Me too! (I biked to work today) -- LONG - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

07-12-2004, 06:55 AM

I know you've all heard it before, but here's my me-too story:

I'm 26, 5'8", 185lbs, just quit smoking 3 months ago. I used to ride
A LOT back in my teenage years (30+ miles a day road, and then hit
some trails at night with some friends). Needless to say, I didn't
keep that up much after getting a car. So at any rate, I'm pretty
well versed with biking.

About 3 months ago, when my wife and I moved, I found my old Trek road
bike in a closet. I took it out, aired up the tires and took it for a
spin. Man oh man was I ever out of shape. That whole illusion of
"yeah, I smoke, but I'm still in okay shape" was blown. I made it
less than 3 blocks before I nearly collapsed. But in those 3 blocks,
I remembered all the things I enjoyed about biking, and thought "Hey,
I could get used to this again!" So I started riding a bit. The
first "real" ride I went on lasted about a mile. I thought I was
going to die. I was sweating, panting, legs shaking, the whole nine
yards. Thankfully it started raining so I had an excuse to give up
and come home. A day or so later, I tried a three mile loop. It took
me the better part of 40 minutes (with a few stops). Yikes.
Perseverance pays off though, and I tried it again...and again...and
again, until I wanted to puke just thinking about seeing the same
houses again. But my time had DRASTICALLY improved. I was down to
hammering it out in around 15 minutes. I brought my ride up to 5.5
miles with no ill effects. So I rode this for a week or so, maybe
three days a week. Then things started to get busy at home and at
work. I didn't find time to ride anymore, so I was down to riding
maybe once or twice a week, and I could feel myself getting in old
habits again.

Finally, I made the decision to bike part of my 108 mile round-trip
commute to work. With the help of Mapquest, I staked out a route that
seemed a little more promising than the 55mph 4 lane highway I would
normally take. I drove it a few times and it seemed fairly do-able.
Decently wide shoulder, not too busy, not too hilly, and about 13
miles from a park that I can leave my car at to my office at work.

Friday I decided today was d-day. And promptly started coming up with
every excuse I could to NOT do it. My bike needs a new seat. I
should wait until I can afford some clipless pedals and shoes. Should
I buy another water bottle? What about a Camel Back? Those tires are
pretty bad. I don't have a chain tool. It won't fit in my car.
However, by Sunday night I had pretty much exhausted excuses and
decided that what the heck, I'll take my cell phone with, if I get
stranded, I can call my boss or a co worker, since they come pretty
much the same way and have them give me a lift. I packed up my
backpack with my clothes, lunch, wallet, cycle computer and security
badge, loaded my bike into my trunk and off I went.

I thought I was going to die. About 2 miles into this, I realized not
only had I forgotten to take my Advair (I have chronic asthma), but I
had also neglected to take my emergency inhaler. It's 72 and so humid
it looks like a sauna, and it's going up to 90 today. But I press on.
Apparently I missed a few hills when I was scoping out this route.
Like, ALL the hills. Okay, granted, northern IL isn't hilly, but I'm
pretty out of shape, so anything over 3" tall looks like a hill to me
at this point. However, around mile 9 or so, things started to get a
little easier. My breathing evened out, my stroke started to smooth
out, and I didn't have to downshift as much on hills anymore. Still
had to stand to make it up some of them, though. I stopped
concentrating exclusively on the road immediately ahead of me and
started noticing birds...corn fields...cows...that jackass in the red
minivan who keeps honking me and won't pass me.

So, at 8:21 a.m., 51:06 and 12.69 miles after I left my car, I arrived
at work, sweaty and awake. Now I'm trying to figure out how to pump
myself up for the ride BACK to my car at 4:30 this afternoon in 90
degree temperatures. Yee hah.

Anyhow, here's my observations. First, I REALLY need a new seat.
That thing is just murder on my rear. Second, a backpack isn't as
uncomfortable or inhibiting as I thought it'd be. Third, clipless
pedals are a life saver. Toe clips are damn near useless in my
opinion. Finally, it's doable for a good long while. I think if I
make it back tonight (not like I really have a choice, I kinda HAVE to
get back to my car), I can keep doing it for a long time to come and
REALLY get in shape again. Which makes me happy.

Anyhow, back to work. I'll give ya'll a follow-up tonight and let you
know how the return trip was.

-moitz-