… and a progress update: I passed the 50-mile mark today, woohoo! One of the nice things about riding a bike is noticing all of the things you’re totally oblivious to when you’re driving a car. Here are a few:
- Other cyclists are really friendly, except the super serious people who ride professional racing bikes and wear spandex. They never say “hi” back because they’re too busy being serious. Maybe it’s just carrying over from their accounting jobs.
- Pedestrians, on the other hand, aren’t friendly at all, with one exception — the guy who called out “Bye, beautiful!” as I rode past him.
- Goslings are really cute and fluffy-looking, but their parents are pretty darn scary. I think my mph went up by 10 miles when the mama (or papa) goose came flapping and hissing at me when I rode past the goose family.
- For all the talk about people in SUVs driving like they own the road, I’ve noticed they give me more space than the Prius drivers. They drive like they’re trying to murder me because they’re angry that I emit fewer greenhouse gases than they do.
- Long, gradual hills are waaaay harder than short, steep hills. If you have warning for the short ones, you can get up enough speed to make it most of the way up and then pedal like crazy for a few seconds to get to the top. The long slopes just make you pedal and pedal and pedal, and they really lower your average mph.
That’s it for now. There are some really beautiful spots along my ride, so I’ll post some pics as soon as I get a bike bag that leaves my camera more accessible than it is in my backpack that I strap down onto my rack with bungie cords.
Funny! I like the one about Prius drivers.
i’m jealous, i want a bike! they’re super expensive here in the UK tho, go figure… I think those guys in spandex can’t be too friendly because, well they’re in spandex and probably a bit embarrassed to be spotted in it! lots of love
akshully… i got on a bike this last week for the first time in forever, as evidenced by these photos on flickr.
Congrats, I think I’m jealous that you’re emitting fewer greenhouse gases too…but I won’t run you off the road;)
Wow, that looks like a great deal!
I saw a person on a bike up ahead while I was driving. From a distance it looked like they were pulling a kiddie trailer. As I neared, I saw that it was no kiddie–it was a lady, slightly reclining and reading a book I think. I bet the guy on the bike gets a good workout!
I admire you. Are there bike lanes near your house? Biking here in Houston is seriously dangerous. Most of the time there aren’t sidewalks, let alone bike lanes and there are many large pickup trucks with insane persons behind the wheel.
Love your blog.