For a few lucky days last week, it was hovering around 60 degrees outside. So the boyfriend and I dusted off and busted out our bikes.

I got all of these awesome bike accessories for Christmas/Hanukkah, so it was really nice to get to try some of them out. In particular, my SPD pedals. Don’t ask me what that stands for, but they’re pedals that clip into a shoe on one side, and they’re a regular pedal on the other side.

with props to the Reno Bike Project (sticker says "build bikes, not bombs")

So I knew that using the pedals with my new bike shoes would be a challenge, but I was up for it. I knew it would make riding my bike even better. So, for about 10 minutes, a few nights in a row, I tried to learn how to clip and unclip from the pedals.

so, um. it’s really, really hard.

Have you ever tried to do something on the bottom of your shoe without being able to see or even really feel what you’re doing? I got way too frustrated and one night, I actually threw a legitimate temper tantrum. Like, I yelled and screamed and threw my bike. Okay, so I didn’t actually throw my bike, because lets face it, that thing weighs a ton.  I more or less just dropped it aggressively. And then I directed my pouting at the boyfriend for about an hour.

okay, so i am a child.

It’s a good thing he knows how to treat me like a child when I’m acting like one, and not indulge in my pout-sessions. Seriously. It may not have been the best way of dealing with my frustration, but I think it helped me get to the place I needed to be to learn the whole clipping-unclipping thing. Because the next day, I could do it without any problems. I realized that I can clip my shoes into the pedals with ease. As long as I don’t try.

I rode up and down our street alley clipping and unclipping a few times As bad as it felt to fail at something that seems so simple, it felt just as good to succeed! I know for some people, it makes sense that taking the focus and pressure off, would make it easier. But that is not typically the way my brain works through things. I’ve always been someone that has to focus on what I’m doing. Particularly if the goal is to accomplish something. But I guess I’m not too set in my ways to adapt to a new way of learning.

So, this weekend, we rode our bikes to Peg’s Glorified Ham & Eggs (the best breakfast in the country), and it felt great! (cold, but great) The ride back, after eating the best huevos rancheros? A little less great, but worth it.

I tried uploading a blog post from my phone, but it sure did not work.  Ah well.

So, basically, I sucked this week and hardly rode at all.  I rode to work both Monday and Tuesday, but ended up having Brad come get both me and my bike each day.  Riding home after a 13-hour day just wasn’t appealing enough.  I gave up for the week because 1) I was just too busy and 2) I had places that needed to be driven to.  Boo, I was a lame, excuse-making slacker.

But, by Friday, I was itching to ride, so the boyfriend and I took a ride to check out the Reno River Festival.

pre-ride. in the sun. cute expression.

It was alright.  Mostly just a bunch of people.  We ended up going down to the West Street Market for some gyros at Niko’s and shared a yummy beer at the wine bar.  We rode home and thought we’d stay in for the night, but ended up going back out (on our bikes) to have some drinks at Jungle Vino with my BFF Annie and her boyfriend.  Fun times.  Was the first time I’ve really ridden in the dark.  That was interesting.  I need a much better headlight though, if I’m going to keep doing that.

Even though they’re usually short and not nearly frequent enough, I really love going for bike rides with that boy of mine.  I probably never would have gotten the bike if it weren’t for him.

Yesterday started off rough, but ended with a nice ride to Starbucks and then down to pick up dinner from Jimmy John’s.  Yep, I rode all the way to the University and back!  Sierra at dusk was a little scary though.

Goal for next week: ride to work (and back!!) every day.  Or at least four days.  It’s just TOO pretty out to be driving to work!

So, yesterday’s post was kinda lame.  I’ll admit it.  This is why none of you read it (yes, I’ll wait for you to scroll down and skim) because I didn’t announce it anywhere.  Because it was lame.  I think I knew it when I posted it, but pretended not to.  But then I read my BFF Annie’s blog post, and realized hers tell stories.  Mine didn’t tell a story.  Not that I need to always be telling stories.  But this is not my diary (I could never keep one anyway).  I should only be posting, sharing things that I think other people will want to read and/or find useful.  Not, the daily uninteresting happenings of my life.

Now, that’s not to say I won’t stop sharing my quips about odd happenings in my life.  You’re not that lucky.

