Rode hard and put away wet

[darkemeralds]

Hah! I just checked two more things off my Becoming a Cyclist list:

• I rode in the dark with my headlight and taillight on
• I rode in the rain

And I rode in the dark in the rain on a busy street.

I am kind of made of win tonight.

ETA: And I didn't feel timid. Perhaps that's silly. But I'm discovering that, as in many another activity involving moving through the world, in city cycling, hesitancy is sometimes more dangerous than bold action.

Comments

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

I was thinking of you today as I drove into work, seeing the many, many cyclists (as one does, especially when one's workplace is literally on the Esplanade!). Sorry I've not commented to your posts until now, but basically: GO YOU!! You are made of win! I commend you on your research, the purchase, and taking to the street. I really don't think I could do it. Plus I'd rather walk; I'm just not much of a cyclist in general.

But yay to you! :)

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

Oooh! Do you work at OMSI? *looks around* Um...sorry! Not meaning to be stalkery, but I can't think of another workplace that fits the bill.

Anyway, I, too, am an avid walker, but my feet have kind of caved on me and cycling is giving me a chance to aerobicize and possibly eventually take a little of the excess weight off the feet so I can get back to walking.

I love walking on the floating part of the Esplanade when a speed boat goes by. But that is because I am a giant six year old.

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

I work right next to OMSI at the Opera. :) Sorry, I thought I'd made a lot of references to that, but maybe not, lol.

I'm not an avid walker, actually, but if I'm not going to drive, I'd rather take the bus and walk in between. Whole thing about already having muscular thighs and I don't want them to have any incentive to get larger. Yes, I have issues. :P I really admire all of the cyclists. All I can think of are hills...

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Okay, but be just a little timid--even Mr. Roxy will avoid riding at night.

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

Well, there's night and then there's dark. If I'm going to commute, it'll be dark both going to work and coming home in another couple of months. Fortunately, I have the protection of lots and lots of other cyclists, and a very bike-aware driving population. Also a very short commute through mostly quiet back streets. And lights!

And I'm going to buy one of those fashionable reflective vests.

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Fortunately, I have the protection of lots and lots of other cyclists,


Excellent. As I always tell my beloved, "meat bumpers are our friends."

OOoo, that seems rather harsh, seeing it there in shiny black and white....*koff*

[communicator.livejournal.com]

It made me LOL

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

LOLOLOL! OMG, I'm so sharing that with my sis the Real Cyclist.

[lamentables.livejournal.com]

Your cycle posts are making me feel very good for you.

I didn't learn to ride a bike until my late 30s and I'm not good at it, so I don't do it. I don't really do many bike-length journeys, mind you.

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

It's remarkable that you learned at that age--I can imagine that it was pretty scary--lot farther to fall! And more dignity to lose, too.

When I got on a bike for the first time in 39 years last week, and tried to ride it around the track at the bike store, I was wobbly and unconfident, and some of that feeling came right back to me, of learning to ride a bike. I don't even consciously remember it, I was so little, but the muscle memory and the emotion were still there, sort of an odd combination of fear, intrepidity, pride and embarrassment.

In the week since then, I've gone much more to "Oh shit, another incline!" but bit by bit it's coming to me.

[lamentables.livejournal.com]

Very scary - you have so much more awareness of the risks. Even though I could manage to stay upright and get to the next village and back, I couldn't really deal with feeling perpetually on the brink of losing control.

I learned so that I could cycle to the next village once a week to see my therapist. Then I gave up and walked there for few years. These days I take the car. I love walking it, but the 5-mile round trip takes just a bit too much time out of a working day.

[malanai.livejournal.com]

I've been so impressed with your biking adventures! And taking notes...in Bordeaux, that's going to be one of my main forms of transportation...

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh, yes! And where better than a French city? I mean, they "get" cycling in France, I think almost as much as in the Netherlands. How exciting! Will you just buy a bike once you're there?