Lessons from riding a bike: Part II

Part I

I’ve been too busy to ride my bike though I’ve gone to look at it several times during breaks from working on the LIS website. Today was the day, my last day off before school officially starts back tomorrow. So I waited till it had cooled down outside to take her for a spin. And now I present the lessons I learned today about riding a bike:

1. Wear proper flat bottomed shoes. I recommend tennis shoes of some kind. With socks.
2. Find a way to carry your stuff with you if your bike doesn’t have a rack, basket, or pouch on it.
3. Bring a bottle of water which has at least six ice cubes in it.
4. Don’t forget your keys and cellphone in case there’s an accident and so you can get back into the house.
5. Put your helmet on snuggly. It’s mandatory in North Carolina for minors but don’t be stupid or cheap. Get one.
6. Roll your bike out the door and if you live on the third floor, carry it on your shoulder down the stairs. Pro-tip: put the top bar that’s near your crotch on you shoulder in the gap between your arm bone and neck muscle. It’d be a good idea to wrap some foam on the bike at that point to prevent injuries.
7. Once down the stairs, drink some water.
8. If this is your first time riding a bike in six years like mine, start small. I choose to ride the loop around my neighborhood. It turns out that it’s half up-hill and half down-hill.
9. Be careful while riding. Keep a look out for dogs, cats, and other small animals. Also beware of other humans and their transportation.
10. Stop for a drink of water as often as you need it.
11. If you’re a twenty-five year old female like me, realize that all the old men in your neighborhood may suddenly have an excuse to take the trash out. Ignore them.
12. When they’re still standing there when you loop around again, ignore their wives who may have come out looking for them.
13. When your heart is racing and you can barely breathe from being tired, even if it’s only been 15 minutes, don’t be too proud to know it’s time to throw the towel in. You’ve done a good job.
14. Drink some water, take a breather, then carry the bike on your shoulder back up the stairs.
15. Finally, realize that you’re probably not ready for the big leagues, but you can practice building stamina and endurance in short rides every day.