Down Goes Fraiser

Pics to come soon of the new ride..

So I picked up the bike yesterday. I went with a Caad 9-5, Men's 52 Grey and Red bike. To be honest, I am truly and utterly clueless about bicycles. And I'm really not looking forward to having to learn about them. No disrespect to die hard cyclists, but there was a reason why I never took shop in high school - it's really just not my thing. But I know it's necessary to learn how to change a tire tube etc, and that when I'm on the road, I have to be ready & prepared.
I just really don't want to learn bike mechanics... it feels like math homework or something. Just God awful.

But I love the workout on it.

So - let me just share my experience yesterday first time in clips. I decide I will ride home from Mike's Bikes (too much pride to walk the bike). Along with the bike, I pick up my "basics package" which includes a rather large pump. I put on my helmet, pump sticking out of the backpack, and clip in. By the way, I'm in SOMA at 5 PM, so holy traffic on Folsom street. So this was my first time riding clipped in, and I ate shit. Twice. The best is that, while I'm going down, the pump is hitting my head (yes, I had my helmet on). I did this twice.

It's to be expected, right? You fall your first time. I still fall when I ski. And I fell a lot when I was a beginner.

But I am so glad, no one was there with a video camera. I would be on Youtube. The first time another cyclist freaked out with concern and had a OMG YOU ARE GOING TO KILL YOURSELF kind of reaction, I assured him, I could make it. The second time, a woman flat out burst out laughing, and said, "hey, we've all been there." Thanks...

I made it back to my house, put away the horrible abusive pump, and went back out into rush hour traffic. You know, I don't recommend that for anyone, just an FYI. Looking back, it would have been a better decision for me to go to a park, or an area of the city that doesn't have the 101, 80, and 280 traffic merging. The motorists were not impressed with me. Some were a lil aggressive... one slightly more aggressive than the others, and that's why I told that girl driving the Mitsubishi that she was a bitch.

All in all, I did it. I got used to the clips. Getting used to riding around my neighborhood is another story. I'm sure it will come together in time. Until then, I have scrapped knees and legs like a child who fell down at recess. Go me.