I set off this morning to ride to work and about one mile into my ride around Lake Harriet I realized that I forgot my helmet. I rode another 100 yards debating whether to continue or to turn around. I decided t o turn around, retrieved my helmet, swapped out the batteries on my front light, and set back on the road. Today's ride was enjoyable, though there was a slight headwind which seemed to slow my riding down about 1 mph. No biggie. Got to work on time still.
As I was riding, I noticed I was traveling around 13 mph which is a pretty leisurely pace. I pass some people (mostly old people and people on old beat-up rusty bikes) and other people pass me (mostly racers and the occasional person who's pedaling much too hard). I stay in my middle chain ring and just try to keep a steady as she goes pace. No need to destroy my knees.
When I discussed this riding philosophy to my older brother King, he commented (in typical older brother sarcasm) that I was riding as fast as a marathoner runs. It's true! I spent most of my ride amusing myself with this image of my riding side-by-side the Boston Marathon winner from Monday. It's amazing how fast they really do run!
This is what makes riding to work more enjoyable than driving to work in my car. The opportunity to pause and reflect and concurrently take in the morning air and sun.
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On other news, I called my father yesterday to talk a bit about the Virginia Tech shootings. He asked me more about the shooter (Seung-Hui Cho) and if he was a Korean immigrant or a Korean international student. Astutely, my dad had observed that the news kept referring to this young man as a South Korean national or a resident alien. I sensed that it ticked my father off a bit. When I told him that Mr Cho had immigrated at age 8, my father responded, "Oh, he's American." You see people, even my father understands that this young man (despite a lack of legal citizenship) was in all respects an American in upbringing, education, and likely most of his values and beliefs. My father then asked me, "Why does the news keep saying he is South Korean?!" Exactly.
Posted by richlee at April 18, 2007 09:47 AM