I've been sick recently. My boyfriend, who has a long history of bad allergy problems, said that his allergies were acting up really bad last week. Well, guess what? It wasn't allergies. That's all I can say right there!
Needless to say, things have been sucking lately as far as bike riding goes. I want to go out but a) the wintery winds have struck here in Kansas and b) it's hard to do that when I'm sick as hell. I've been riding a stationary bike. It's ok, I guess, it's just really boring.
I miss bike commuting. I miss riding on Wichita's bike paths. If I get a co-op job I'll most definitely move out of this house and into my own apartment. I'll move into a place near a bike path and just bike commute everywhere.
I probably could bike commute if I wanted to still, but that would be a summer project. This is when the days are long and time will most definitely be in my favor.
For now, I look at this stationary bike in my living room and I cringe. Oh bike, how I miss riding thee!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Slight Changes
It's been a while since I've updated. I've gone through some changes that affect my cycling.
I decided to move out of my boyfriend's house. See, I was also living with his family. I love his family, but their lifestyle doesn't match my personality type. Since I'm an extreme introvert, I value total peace and quiet. It helps me recharge and retain my sanity. I need to live in an environment that is quiet and low-energy. But his family is always so busy. They're always up and about and moving and doing something CONSTANTLY! This tore my sanity apart. No, this doesn't mean that Eric and I have broken up after five years of dating, I just need some recharge space. I can't wait till he and I get married. We'll have our high-paying jobs and our big house with our own individual space rooms. That'll be nice.
The reason I moved there in the first place is because of high gas prices that loomed near $4 a gallon. This was back in the summer. Now that gas prices are lower it is easier for me to travel to and from work from my parents' house. They live about half an hour from where I work/attend school and it's about a 23 mile commute to do so. Plus my car has a new transmission in it, so its fuel efficiency has increased a good deal. I'm sure I'll be back at their house if gas prices shoot up again.
I'm still cycling, but like I said, my cycling habits have changed a bit. I'm not the commuter I was and now do it strictly for recreational purposes. I ride around the small town that my parents live in, and some of the time I even do it at night. I can ride there and not worry about being mugged, murdered, or raped. That's the joy of living in a small town :)
Anyway, I should go. I've got lots of studying to do before class tonight!
I decided to move out of my boyfriend's house. See, I was also living with his family. I love his family, but their lifestyle doesn't match my personality type. Since I'm an extreme introvert, I value total peace and quiet. It helps me recharge and retain my sanity. I need to live in an environment that is quiet and low-energy. But his family is always so busy. They're always up and about and moving and doing something CONSTANTLY! This tore my sanity apart. No, this doesn't mean that Eric and I have broken up after five years of dating, I just need some recharge space. I can't wait till he and I get married. We'll have our high-paying jobs and our big house with our own individual space rooms. That'll be nice.
The reason I moved there in the first place is because of high gas prices that loomed near $4 a gallon. This was back in the summer. Now that gas prices are lower it is easier for me to travel to and from work from my parents' house. They live about half an hour from where I work/attend school and it's about a 23 mile commute to do so. Plus my car has a new transmission in it, so its fuel efficiency has increased a good deal. I'm sure I'll be back at their house if gas prices shoot up again.
I'm still cycling, but like I said, my cycling habits have changed a bit. I'm not the commuter I was and now do it strictly for recreational purposes. I ride around the small town that my parents live in, and some of the time I even do it at night. I can ride there and not worry about being mugged, murdered, or raped. That's the joy of living in a small town :)
Anyway, I should go. I've got lots of studying to do before class tonight!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Exploring
Another thing I love about my bike: I love love love love LOVE exploring.
Today I explored one of the bike paths here in town. I went from start to finish. I rode through the Nature Center that this path runs through, from the Home Depot to the rich business area on East **st, from the business area past the movie theater area, to the suburb area that the path ends in. It really is a nice little path.
I rode a total of 32 miles on this trip. It's really been a while since I've gone on a very long bike ride, and I obviously didn't eat enough before I left, so I came close to passing out several times on the ride. I came back and ate like a pig and automatically felt better, ha.
I read somewhere that with my current weight, in order to be able to undergo such a long ride I'd have to consume somewhere near 3000 calories a day. I'm a fatty, and as a fatty I eat like one sometimes, so normally that isn't difficult for me to do. However, when you're poor and don't have many food options to choose from and must sometimes ration your food, it's hard to accomplish that. Maybe I'll research how I can get the calories I need for biking when I have such a small budget. Hmm...
Today I explored one of the bike paths here in town. I went from start to finish. I rode through the Nature Center that this path runs through, from the Home Depot to the rich business area on East **st, from the business area past the movie theater area, to the suburb area that the path ends in. It really is a nice little path.
I rode a total of 32 miles on this trip. It's really been a while since I've gone on a very long bike ride, and I obviously didn't eat enough before I left, so I came close to passing out several times on the ride. I came back and ate like a pig and automatically felt better, ha.