But I am going to be more consciencious about what I post here.  I am not 100 percent sure what that looks like yet.  But I do know this–I definitely need to be on my bike a lot more to have better stories to tell.  Now, the learning part is mostly taken care of.  I can ride the bike.  Now I need to start experiencing life from my bike.

Which reminds me!  I had my first experience last week with a driver not paying attention to and/or not caring about sharing the road with a cyclist.  Luckily, I was paying very good attention and neither of us were going very fast.  But, a good reminder about how important it is that I am completely alert and aware of everything happening when I’m on that little red Schwinn.  I gave him the WTF look, he stared back at me blankly and we both went on our way.

I didn’t ride againt this weekend.  But it was yucky weather, which just begs for staying inside.  At any rate, it felt good to get a TON of cleaning done.  It was really, really necessary and now I feel good about my dad and Brad’s family coming in to town for graduation!

BUT, I am promising myself to ride both days this weekend.

On a last note, I really, really, REALLY did not want to ride to work this morning.  So much that, I actually managed to convince myself not to.  It’s gonna be windy, I’m too tired, it’s too cold, I don’t have time, etc.  Then, by some sort of miracle, I re-convinced myself that I should ride!  Not sure how, other than I guess I really wanted to!  Which is very, very good.

Hooray!  Brad and I both vowed to not drive at all yesterday, and we rode our bikes everywhere we went!  It was my first day riding to work.  Brad came with me and we make a mini piedibus and he dropped me off at work on his way to school. 

After work, he came to pick me up and we rode to Bicycle Warehouse to pick up the basket I ordered (running to go take a picture):

my adorable wicker basket

We then rode to Sushi Pier 2 for some all you can eat.  We then had to ride home.  Ouchies.

Oh, I almost forgot to gush about our fabulous ride on Tuesday night!  Monday was super nice, but Tuesday was a good, long, hill-ish ride.

We rode down to Wingfield Park and then to Idlewild (which, by the way, is my new favorite park) from there.  We then rode up Hunter Lake to Plumb and home again.  I may have just learned to weeks ago to ride again, but I am feeling really comfortable!

I rode again to work this morning.  This time, by myself.  I think I did pretty well!  Will probably skip tomorrow because it’s supposed to be cold, but I think I could definitely ride to work three or so times a week.  I’m loving it!

I guess that’s all for now.

So … here we are.  I am thinking about making this blog mostly about my adventures with my new bike.  I am under the impression it might be easier to write about a particular topic or focus, so we’ll start with that.  But I feel like that might get old quickly–to all of NOBODY that is reading this.  Either way, I anticipate this blog will highlight more than just my bike life.

So, I bought this bike from the Reno Bike Project.  It’s pretty rad, actually.

My late 70s - early 80s schwinn

I am basically in love with it.

So, the last time I was on a bike (not of the stationary-gym variety) was around 1994.  I was 9 and I went “chin surfing,” as my family likes to call it.  Suffice it to say I was kind of over the whole bike thing.  By the time I stopped being afraid of bikes, I never really saw a use/need for them in my life and then the idea just never occurred to me.

So, here I am, living in Reno with gorgeous weather about 3/4 of the year.  I work about five minutes away from my home, which happens to be in a lovely area near downtown.  Why would I NOT have a bike?  So I got a bike.

My outdoor enthusiast boyfriend had NOTHING to do with it either.  Okay, that’s a lie.  He had to teach me how to ride all over again.  At first it was scary, feeling like I was going to topple over if he let go.  But then something overcame me and I wasn’t scared anymore.  I just went.  You really never forget how to ride a bike.

Success!

Turning around on a bike, however, I still have yet to master.  I can’t quite make a u-turn, but am sort of able to do an o-turn.

Days after learning, I was on the real road.  Driving with cars is scary.  And just days after that, I had my first fall.  Note to self: double-knot shoelaces.  I got right back on that horse — er, bike — and rode all the way to Blockbuster!  Okay, that’s a lie too.  I walked with it on the sidewalk on Plumb.  Too scary.

Last night I was a weiner and didn’t really ride at all and now I am regretting that since it’s supposed to thunder/rain/snow through Wednesday night.

Okay, so there it is.  My first blog.  Yay me!