I Want To Ride My Bicycle: Just Like Starting Over
By Mitch Berg
Last year, I managed to commute via bike pretty much every day from late April to early October. I managed to get into the best shape I’ve been in in decades. It was great.
This year? Ugh. Not so much.
A family commitment left me driving to appointments early every morning for the past 11 weeks or so. That squeezed out most daily biking, of course; I got in the occasional weekend ride, but riding once a week doesn’t have the same effect as being out there every single day.
But school’s back in session, and things are clipping along generally fairly well – so yesterday, it was back in the saddle.
And…ugh. I feel like it’s mid-April all over again. Although to my credit, I managed the end-of-day climb up Cathedral Hill without any huffing and puffing, so maybe I held up better than I thought.
Anyway – the plan is to ride every possible day until the weather makes it utterly impossible – and by utterly, I mean “drifts over my 27″ wheels”.
Or at least that’s what I mean at the moment.
September 15th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Its hard to even imagine drifts on a day as beautiful as this one.
We should all push back from the computer and go enjoy this while we can.
Good for you for being so dedicated.
September 15th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
You are such an earthy-mossy patchouli-reeking granola-munching tree hugger!
September 15th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
From Queen to John Lennon, eh?
How about Imagine There’s No Fat-Bottomed Girls
September 15th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Foot, I can picture Berg in his tie-dyed t-shirt, peddling along, NPR blaring from his handlebar radio.
September 15th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Kooooooooooooouba!!!!!
Dammit!
You beat me to it.
Foiled again.
September 15th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
That’s one tricked-out ride you’ve got there, Mitch.
http://snipurl.com/rvrr1
September 15th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
In about 12 days, I get to ride again…moving from 60 miles from work to 2 miles from work. Hopefully soon I won’t look like an overweight Taurus driver…..
September 15th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Two miles, Bubba? No offense, that’s hardly even a long walk.
September 15th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Ummmmm, that’s your bike, AC. I can tell by the frilly accessories.
September 15th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
The “I know you are but what is Mitch?” riposte, J.R.? You have to do better than that if you don’t want to surrender the title “The Poor Man’s Mitch Berg” to that guy with a “passion for heirloom tomatoes.”
September 15th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Gimme a break. I’m commenting between client calls.
September 15th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
That’s rich coming from the guy who’s only response to valid points about Obama is “What about Bush? You guys are all wingnut bigots!”
September 15th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Angry Clown, a man would have to have a lot of confidence in his masculinity to ride a bike like that. Or to wear a dress while riding it, for that matter.
September 15th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Foiled again.
*cackles and twirls handlebar moustache*
September 15th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
AC: yes, but it beats no ride at all.
September 15th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
You know how hard you gotta look for the fringe and the My Little Pony chain-guard?
September 15th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
And if that fringe has any lead content you are violating federal law.
September 16th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Lead is actually how they get PVC to be flexible. So yes, Mitch’s hot new ride (and the one I’m dreaming of, of course) probably violates federal law.
AC, you’re right. 2 miles is hardly a good walk, but it’s more than I’m getting now. Call this our second agreement this year, after “the Mets suck”.
(of course, as a Cubs fan, I say that EVERY year, even if the Mets make the playoffs or–God forbid–win the series)
September 16th, 2009 at 11:46 am
AC, you’re right.
Clever use of the ‘bubbasan’ alias, Angry Clown. For a minute there I believed it wasn’t you.