I like to ride my Bicycle!

As some of you may know I got a bicycle a while back. However since I have been stateside there have been a few things neglected, one of them was my new, blue bike. Before I left I talked about riding it from where we live to where Hunny works. It was simple; just cross the river and follow it down, then...we were still working out the kinks at the end but I decided I would just figure it out once I got there.

I had just missed the bus and needed to meet Hunny down at work to go to dinner with him and some friends. Instead of riding the public bus I figured now was the best time to try to bike. So I said a prayer that all would go well and that I would want to do it more, that I would be safe, and that I would not get lost. Excited, I donned my helmet and set off. A brief seat level change and crossed the bridge. Almost. My chain had fallen off the gear because I accidentally changed gears too fast. Distraught but not deterred, I attempted to fix it. No luck! I desperately call Hunny to get his help. He calms me down and I get it working again. Instead of turning back I am determined to keep going. After that it was pretty easy going. Just cross and follow the river. I occasionally pull out my phone to make sure I'm still going the right way. But for some reason I am constantly being passed, and when I am on flat ground I should be able to go buzz...when I stop pedaling, but I'm not.  It really shouldn't be THIS hard to go! I am getting tired fast; and discouraged faster. But I keep trudging on using my map as an excuse to take breaks. I start looking at my tires, maybe they are low. They do seem to bulge a bit. And when tires are low there is more drag. I can definitely attest that. Low tires take more gas! I was beat. An hour down and I still have almost four miles to go. It is after work and I call Hunny to come get me. I can't go anymore... We decide to meet a little ways down near a bridge. Finally I see him and he takes my bike up some stairs. I am wore out physically and emotionally. I pretty much ball right there at the car. I was so close! But I couldn't do it. I wanted to accomplish this great task, and failed. But Hunny looked at the tires and exclaimed that they weren't just low, they were LOWW! He pushed on the front tire and it went all the way down. He was surprised I went as far as I did on such low tires. It didn't really help, I still felt defeated. Hunny did a marvelous job playing Tetris with the bike and got it to fit in the back seat of the car, by putting me in the windshield... :) We had a great dinner with our friends, shabu shabu (I highly recommend it) and I felt better by the end of the night.

Then about a week or so later, after we got the tires filled, I decided to try again. I would go and have lunch with Hunny at work. I looked at the map, prayed, and turned on the tunes. I was gonna do it. I was gonna bike from Hannam to K-16. As I went I passed all the places I had stopped to rest on my first attempt. I think I only stopped 2 or 3 times this time. It felt great to go buzz... My gears didn't jump from straining. There weren't as many people this time. It wasn't super easy but it was definitely easier then the first time. But I still had the problem of where do I get off the bike path? Toward the end I did stop frequently to look at the map. Every bridge; Here? No, the next one. Here? No, the next one. Here? Finally I went farther then planned and decided it was good. Technology being awesome as it is, I would send Hunny a message on Voxer, (a walkie talkie app) and it would give him my location and he directed me. As soon as I popped up from the bike path I knew immediately where I was and took off, ignoring all the bings from Hunny wondering if I was good. I just wanted to go! I took off! It took me and hour and a half to bike the 11.1 miles! And I did it! Not only did I bike the 11 miles, but that is the LONGEST I have EVER worked out. I think. I might have hiked longer but DANG! It felt like forever! I don't see how people run marathons. I really don't. It's probably more mental training then physical.

But anyway! I did it! I felt awesome! I think heavenly Father had made my first trip so hard that any time after would be so much easier. That I would be more willing to do it. Isn't it funny how He answers prayers. I love Him. And I know that He loves me. :)

Now I just have to go to K-16 sometime and bike home....