, which is little scary without an exoskeleton.
We went in to the bike store, and I talked with three different people. The first eventually said he could give me a 20% discount on a new (more expensive model) odometer. This was not acceptable: they had done work on the odometer, and I had assumed they gave it to me in good working order. The second wandered off after hearing my story. It turned out he went out to get the manager, who eventually came inside and heard what had happened. He looked at the odometer housing, realized it had become inflexible and that they should've made sure it was secure, and gave me a new odometer. Luckily, I didn't have to ask for it; that would've been hard. He said that I'd have to leave the bike with them to get it installed (it uses a different housing), and I decided I'd rather have my bike available, so now I get to figure out how to install the odometer. I wonder how long it will take me...
Oh, and lest I forget: I still want to raise the seat about an inch; my legs weren't as extended as they should've been on each revolution, and it was more tiring that way. I still miss the old saddle. I wish it hadn't broken.
So, after much delay, we left the bike store and headed back to my house. Here's where I get to mention how many of the road surfaces around Cambridge suck, since there are so many potholes and construction sites. It was a jouncy ride back.
I was tired and sweaty, and the fridge almost bare, but after stretching I started some pizza dough, figuring that as long as I have some cheese, there's always something around I can toss on pizza. Which was true, but barely; I definitely need to restock. Dinner was pizza with scallions, capers, and olives (plus onion powder and hot sauce in the crust), using spicy red pepper and eggplant spread in lieu of tomato sauce. At least the atmosphere was pleasant, eating out on the porch while listening to the neighbor's accordion bistro music.
I'm looking forward to the next ride, and to regaining the biking strength I used to have.
And totally off-topic: I have a Six Flags New England discount pass that I'm not likely to need. It's reuseable, offering discounts for up to 8 tickets per visit, good through the end of October. Anyone want it?
Does anyone else still think of this as "the amusement park that used to be Riverside"?
Of course, it would be the hottest day we've had so far; just the walk to the bike store made me unpleasantly sweaty. I'd forgotten to put on sunblock, too. But the bike was ready, healthy after its check-up, and I was glad to get out, even for a short, introductory ride.
Hooray for exercise that brings a breeze along! It felt so good to be out moving, swooping, enjoying the speed of it all. Oh, and navigating the potholes, which is especially critical for me riding a skinny-wheeled racing bike; they can hurt! (Wrists as well as the more obvious parts of the anatomy).
The plan: a short-ish ride with Queue out to Arlington Center and then home (which for a first ride, especially in the heat and sun, would be plenty), and figure out something for dinner.
The reality: The out to Arlington Center part worked fine. Parts of the Cambridge part of Mass Ave. have been reasonably recently repaved, so there was good surface most of the way.
We stopped to cross Mass Ave. and have water, and I failed to notice for a long block or two that my odometer had gone missing. I walked back and found that it had dropped off and smashed. It had never managed to get off the bike before I had the bike store replace the battery. Sigh. I walked back to the bikes, and Queue convinced me to stop at the bike store for a replacement.
The ride back was even better than the way out, since we weren't heading into the sun, and it's a barely noticeable downhill going back to Cambridge. Plus I was warmed up (hard not to be, considering the weather), and feeling more confident. Plus I managed a left off Mass Ave. during rush hour, which is little scary without an exoskeleton.
We went in to the bike store, and I talked with three different people. The first eventually said he could give me a 20% discount on a new (more expensive model) odometer. This was not acceptable: they had done work on the odometer, and I had assumed they gave it to me in good working order. The second wandered off after hearing my story. It turned out he went out to get the manager, who eventually came inside and heard what had happened. He looked at the odometer housing, realized it had become inflexible and that they should've made sure it was secure, and gave me a new odometer. Luckily, I didn't have to ask for it; that would've been hard. He said that I'd have to leave the bike with them to get it installed (it uses a different housing), and I decided I'd rather have my bike available, so now I get to figure out how to install the odometer. I wonder how long it will take me...
Oh, and lest I forget: I still want to raise the seat about an inch; my legs weren't as extended as they should've been on each revolution, and it was more tiring that way. I still miss the old saddle. I wish it hadn't broken.
So, after much delay, we left the bike store and headed back to my house. Here's where I get to mention how many of the road surfaces around Cambridge suck, since there are so many potholes and construction sites. It was a jouncy ride back.
I was tired and sweaty, and the fridge almost bare, but after stretching I started some pizza dough, figuring that as long as I have some cheese, there's always something around I can toss on pizza. Which was true, but barely; I definitely need to restock. Dinner was pizza with scallions, capers, and olives (plus onion powder and hot sauce in the crust), using spicy red pepper and eggplant spread in lieu of tomato sauce. At least the atmosphere was pleasant, eating out on the porch while listening to the neighbor's accordion bistro music.
I'm looking forward to the next ride, and to regaining the biking strength I used to have.
And totally off-topic: I have a Six Flags New England discount pass that I'm not likely to need. It's reuseable, offering discounts for up to 8 tickets per visit, good through the end of October. Anyone want it?
Does anyone else still think of this as "the amusement park that used to be Riverside"?