Saturday Biking to the Market

I have finally lost a pant size. Maybe two, my biggest pants were damn tight.

My recovery and travel times are getting better. I don’t need to keel over when I am done.

I’m learning how to finesse shifting, which is a big part of getting up slopes without having to get off and push the bike, but not feeling like throwing up, either.

I’m getting the feel for pushing off, so I’m getting over my fear of falling over on starting up. (Did that once, hurt myself badly, got no assistance from passers-by.)

I’m definitely smaller and more flexible. A month ago, I could barely fit into the truck’s jumpseat, and I could barely get out again. Today, I got in, was reasonably comfortable, and unfolded back out again.

Today’s ride was about 4 miles round trip. The route has uphill and downhill slopes each way. There are no sidewalks, really, but there is a well-worn hard dirt path. Going was pretty easy; I had daylight and empty baskets. Returning was a challenge:

It was dark.

The terrain was uneven.

My rear baskets are attached to my seat post, and when they’re full, the seat will not stay at the right (high) height and pedaling becomes very inefficient. Have to change how the basket attaches. Having it attached to the part of the seat post that has to be raised and lowered is dumb. (I did not install it, and I don’t know what the bike shop guys were thinking.*)

Fifty-ish pounds of groceries on board.

And headed into a 17mph wind.

Getting back was an adventure.

Back to work!

*ETA: Never mind. I fixed it. The clamp had loosened. Must remember that things always loosen, and need tightening. Except for–well, never mind.

Crossposted from divalea.net