Biking to work

I've finally started biking to work after all these years of threatening to do it. Work is now only 6.5 miles away by car, and 8.5 by bike, so there's no longer any excuse. The reason the bike trip is longer is the lack of a shoulder on one of the roads, and the bridge construction over the highway, where cars often drift in and out of their lanes. These factors make it more prudent to cross the highway one exit closer, and go around the reservoir on the other side of the highway. It's a beautiful ride, so I don't mind the extra two miles each way.

On the way home the other day, my rear tire went completely flat. I'm still not sure how it happened, as it was parked at a bike rack when it went flat. Maybe someone didn't like the way I parked, and stuck their pocket knife in my tire. I got that fixed this past weekend, and bought some equipment as well -- front and rear lights, a reflective vest, a handlebar mirror, and a water bottle holder. Oh, and a much-needed pair of bike shorts, even though I have a cushy seat. I'm all set for a good week of biking to work. For the past 4 weeks, I have biked 2, 1, 1, and 2 times. I'm shooting for 3 or 4 times this week. Adding in 1 day a week working at home, that's 140 driving miles avoided, for about 120 pounds of CO2 not emitted.

When I arrived this morning, my legs didn't feel like jelly any more. I ride an average of about 12 mph, including stop lights, uphills and downhills. It seems like I'm working, but I use my low gears as much as possible to keep a fairly steady pedaling pace and effort. The first day I rode, my legs were quite wobbly when I got to work. Today, no problem, so my legs are definitely getting in shape, and maybe so is my cardio-vascular system. The return trip seems to be more uphill than the way to work; certainly the half mile is three very steep hills in a row, so I'm always huffing and puffing when I get home. There is a gravel path up a very, very steep hill, which is a shortcut, but I cannot yet make it all the way up. One of these days...