Thoughts on bicycle riding

[algeh]

I finally rode my bicycle today. Judging for how far I was able to get, I never use most of those muscles the rest of the time. If I keep this up, I'm going to have a totally new relationship with my thighs (this is fine, because the current state of that relationship sucks).

Also, while they say that you never forget how to ride a bicycle, they never mention whether or not you forget how to get on and off of one (for good reason). Someone reminded me a few weeks back that you swing your leg over the back to get on, but I had a moment of panic in which I was not sure I could undo this without looking to get back off again, since it's pretty time-sensitive. I rode off into the grass just in case, but I got it all sorted out.

I need some way to indicate to others that I am a total bicycle idiot and they should stay out of my way, because I may not be able to stay out of theirs as well as I should (which I will work on).

I should get a map of the Eugene-area bike paths and routes. I rode on the one by my apartment today, probably toward the university.

I hope to be in good enough shape to bicycle to school in a few weeks. This should lower my stress level considerably, because I really hate trying to find a parking place near campus. With luck, it will also save me some money and justify some of my existing eating habits.

However, I now have an absurdly sore ass. This better get better with time, or I'm switching to one of those little scooters.

(I should be writing a lesson plan right now, but I really don't want to. I hate the format they need to be in on observation days, because it includes all kinds of cruft I don't actually want to look at while teaching the lesson, so I have to write one for my supervisor and another to actually teach the lesson from.)

Comments

[unkle-social.livejournal.com]

your butt is the first muscle to forget how to ride a bike.
but it remembers fast.

[algeh]

I will keep this in mind. I was thinking that I was pretty sure it didn't used to hurt like this to ride a bike, or I probably would have spent more time doing other things as a foolish youth rather than riding my bike in circles (my childhood neighborhood was too hilly to have biking be a very effective way of getting places, particularly before I had one with multiple gears, so if I actually had a goal I was either on foot or bus).

[qousqous.livejournal.com]

The ass will get better, but if you ride tomorrow it will HURT SO MUCH. Three days later, it'l be fine. Then it won't get sore much at all again unless you're off the bike for more than a couple weeks.

[algeh]

So, is this a suggestion that I shouldn't ride for a few days to give it time to heal, or that I should ride it anyway and it'll get better if I ignore it for a few days?

[qousqous.livejournal.com]

You should ride if you can stand the pain, but either way about it it'll be gone in a few days.

[clipdude.livejournal.com]

Eugene Bike Map (PDF)

You can also get a paper copy of this map free at most area bike stores.

[algeh]

Neat! I'll probably pick one up when I go to see about buying a lock after I build up enough endurance that I can actually go places (a lock is just a heavy thing strapped to your bicycle if you always end up at home when you stop riding).

[greatblondelf.livejournal.com]

Just try to avoid the newbie mistake of trying to sit on the seat, and balance while trying to get your feet on the pedals. Repeat after me, "the seat is for resting part of my weight on while pedaling moderately. Technically, I do not need to touch it at all for the entirety of the ride, except that then my legs would explode, killing onlookers. There really isn't a good reason to be on it at all for the first 30 feet of the ride."

There, that felt better.

Yeah, your butt will be feeling better soon, no matter how hard you ride on the seat.