I read somewhere that with my current weight, in order to be able to undergo such a long ride I'd have to consume somewhere near 3000 calories a day. I'm a fatty, and as a fatty I eat like one sometimes, so normally that isn't difficult for me to do. However, when you're poor and don't have many food options to choose from and must sometimes ration your food, it's hard to accomplish that. Maybe I'll research how I can get the calories I need for biking when I have such a small budget. Hmm...
Monday, October 13, 2008
Catch Up
I haven't written in a while. That's because nothing significant has really happened to me.
Fall season has come on full storm. And by the word storm, I mean that almost literally! Tuesday and Wednesday morning I was unable to ride my bike. You see, it was raining. Now, rain doesn't bother me. Really. All I have to do to adapt is wear some clothes that I don't mind getting a little wet. But, when there's cold WIND to go along with cold RAIN, that's where we have the problem. Cold wind/rain mix bugs me because there's a risk of catching a cold and/or pneumonia. Not only that, but I've heard that hypothermia sucks and I'm not really looking to try it out myself :)
I was finally able to ride to places yesterday afternoon. I rode everywhere, including my chiropractor's appointment. He thought I was crazy when I told him I rode my bike there, but that's probably because of his location at one of the busiest intersections in town. I'd like to reiterate that I never ride on busy streets, just side streets and bike paths only :)
Today was a fun experience, too. We are on fall break at our school, but I had to report for work. I had to report at 8:00 this morning, and I wanted to ride my bike. So guess what I did? I got the bike out at 7:00 this morning! It was freezing cold, with no rain, but I got there safe and sound. Riding at sunup is so different from riding during the normal daylight hours. There's a significantly smaller amount of traffic than there is during the normal daylight hours, therefore I am not as nervous when I'm riding.
Fall season has come on full storm. And by the word storm, I mean that almost literally! Tuesday and Wednesday morning I was unable to ride my bike. You see, it was raining. Now, rain doesn't bother me. Really. All I have to do to adapt is wear some clothes that I don't mind getting a little wet. But, when there's cold WIND to go along with cold RAIN, that's where we have the problem. Cold wind/rain mix bugs me because there's a risk of catching a cold and/or pneumonia. Not only that, but I've heard that hypothermia sucks and I'm not really looking to try it out myself :)
I was finally able to ride to places yesterday afternoon. I rode everywhere, including my chiropractor's appointment. He thought I was crazy when I told him I rode my bike there, but that's probably because of his location at one of the busiest intersections in town. I'd like to reiterate that I never ride on busy streets, just side streets and bike paths only :)
Today was a fun experience, too. We are on fall break at our school, but I had to report for work. I had to report at 8:00 this morning, and I wanted to ride my bike. So guess what I did? I got the bike out at 7:00 this morning! It was freezing cold, with no rain, but I got there safe and sound. Riding at sunup is so different from riding during the normal daylight hours. There's a significantly smaller amount of traffic than there is during the normal daylight hours, therefore I am not as nervous when I'm riding.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Where to Ride
One bit of slack a cyclist faces: where to ride. In some places cyclists that ride out in the street are respected. In other places, like the city I reside in, cyclists get a lot of flack for riding in the street from these angry drivers that are all "*snort* OMG STAY OFF THE STREET IF YOU CAN'T KEEP UP WITH MY BEHEMOTH SUV OMG OMG OMG".
Here is what I do:
I don't ride on a busy street. I take mainly side street and bike path routes. I am scared of the drivers in Wichita and their selfish attitudes, therefore, I am scared of riding on busy streets.
There is only one busy street that I ride on, and in reality, it isn't all that busy. I ride on that street because the sidewalks aren't very well maintained and usually are littered with glass shards. After one shard of glass cut my tire and inner tube up I decided that I would be riding in the street on said street from there on out.
I've gotten a couple of honks and odd glares from a couple of people, but a majority of the people don't seem to care when I'm riding in the street. That's encouraging.
The other day I was riding on the side street, and I came to an intersection at one of the busy streets. I looked over to my right, saw cars, and then looked to my left. What I saw to my left astounded me--two older ladies were in their electric wheelchairs, riding in the street, against traffic, with a sidewalk just a few feet next to them. I know that Kansas Law states that pedestrians that walk in the street must walk against the flow of traffic, but it also states that a sidewalk must be walked upon whenever available. Guh.
I'll never understand some people.
Here is what I do:
I don't ride on a busy street. I take mainly side street and bike path routes. I am scared of the drivers in Wichita and their selfish attitudes, therefore, I am scared of riding on busy streets.
There is only one busy street that I ride on, and in reality, it isn't all that busy. I ride on that street because the sidewalks aren't very well maintained and usually are littered with glass shards. After one shard of glass cut my tire and inner tube up I decided that I would be riding in the street on said street from there on out.
I've gotten a couple of honks and odd glares from a couple of people, but a majority of the people don't seem to care when I'm riding in the street. That's encouraging.
