Started Biking Again

February began and so did the biking. Yesterday began my first day of getting back on the bike for 2009. I remembered too why I like running so much more.

It was chilly yesterday and I’ve come to learn how to dress for running in the cold: I’ll be chilly or cold at first, but will eventually warm up to be comfortable or sometimes too warm. And I have several different types of running clothes.

Not so with biking. Looking at the weather channel it was going to be about 40-42 degrees while I was out, and with biking there is an added wind-chill you just can’t really account for.

Here is what I had to deal with: sock liners, thick running socks (no thermal socks since I still had to fit on my biking shoes), running pants, biking shorts, base layer running shirt, thermal shirt, and my heaviest biking shirt (which I also use for running). Luckily my pants and shirt were both black and that helps capture the warmth of the sun. I also got my fleece gloves.

Then dealing with my bike that hadn’t been ridded since October or November I had to make sure the tires were full. They needed to be pumped up all the way. Add the pack to the back of the seat with the CO2 cartridge, tube, and tools. Add Garmin GPS to my wrist, phone and iPod to my back pockets, my shoes and my helmet. I was sweating and I was still in my driveway!

I debated removing the thermal shirt, but decided against it, though I did opt for the regular biking gloves (no fingers) instead of my fleece Thinsulate gloves…

Finally, at 11:10 am I was ready to clip in and off I went on my first bike ride of the year. I was only going for an hour, and I wasn’t going to go into the valley or the Bosque, which meant no hills to get back home. I was going to stay up on the mesa and ride around on a route my husband told me about that took about an hour. I needed to find my biking legs.

My legs. They weren’t used to this kind of movement. Running and biking are completely different movements, so the legs were a little wary at first. Also, the helmet is vented, so the head was very cold. Noted for next time.

But once I got going, it wasn’t so bad. The leg part that is. I never got too warm – but I was warm enough. The wind picked up and it did get a bit tough at times, but it was just fine and it was a good thing I didn’t remove the thermal.

Biking is good, but you just don’t work up the same sweat as you do running. Must continue to dress warmer. I’m back on the bike.

Today’s Accomplishments: Outdoor Run: 5.40 miles 50:05 minutes; 9:17 min/mi (Garmin); Firm Upper Body Sculpt where heavy/medium weights = 8 pounds, light weights = 5 pounds, 12 pound body bar.

Yesterday’s Accomplishments (Feb 1st): Bike: 14.74 miles 1 hour 2:42 minutes; 4:15 min/mi.