I have discovered that I DON'T like riding down hill. Even the gradual downward slope of my grassy yard is enough to freak me. I usually make it about 3 or 4 feet onto the grass before my heart starts pounding and I have to get off the bike to walk it down the rest of the way to my door.
Right turns are another of current phobia of mine when riding. Left turns I'll take at full tilt (not that it's overly fast w/ my skills yet), but when a right turn is coming up I apply the breaks and slow down almost to a crawl before making it.
Rode to the bank this morning. It's 2 residential (not city) blocks past the Speedway station. On the ride back I was nearly to the gas station when this 1980's ford pickup pulls along side to pass me. No biggie. I know that bikes are slower than vehicles and since I'm just starting I'm quite a bit slower than someone whose been doing this for awhile. It's not like I'm gonna play chicken with him. Hmmm, lets see who would win this fight, aluminum bike or steel pickup truck? Any guesses? At any rate he pulls along side of me and when I was about even with his gas tank he decided that oh ya, now he wants to turn into the gas station that we're approaching! Stupid freaking moron! Hi Jerk, either complete the pass, go up to the corner and around to the main entrance to Speedway or don't freaking do a 1/2 pass then try to run me off the road! Wait for your turn.
Unfortunately, once the girl's Summer program ends this Friday I won't have nearly as much opportunity to ride until School starts back up the 19th of August.
Good news for you tho Max, Deb says that one of the local hospitals sells bike helmets for $8. She's going to see if she can find the paperwork for me tonight or tomorrow lol.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
How to receive humility
Max just about had a coronary when she discovered that I don't own a cycling helmet. Mind you, she now thinks I have a death wish after I told her that the driving ticket I have to pay for is NOT for speeding, but for no seat belt LOL. Perhaps it's stupid of me, but a new helmet is going to have to wait for next payday. Until then I wont be driving on any major roads anyway. Heavens knows I won't be ready for anything beyond my neighborhood streets for AT LEAST that long!
The girls & I walked the bike down to the gas station yesterday to air up the bike tires. I didn't think to take along the tire gauge because, of course, there should be one attached to the hose. Nope, sure wasn't . On the way to Speedway, Kira would sit on my bike and pedal (while I held on to the seat) for a block and then Sam would hop up on the seat & put her feet up on the top cross bar and ride for a block. After airing up the tires we walked over to the library (right across the street) so the girls could play on the lib comps. When we were done there we walked back to Speedway (leaving the bike chained @ the lib) so the girls could get a slushie and I could get some water. When we returned to the bike Sam stuck the slushie in the drink holder and climbed up on the seat. Made for a great picture.
This morning I pulled out my tire pressure gauge, ya, WAAAAY under filled the tires. 30-35#. It calls for 47-50# lol. So while the girls were at their Summer program I rode the bike back to the gas station, this time taking my gauge with me. Let me tell you, I wasn't too sure that I was going to make it the mile there. I forgot how much bike riding works your thighs. Talk about getting a humbling experience! I was so sure that it wasn't going to be that difficult for me. HA! The ride home was easier, but it wasn't an automatic turnaround. As I was getting ready to leave the gas station I saw Debi pulling into the lib so I went to go visit with her for about 20 minutes before heading back home.
Max Informs me that sitting on the bike seat I should have to stand on tip toe inorder to touch the ground. I raised the seat to what I thought was the right height last night but after riding today I'm pretty sure that it needs to be raised a bit more.
The girls & I walked the bike down to the gas station yesterday to air up the bike tires. I didn't think to take along the tire gauge because, of course, there should be one attached to the hose. Nope, sure wasn't . On the way to Speedway, Kira would sit on my bike and pedal (while I held on to the seat) for a block and then Sam would hop up on the seat & put her feet up on the top cross bar and ride for a block. After airing up the tires we walked over to the library (right across the street) so the girls could play on the lib comps. When we were done there we walked back to Speedway (leaving the bike chained @ the lib) so the girls could get a slushie and I could get some water. When we returned to the bike Sam stuck the slushie in the drink holder and climbed up on the seat. Made for a great picture.
This morning I pulled out my tire pressure gauge, ya, WAAAAY under filled the tires. 30-35#. It calls for 47-50# lol. So while the girls were at their Summer program I rode the bike back to the gas station, this time taking my gauge with me. Let me tell you, I wasn't too sure that I was going to make it the mile there. I forgot how much bike riding works your thighs. Talk about getting a humbling experience! I was so sure that it wasn't going to be that difficult for me. HA! The ride home was easier, but it wasn't an automatic turnaround. As I was getting ready to leave the gas station I saw Debi pulling into the lib so I went to go visit with her for about 20 minutes before heading back home.
Max Informs me that sitting on the bike seat I should have to stand on tip toe inorder to touch the ground. I raised the seat to what I thought was the right height last night but after riding today I'm pretty sure that it needs to be raised a bit more.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
bike
There is now a magenta 10 speed sitting on my front porch. Don't care much for the color, but for $40 I'm not going to bitch to loudly. I'm kind of scared of it tho. The last time I really rode a bike I was probably 12 or 13... 20 yrs ago! Monday, after dropping the girls off at their summer program I'll be taking the bike out for the first time. Woo hoo.
Friday, July 23, 2010
UGH
Today was so not a good day for my eating plan :(.
The Summer program that the girls are in had their dancing and singing program for the parents today. We were running late this morning and I didn't think to grab a breakfast bar or shake. The thing was being put on at a park I wasn't familiar with so I had to follow the bus there. Mind you, it didn't start till 10:30 & we got there around 9. So instead of grabbing a wrap from the nearby bk I should have driven home and then back. Nope, slacker me. After said program they fed us lunch. Slice of cheese pizza and a Pepsi. Oy freaking vey! I felt so flipping crappy afterwards. All that grease and then caffeine on top of it all. Felt sick and had one hell of a headache.
