Two Skinny Tires, One Fat Rider

The Weakest Link

2009-03-05T10:00:00.002-05:00

Not entirely unexpected, but I've had another mechanical hiccup. I'm beginning to think that I'm really too fat to ride a bike! I really don't know how I managed it, but my drive chain snapped yesterday. I was starting from a dead stop and using body weight to get going. A couple turns in I hear a creak - pop! Just that quick I nearly fall over because the pedal falls without any resistance, and

I've been biking, really!

2009-03-03T09:16:00.004-05:00

I know I've taken a small hiatus here, but to calm everyone's fears I have been diligent on the bike. I don't think I've used the van for getting to work for over a month now. I've started to get over the sore legs (and behind) to really enjoy the ride. That said, I'm still quite slow - I average about 10 mph. That's about my cardiovascular limit for now. Slowly I'm increasing my distance, hoping

Ratcheting up for a letdown

2009-01-21T08:49:00.005-05:00

After two successful days of getting around on two wheels I'm having mechanical problems. The ratcheting mechanism has gone out, so my bike is now an oversized scooter. I have to take it to the bike shop this weekend - and to think I thought the bike would need less maintenance! Hopefully it won't be too expensive.I thought I'd share about my bike. It's a fairly stock 1998 Trek 820. Yeah, it's a

Medical Disclaimers

2009-01-20T08:57:00.002-05:00

I admit that I have, on occasion, watched and participated with various exercise videos. I distinctly remember them all starting with a clever bit of legaleze:Before starting this or any exercise program, you should consult with your physician."What a bunch of hooey!" I thought, as my younger, slightly more nimble self decided to sweat to the oldies. Now, over a decade later, I completely

Lock(e) and Load

2009-01-16T08:59:00.005-05:00

There's a couple things on my mind today. First, I'm a horrible person because I still haven't gotten on the bike this year. Unforgivable, I know. But I have a reasonable excuse - I don't have a bike lock! I did have one, but can't find it. So, being the Internet-savvy person that I am I start looking up reviews on bike locks and YouTube videos of them getting circumvented. I am so glad I lost my

Numb3rs

2009-01-13T14:14:00.005-05:00

No, not the TV show... though it does sound interesting. Note to self: add that show to the DVR schedule.I'm talking about numbers in my real life. Here's just a few about me:Age: 27 yearsHeight: 5' 9"Weight: 235 poundsBMI: 34.7 (Obese Class I)waistline: 40"Here are some others:Distance to bus station: 1.6 Miles (each way)Total Commute Distance: 19.1 Miles (each way)Estimated mixed-mode commute

A Quick Hello!

2008-12-31T10:11:00.003-05:00

OMG, it's an introductory post!So, this isn't a "new year's resolution" per se, but the timing is right. Here's the plan:Ride my bike to commuteGet healthierBe happierI could start with a whole bunch of little goals, but that sounds like work.Why am I doing this? There's a few reasons. In case the title wasn't totally clear, I'm overweight. I want to live long enough to see my great-grandchildren