Buy a bike and use it...

Hmmm. After a few days of not riding (I walked to work yesterday because I was so tired), I had an easy ride into work this morning – but now it’s looking like rain is on the way. It won’t be too bad to ride home in a drizzle, but I wonder how slick the roads will get?

Hardly any discomfort from the bike saddle this morning! A pleasant surprise, I thought it would take several weeks to grow accustomed. I’m only riding a mile each way, so I’m sure if we tried a longer ride this weekend I would ache. People Who Know have advised getting a Brooks saddle, and they are lovely looking, but will have to wait until I’ve paid the bike off.

This is my initial plan – ride to work every other day, ride one day on the weekend. Riding in this morning felt a little more comfortable. The bike is well-balanced and I feel I’ve got control of it; the shifting is very straightforward, just a twist of the ring on the righthand grip. I didn’t have much to carry in this morning, so just wore my daypack instead of using the panniers. Thigh muscles are still quite wobbly though! Building up endurance is going to take a month or so.

No way could I ride this morning; my sit-upon is intensely sore after yesterday and my special bike-riding muscles are still shaky. I did make it home last night though, after figuring out how to place the panniers correctly and showing off the bike in the parking lot to a co-worker who is an experienced rider. I waited until he went back in the building for my completely ungraceful clamber onto the bike. And I’m trying hard not to think about how I look when riding.

Rode to work this morning – I have to get accustomed to the panniers, I kick them at every spin of the pedals. Had my lunch, a spare t-shirt and my DS in one and my purse/backpack in the other – I might be able to get a box or bag that straps to the rack instead.

Also, helmets, rack for the car, panniers for mine, locks for both, tire pump for his. A very short ride once we got them home, just to confirm we still know how to manage this without immediate physical damage to our old bodies. They both will need a bit of adjustment once we’ve ridden about for a week or so – my handle bars need to come up a bit and also both our seats.

I may ride to work tomorrow rather than walk!