Biking to Better Health

I have made it 3 weeks in a row to my WW meetings, 10.5 miles each way. I am trying new things each week. I am a little frustrated with Waterview. I have to make a left turn onto it at 8:00 in the morning and can't seem to get a green light no matter if I go to the Renner or the Synergy Park Blvd intersection. They are evidently on weight sensors and are not heavily travelled that early in the morning by cars. Another cyclist passed me while I was sitting at the red light one morning and made the comment that it was not going to change for me and proceeded to run the red. I have a real problem with this because, as cyclists, we are supposed to follow the rules of the road...granted the cars keep trying to share my lane is not exactly what I call following road rules. They would never think of trying to share a lane with a motorcycle. So, I have started riding in the center of the lane for the most part in the areas where I have trouble with lane sharing. But, this past Saturday, an older lady decided she wanted to be at the light with me and it was extremely disconcerting as I thought she was going to run over my foot that was on the road.

But, all in all, after my 7 weeks of cycling, I have lost over 13 pounds and am going strong. I am pushing for another 13 by Labor Day. I can do it!!

I made it to Avenue K!

I know, it is still not the 10.5 miles that I am shooting for, but I am getting there. I went out Thursday morning (7/3) thinking "Everyone is at work, I should have the road to myself." Oh, how I was wrong. No one was working, as it turned out. It was a bit scary because many cars on Renner felt the need to "share" the lane with me and it made me feel incredibly uncomfortable. I went out Sunday afternoon and fared much better and actually made it to Avenue K before turning around and heading back. 30 minutes out 28 back.

My goal for Saturday morning is to make it to Alma because there is no way I am going to attempt to make a U-turn at 75...that would be suicide.

I feel really good about it all so far. It is still hard getting out of the neighborhood having to go uphill right off the bat, but I think it is making my legs stronger.

Hey, and I lost 5.4 pounds last week! Rock on!

Inaugural Street Ride

So, I set out on my inaugural stree ride today. 20 minutes out and only 10 back. What does that tell me? Uphill on the way out. I knew it was uphill out of the neighborhood...didn't realize that it was uphill out of East Plano. So, I only made it to Renner and 190. But, I didn't want to overdo it today. After all, my bike is not fully prepared to go that far. I did bring my cell phone (in case of problems), my keys (to get back into the house) and my license (for the coroner to identify the body in case one of the 1o motorists I saw decided I was roadkill). I did find out several things but came up with even more questions. Cyclists are extremely friendly people. I saw many of them out riding and all were extremely friendly. I did realize the importance of a rearview/sideview mirror when I went to make the U-turn on Renner to head back. I need to know whether, as a cyclist, we are supposed to use those arm turn signals that we learned back when we learned to drive a car. I also learned, thankfully, that I am not as heavy as a car. However, this does create problems when the lights only changed based on the weight in the lanes at the intersection...had to sit through 2 red lights at 14th and Shiloh. Otherwise, a very good ride...not nearly as much coasting as I thought, but definitely a learning experience. My goal is to get to Central Richardson (10.5 miles) for my 9:30 Weight Watchers meeting by bicycle. Maybe in a few weeks after a few trips to Bike Mart...I should ride there!!!