Monday, August 16, 2010

What I learned today...

One.  I don't need training wheels.  Once you know how to balance yourself on a bike, you can always balance yourself on a bike. 
Two.  I am not ready for the streets.  For that matter I am not ready for the sidewalks either.  Not because I don't know how to peddle and use the hand brakes.  Getting on this bike and feeling comfortable with its power was like the learning curve one has with  a new car of a different make than  the one you have been driving for one hundred thousand miles, you know the one that you can instinctive reach and touch the radio or the air conditioning controls  without really thinking about it. The one you know how fast you can enter a curve without losing control or in the case of my Jeep, not tipping over.   For the first 20 minutes of riding up and down the seven levels of the parking garage where I live I worked through the learning curve.
Three.  Wheeeeeeeee.  What fun.
The gears shift by twisting on the handle with the left hand and the throttle is operated by twisting the handle on the right.  Depending on whether you are climbing a hill or racing down one you have to gear up or down and throttle back or up and in some instances on the declines you have to put on the brakes least you find yourself speeding and exceeding the speed limits posted for the garage.  Wheeeeee!!!!
Four.  My bike came with one battery pack, but will hold two which puts the range of this bike at about 50 miles.  Can you imagine that!  I would have to put my bottom into butt sitting endurance training to do that much riding.  But that is not stopping me thinking of the possibilities.  This afternoon I am upgrading my phone so I can get a GPS ap.
Five. I like  the mode that assist you up inclines as you peddle.  The mode that does
it all by itself without any pedaling on your part.... welllllll....let's say I will leave that for times when I am on a loooooooog  straight flat road lined on both sides with marshmallows, least I hit a bump and go flying.   Boy 15-20 miles an hour is really moving fast for a old lady on a bike.  Daring as I might be, even in my youth I was never a  Lance Armstrong.....

4 comments:

Penny said...

I think I will stick to public transit. I get the exercise to and from the pick up points and with an ounce of luck, the monsters who sit in the front seats will look at me and think, this is an old broad, I had better give her my seat!! Good luck,gutsy lady.

Carol said...

I love it! But, I'm still going to have to remember you and your bike in my prayers from now on. Somehow I have the same feeling you have when your children are out driving for the first time.

Anonymous said...

Wow Juanita...You rock!!!
Valerie

yetunde said...

don't hurt nothing. be safe