The other day I was riding on the side street, and I came to an intersection at one of the busy streets. I looked over to my right, saw cars, and then looked to my left. What I saw to my left astounded me--two older ladies were in their electric wheelchairs, riding in the street, against traffic, with a sidewalk just a few feet next to them. I know that Kansas Law states that pedestrians that walk in the street must walk against the flow of traffic, but it also states that a sidewalk must be walked upon whenever available. Guh.
I'll never understand some people.
No Readers Yet
As far as I know, I don't have any readers yet. :( This sucks. Maybe updating my blog constantly will get me some readers. I hope...
But when I do get readers, here are a few questions they would probably have for me:
Q: Why is the title of your blog "fatty on a bike"?
A: That is because I am truly a fatty on a bike. I'm 5'6" and...well, I'm not willing to disclose my weight, but I'm at a pant size 18.
Q: Why do you ride your bike so much?
A: For two reasons: health reasons and economic reasons. Before I started riding I was at a pant size 22. Like I mentioned, I'm at an 18 now. I have all this extra energy and I'm actually awake when I get to class. Plus, there's the fact that I've gone from filling up my gas tank every five days to only filling it up every two to three weeks or so. My wallet loves me for that.
Q: When do you drive to places instead of riding?
A: I drive when I have to run an errand that requires stuff to be hauled, like going to the grocery store or something. I drive when I am not feeling well. (That usually happens around the middle of each month. Ha!) I drive when I'm going long distances. Finally, I drive when there is a legitamate concern for my safety. I have a night class on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and it is usually pitch black by the time I get out of said class. Muggings happen quite a bit in this area, so I'm sure a girl on a bike would be an easy target.
Q: What kind of bike do you ride?
A: I ride a Trek 4300 mountain bike. Eventually, when I get down to the weight that I want to get down to, I'm going to buy a nice road bike for myself.
This is all I can think of right now.
But when I do get readers, here are a few questions they would probably have for me:
Q: Why is the title of your blog "fatty on a bike"?
A: That is because I am truly a fatty on a bike. I'm 5'6" and...well, I'm not willing to disclose my weight, but I'm at a pant size 18.
Q: Why do you ride your bike so much?
A: For two reasons: health reasons and economic reasons. Before I started riding I was at a pant size 22. Like I mentioned, I'm at an 18 now. I have all this extra energy and I'm actually awake when I get to class. Plus, there's the fact that I've gone from filling up my gas tank every five days to only filling it up every two to three weeks or so. My wallet loves me for that.
Q: When do you drive to places instead of riding?
A: I drive when I have to run an errand that requires stuff to be hauled, like going to the grocery store or something. I drive when I am not feeling well. (That usually happens around the middle of each month. Ha!) I drive when I'm going long distances. Finally, I drive when there is a legitamate concern for my safety. I have a night class on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and it is usually pitch black by the time I get out of said class. Muggings happen quite a bit in this area, so I'm sure a girl on a bike would be an easy target.
Q: What kind of bike do you ride?
A: I ride a Trek 4300 mountain bike. Eventually, when I get down to the weight that I want to get down to, I'm going to buy a nice road bike for myself.
This is all I can think of right now.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Unlubricated Bike Chains
One thing that really sucks about riding a bike everywhere is this: having to lubricate my chain at least once a week or so. And if I forget to do it, I will surely pay with a more difficult-riding bike and a noisy chain.
That happened to me today. The crazy winds from yesterday died down quite a bit, which was a big yay for me. I set off around 8:30 or so feeling confident that nothing out of the ordinary would happen to me today.
About a half-mile into my journey I heard it, the sound that almost sounded like a train moving on the tracks with the occasional bird chirping noise. And I felt it, too, as it was become difficult to pedal in my bike's 2nd and 5th gear. It dawned on me that I hadn't relubed it in about a week and half!
And so it was. I only got a 10.2 mph average because I really couldn't pedal any faster than 13 mph when I was at my best. That sucked, mainly because I was hyper and needed to get off some excess energy.
I guess the moral of today's post is this: make sure your bike chain is well-lubricated. The guy at the bike store told me that it should probably be lubed every 150 miles or so with the brand of lube that I use. If you don't lube your chain, you'll have noisy rides, it will be more difficult to shift, and you risk chain breakage in the most extreme cases.
That happened to me today. The crazy winds from yesterday died down quite a bit, which was a big yay for me. I set off around 8:30 or so feeling confident that nothing out of the ordinary would happen to me today.
About a half-mile into my journey I heard it, the sound that almost sounded like a train moving on the tracks with the occasional bird chirping noise. And I felt it, too, as it was become difficult to pedal in my bike's 2nd and 5th gear. It dawned on me that I hadn't relubed it in about a week and half!
And so it was. I only got a 10.2 mph average because I really couldn't pedal any faster than 13 mph when I was at my best. That sucked, mainly because I was hyper and needed to get off some excess energy.
I guess the moral of today's post is this: make sure your bike chain is well-lubricated. The guy at the bike store told me that it should probably be lubed every 150 miles or so with the brand of lube that I use. If you don't lube your chain, you'll have noisy rides, it will be more difficult to shift, and you risk chain breakage in the most extreme cases.
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