Second Ride

Went further and faster today...blah blah blah. Okay, 16 miles in about an hour.

I've said elsewhere that God made Sunday mornings for hangovers, churchin' and bike rides. There was hardly any traffic but the lack of a left rearview mirror is severely impacting my comfort zone. Aside from that, hill climbing is a kick on the new bike once I figure out the right gear combination. That did not happen on going west on King Street but it was close going up Fairview (formerly Edmonds) and Fifth, and it was perfect going up the baby hill on West Fifth (where I parked for my driving test back in the Stone Age).

Another thing throwing me off are the shifters. The thumb on the right makes it harder to pedal but the left thumb makes it easier, and the brake shifters are the reverse. If I want to speed cycle, it's right thumb/left hand. For the hills, it's left thumb/right hand. Shimano did that because (I think) they want you to be able to slow down and not wear yourself out on hills. It's different.

My plan is to take on more hills and prepare for the ride to Bowers Mansion by the end of June.

As for the stream of consciousness...nada again. I feel more like a "real" bicyclist on the Kona but am still struggling to relax and enjoy the ride. I'm tight and tired now when I should be feeling mellow but that will come in time after I figure things out. The big upside is the hour I spent riding cancelled out three slices of French Toast so there will be more of that riding.

Sixteen miles and whaddya get: another day old and deeper in ache. So it don't rhyme. Sue me.

The single word to describe this ride: pumped.