Sunday, July 12, 2009

Throwing Caution To The Wind

The other day we went on a bike ride.

I bought a bike a while ago because it was pretty.
Apparently, according to my sources, you shouldn't buy a bike because it's pretty. Just because it seems all comfy and upright doesn't mean it is comfy, and upright isn't necessarily the best position to ride (isn't any of this stuff written down somewhere?)

It was a beautiful day, and I was feeling more confident on my new bike, getting the kinks worked out on the fit, etc. It was supposed to be a little over four miles one way, and because we had done 10.26 miles the week before, I felt up for the challenge.

About five minutes into the ride, I realized I hadn't put on any sunscreen. I debated for a minute going back to the car to get sunscreen, but I figured it was only supposed to be a short ride, and I'd probably be O.K.

It was a little more than 7 miles one way when we reached the Hayward Interpretive Center with the wind at our backs (a 20mph westish wind according to the Oakland International Airport.) Coming back, fighting a really strong wind, took much longer. My arms and shoulders were killing me, I think from trying to hold myself upright on the bike in the wind. What was supposed to be a short ride ended up being 3 hours long, 15.35 miles, but it felt more like 30.

I am a walking billboard of a cautionary tale....

The moral of the story: always go back for the sunscreen!

I should have plush safety barricades surrounding me...or nice, soft, wooly safety cones!


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