2008's First Ride.

Well, that's right folks, after much slacking, 69 days worth actually, I finally got on the bike. Even if the challenge wasn't starting today I would have, there is just so much talking, thinking, wrenching on bikes before it pushes you to get off the rear and ride. Ted has another excellent post on commuting today, and like he so often does, once he says some thing it's truth, gospel truth, and unfortunately I believe he proves it once again.


As far as my ride goes, it was great. A simple 11 mile loop of sorts starting at my house, heading downtown then over to eastown for some Yesterdog goodness. Which was well worth it, because it a moment of utter stupidity I forgot to eat while I was packing things up before the ride and so my body decided to remind me that it was in control. Here are a few other things I learned or was reminded of:

- A 52x18 gear ratio on a fixie is nice [Thank you R2 for that, I traded a Xbox for this fixie]... for cruising around on flat surfaces, or at the end of the year when your legs are good not for a first ride with hills.
- Fixies do perform well on/through snow. I am the guy who will often coast when going through some thing sketchy, on a fixie of course this is not possible. But to my delight, the I actually felt as though I had more control when going through stuff, and not my typical bracing for ;impact feeling' I get when I go through things.
- Taking a picture while riding is as dangerous as attempting to text message while driving. My hat goes off to all of you who have perfected the art but I have to ask, how many times have you dropped the camera?

Regardless, it has begun. I'm excited.