THE Lowly Peon

My Bikes 
19 September 2010, 6:46am

With all this talk about going back to the states, I've been pretty excited about a number of things. But one thing I keep going back to is that, as of next year, I'll have my bikes again.

Since I've started this phase of my life, first in Houston, then in China, I've been running as my means of getting blood flowing. For a while, I was running some 25 miles a week, and it felt good. It was particularly good for my lifestyle because it only required decent shoes (and my iPhone armband for GPS tracking).

But there's one problem with running: I simply don't like it.

I hate getting ready for a run. I hate the knowledge that soon I'll be miserable. I hate the first few minutes of a run. Though I enjoy the second or third kilometer, after that, I'm only looking forward to the end. After a run, once I stop sweating from the unbelievable humidity in this jungle, I feel okay. And I sleep really well. The last two parts are why I try to run three or so times a week.

But let's compare this to biking:

I love getting ready for a ride. I love making sure my bike is in perfect shape. I like putting my stuff together — emergency tool kit, a bit of cash in case I get hungry on the ride, a Clif bar to munch on, some water — in my little under-the-seat bag. I like strapping my shoes on and making them super tight. I love when you first get on the road and can feel the bike almost propel itself with almost no effort from you. I love pushing myself harder. I love when it gets a bit windy and I need to be extra aerodynamic. I love going down hills. In klcomp's words, I love riding my bike... fast!

There are really only two or three downsides to biking, in comparison to running: it takes much more time (2-3 hours compared to just under one), it requires a bunch of stuff, so it's tough to travel, and sometimes it requires a bit too much maintenance.

I'll be back on my bikes soon. And I can't wait. Hopefully it won't be too hot in Houston when that time comes, and I'll be able to find a good route and a couple good riding buddies to draft off of.