I didn't work till 4:30 so when we came home I laid down for a nap. Didn't help much, and I didn't want to get up after.
This past Sunday Bug & I stopped by Deb's house so that we could use her jogging stroller. Figured it was time to up my exercise and try running instead of just walking. Ya, made it a block if I'm lucky and that was only intermittently.
The Summer program that the girls are in had their dancing and singing program for the parents today. We were running late this morning and I didn't think to grab a breakfast bar or shake. The thing was being put on at a park I wasn't familiar with so I had to follow the bus there. Mind you, it didn't start till 10:30 & we got there around 9. So instead of grabbing a wrap from the nearby bk I should have driven home and then back. Nope, slacker me. After said program they fed us lunch. Slice of cheese pizza and a Pepsi. Oy freaking vey! I felt so flipping crappy afterwards. All that grease and then caffeine on top of it all. Felt sick and had one hell of a headache.
I didn't work till 4:30 so when we came home I laid down for a nap. Didn't help much, and I didn't want to get up after.
This past Sunday Bug & I stopped by Deb's house so that we could use her jogging stroller. Figured it was time to up my exercise and try running instead of just walking. Ya, made it a block if I'm lucky and that was only intermittently.
My sister, Deb and I have been talking about joining a gym together. Her fitness level is far above mine, but we both think that it might be a good idea to have a work out buddy to drag (mine especially) eachother's lazy butts to exercise lol.
Tomorrow evening I'm supposed to go and look at a bicycle for short people. Hopefully that'll work out. Well, since it's after 1am Saturday morning it'll be tonight.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
How do I begin?
About a month or so ago I noticed that shortly after eating to much sugar I was becoming very sleepy and would have these horrific headaches. I am not a small woman, well, I'm short (5'2 ish) but Lane Bryant is my type of store. Since type 2 diabetes runs in my family I decided that this was probably a "Hi Stupid, stop while you're ahead" moment and that some major changes were needed in my lifestyle. Better to make those changes now when, if I really want a cheat it's okay, rather than later when it'll send me into a diabetic coma. A real biggie for me was cutting out soda. Mt. Dew was my love! Sugar intake has greatly been reduced, I'm trying to keep tabs on it and keep to the correct portion sizes. Not the easiest things to do!
Of course I made the mistake of telling on of my sisters, Max, that I was trying to be healthier and she decided that I should join in a marathon with her. "HELLO.... Remember, this is the sister you send all your fat clothes to since you lost weight?"lol. So now I've taken up exercising. Nothing fancy so far. A fair amount of walking and I found a 6 level parking garage that I've done the stairs on twice. That bitch kicked my ass and handed it to me on a plate!
I've been looking into joining a gym, but since I'm a single mother of two I'm not to sure how well that will fit in my finances at the moment. Plus I'd have to pay for daycare when working out at said gym. I know it's quite cliche, but I've noticed those happy endorphins that are released post work out. Not quite to the level of those other happy endorphins, but good none the less ;).
Another thing that has helped to motivate me onto this heath kick is that my 8 year old daughter can easily put away an adult portion of food at each meal. She's not overweight yet, but when/if her metabolism slows down she'll be in big time trouble. How can I get mad at her for overeating and eating crap when I'm shoving the same stuff in my face. We are far from perfect in our eating habits now, but we've made some major strides. No more soda stocked (the 5 yr old was quite disappointed when she went shopping w/ me and I refused to buy some), a lot more produce and healthy snacks. Yes, I do still slip up (sometimes just because, dammit I want some french fries) but I feel it the next day and it seems like each time is further apart from the last. I keep a flat of bottled water in the trunk (along with crystal light individual flavorings), that way when we're out and about if any of us are thirsty there's stuff to keep us from grabbing that soda from the gas station.
Max suggested beginning this blog as a way to keep track of my 'trials and tribulations'. We'll see how long this lasts ;)... The blog writing that is.
Of course I made the mistake of telling on of my sisters, Max, that I was trying to be healthier and she decided that I should join in a marathon with her. "HELLO.... Remember, this is the sister you send all your fat clothes to since you lost weight?"lol. So now I've taken up exercising. Nothing fancy so far. A fair amount of walking and I found a 6 level parking garage that I've done the stairs on twice. That bitch kicked my ass and handed it to me on a plate!
I've been looking into joining a gym, but since I'm a single mother of two I'm not to sure how well that will fit in my finances at the moment. Plus I'd have to pay for daycare when working out at said gym. I know it's quite cliche, but I've noticed those happy endorphins that are released post work out. Not quite to the level of those other happy endorphins, but good none the less ;).
Another thing that has helped to motivate me onto this heath kick is that my 8 year old daughter can easily put away an adult portion of food at each meal. She's not overweight yet, but when/if her metabolism slows down she'll be in big time trouble. How can I get mad at her for overeating and eating crap when I'm shoving the same stuff in my face. We are far from perfect in our eating habits now, but we've made some major strides. No more soda stocked (the 5 yr old was quite disappointed when she went shopping w/ me and I refused to buy some), a lot more produce and healthy snacks. Yes, I do still slip up (sometimes just because, dammit I want some french fries) but I feel it the next day and it seems like each time is further apart from the last. I keep a flat of bottled water in the trunk (along with crystal light individual flavorings), that way when we're out and about if any of us are thirsty there's stuff to keep us from grabbing that soda from the gas station.
Max suggested beginning this blog as a way to keep track of my 'trials and tribulations'. We'll see how long this lasts ;)... The blog writing that is.
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