I just got back from a quick two laps around the park on my new Bianchi Axis, which I picked up Monday morning from the Bicycle Station. It’s a really great bike! It’s very fast and very light. It’s quite different from my previous bikes; being that it’s a cyclocross bike and it’s just in general much more “serious” than I’ve had before. So I have to get used to a different riding position, wearing those cute little bicycle shoes and having my feet connected to the pedals, a very different sort of seat, and more. I’m sure I’ll get settled soon; I’m looking forward to riding it more.
Next week I hope to get a cycle computer hooked up to the bike, so I can start tracking my mileage. Once that’s done, I’m planning to set a weekly goal for myself of 40 miles. I think that’s doable, given that my office is about 5 miles away from home. If I bike to work three days a week, that’ll be about 30 miles. Then I’ll have two other workdays to get the extra 10 in, or Sunday if need be. I think that two or three months of that will help me start getting back into shape. In about a month, I’ll want to start adding in some basic strength training. But for now, one thing at a time.
The only problem might be weather; I may need to get some special gear to help me keep riding when temperatures fall below 45 or so. So be it; I think I’m up for this challenge.
I bought this bike because my last one was stolen; so this time I’m using a ridiculously super-heavy-duty Kryptonite chain lock that I think may actually be just as heavy as the bike itself. It’s necessary though, because (1) this is a conspicuously expensive bike, and (2) the building my office is in won’t let me take the bike into the office, so when I commute to work it’s locked up outside all day, in midtown Manhattan.
In other news, שמיני אצרת and שימחת תורה are starting tomorrow night; we may have some guests so we gotta go do some shopping and cooking and cleaning, etc.
חג שמח!
אבי
