starting: biking to work.
Well, I bit the bullet. I got a new Eddie Bauer backpack at Target: It’s perfect! Nice and compact for my laptop and bare essentials for the workday (deodorant and an extra shirt among other things). It took a little longer than I would have liked, but seriously, I haven’t really been on this bike for over a year. It’s in great shape and rode well. I figure my timing will get better as I do this more often.
I’ve been meaning to do this for years. I only live five miles from work (albeit uphill pretty much the WHOLE WAY). But with a pending adoption and gas prices over $4.00, it just seemed like the right time to start.
That’s actually the hardest part: Starting. This morning as I was taking out the trash I began making excuses as to why I needed to drive into work. It’s humid (it was). I’m tired (I am). I have to bring more stuff than I can carry in my pack (I didn’t). Over and over, I kept coming up with these excuses. But I knew that today was the day. I ate some pancakes (AWESOME BTW, Jenna!), put on my clip shoes and ipod (Timbaland, Linkin Park, and Angels&Airwaves), and set out for my ride.
It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be, but it wasn’t easy. My legs hurt. I sweat. I got thirsty. But I did it. Got on my bike and rode a good five miles to work after not riding more than 100 feet in the past year. And I think I’m hooked again. Getting on that bike was perhaps one of my biggest accomplishments this summer. I know I need to and will do this more often…though I do hope it rains tomorrow.
When have you had a difficult time starting something? What was the pay off?
You know they sell rain gear for bikers, right?
I’ve been intending to start biking the 5 miles to work myself this summer, and i’ve been coming up with all the same excuses as you. My top excuses are probably that i’d have to wake up earlier, and for nights I have plans after work my schedule would be too tight… Oh, and the sweat – i sweat a lot… An extra shirt would be a must. (not a pun) I did go out a few mornings for a few miles training a few weeks back, and i’m just waiting for the right day to start… Thanks for your inspiration.
Good for you! That is sweet I wish I could do that and have client follow me around on there bikes to look at homes.
Yes, I rolled my eyes at the bag, but I’m glad you are biking. You have to bike at least there at back 10 times to pay off the bag in gas savings, so I’ll be counting.
I’ve been meaning to get up early and walk and listen to sermons, books, etc. on the Ipod. Once you download a bunch of sermons and stuff for me, I’ll have no more excuses either.
Great exersize! One of the things driving health care premiums up is our lack of committment to this, leading to being overweight which causes so many other issues….
I tried once but was so sweaty once I got to work I didn’t know what to do….What do yo do? Not to mention helmet hair…
I am only three miles….
perhaps phase 3 could include a staff exercise room with showers. now that would be sweet!
i love to bike. we are only 5 miles ourselves but the hills are so intense that walking them just about kills me.
what i’d really like to do is get a bike with a motor…a shadow sounds pretty good to me.
)
Good for you!! The biggest obstacle is getting on the bike. After that it’s all downhill (or uphill…depending which way you’re going).
Great, now I have a Queen song stuck in my head.