In some very exciting news, I rode 10 miles on Saturday. There were some stops along the way, but I did it. And, my legs did not feel like they were going to fall off on Sunday. Which is almost as awesome. Story is, Nikki, Lisa, and I were building with Habitat on Saturday (well, Lisa was building and Nikki and I were moving dirt). I told Nikki I want to try the Hawthorne Trail later that say. Nikki was down for it, we told Lisa about it and she was down, and that's how it happened. Except, Lisa is already badass and had ridden to the build that morning and then rode to the trailhead. Nikki and I drove home, got our bikes, and drove to the trailhead. We did ten miles, hills and all (Florida hills, remember) and saw some wildlife. The trail is beautiful. If anyone is on Facebook, you can look at my pictures and see some of it.
The highlight of the trip may have been the epic fitting three people and three bikes into one Mustang. We had a two bike rack on the trunk, but my bike got disassembled and put into the trunk, which required the back seats be laid down. Which required Nikki to sit on Lisa's lap in the front seat. It was hysterical. It probably would have been faster for Lisa just to bike home, but she had already ridden like 25 miles that day, which is still just crazy to me. I can't wait for the day when I'm like, 25 miles, whatever. I can do that plus 75 more. That day is not here yet, and will probably not be here for another couple of months, though.
I did ride last Tuesday also (just 4 miles because it was already dark and I don't have lights on my bike yet), and will probably ride tomorrow morning before work. Unfortunately, grad school applications are taking up a lot of time and so I haven't been as dedicated to this as I want to be. I plan on starting my letter writing campaign for fundraising this week (although once again, grad school apps are calling my name tonight). I'm also posting a story about Bike and Build in my company's quarterly newsletter in an effort to raise awareness (and hopefully money).
I think that's all the news for now. Oh, I learned how to shift gears on the Peugeot without crashing on Saturday. That's a big plus. Now I won't die when trying to ride my bike around Gainesville. Yay!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Monday, November 5, 2007
Titles for posts are more difficult than you would think...
Here are the updates:
Haven't ridden since last Tuesday. I cannot believe I haven't ridden in a week. I WILL be riding tomorrow, probably on my new bike.
Speaking of which, thanks to my parents for bringing me a new bike this weekend and for getting me a seat cover, bike rack for my car, new pedals for the new bike (the old ones were clip-ins), and new handlebar tape. I really appreciate it! For those of you who don't know, the bike is a Peugeot Triathlon. Slightly older, but much nicer than the Wal-Mart bike. I have to learn how to use the gears and get safely off and on the bike (the frame is a little bit big for me), but it's lighter and easier to ride than the other bike.
And in more positive news, we raised $54 trick-or-treating and raised lots more awareness! That's only $18 each (there were three of us, for those of you who are division-challenged), but it's something! We handed out lots of cards and talked up Bike and Build, and we got candy. The night could not have been much better.
Also, Nikki and I went and built with UF/Alachua Habitat for Humanity on Saturday. I had forgotten how much fun it was to spend hours doing manual labor (I'm actually serious here). I spent a lot of time helping with interior framing and putting decking on the roof, and some time painting walls and baseboards. I have a nice blister on my hand from swinging a hammer and my hamstrings are sore from standing on the roof for so long. It's a good feeling.
And finally, thanks to my roommate, Alex, for not complaining that there are now two bikes in our entryway. I really am trying to find something to do with them, but I am sure as hell not putting them outside to get stolen and/or vandalized by random drunk people. Luckily, the cats don't attack them and there is still room to walk, but this is not a permanent solution. Ideas, anyone?
Haven't ridden since last Tuesday. I cannot believe I haven't ridden in a week. I WILL be riding tomorrow, probably on my new bike.
Speaking of which, thanks to my parents for bringing me a new bike this weekend and for getting me a seat cover, bike rack for my car, new pedals for the new bike (the old ones were clip-ins), and new handlebar tape. I really appreciate it! For those of you who don't know, the bike is a Peugeot Triathlon. Slightly older, but much nicer than the Wal-Mart bike. I have to learn how to use the gears and get safely off and on the bike (the frame is a little bit big for me), but it's lighter and easier to ride than the other bike.
And in more positive news, we raised $54 trick-or-treating and raised lots more awareness! That's only $18 each (there were three of us, for those of you who are division-challenged), but it's something! We handed out lots of cards and talked up Bike and Build, and we got candy. The night could not have been much better.
Also, Nikki and I went and built with UF/Alachua Habitat for Humanity on Saturday. I had forgotten how much fun it was to spend hours doing manual labor (I'm actually serious here). I spent a lot of time helping with interior framing and putting decking on the roof, and some time painting walls and baseboards. I have a nice blister on my hand from swinging a hammer and my hamstrings are sore from standing on the roof for so long. It's a good feeling.
And finally, thanks to my roommate, Alex, for not complaining that there are now two bikes in our entryway. I really am trying to find something to do with them, but I am sure as hell not putting them outside to get stolen and/or vandalized by random drunk people. Luckily, the cats don't attack them and there is still room to walk, but this is not a permanent solution. Ideas, anyone?
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