kentcowgill.org/blog

Ok, riding to my new job was a bit of an adventure, especially given that my ribs are a little sore from skydiving. But it was mostly good except for the rush-hour traffic in the loop - I think I'm going to avoid riding between busses as much as I can :) About 15.5 miles round trip, but I think I'll do more mileage when A) I have more time, and B) my ribs hurt less :)

And the baggy shorts were great, even though they acted like wind scoops to slow me down a lot!

So my Dad paid me a visit this past friday, and not only did I get him out on a bike, but he also gave me a huge sponsorship! Thanks Dad! I lent him my mountain bike (I think it's more comfortable than my road bike and I also think it takes some time to build up a rear-end tolerance for it) - and we rode to a bike shop for a helmet. I also picked up some baggy bike shorts and a mini-pump for emergency use (hopefully I'll never have to use it!). Our next stop - the Taste of Chicago! We stopped in for a quick bite of lunch and then we headed back home. Round trip, about 20 miles. It was a nice leisurely pace hovering around 10 mph, and we had some good time catching up while riding.

Did I mention I picked up some baggy bike shorts? Now I'm going to be able to ride my bike to work again! I had been hesitant to ride to my new job because it's much more corporate -I'd feel a little embarrassed walking into the office in my spandex. Baggy shorts are definitely the way to go! I also now (thanks to my Mom) have a great gore-tex biking jacket, so I won't even have an excuse if it's raining :) Stay tuned to see how soon I actually ride in! :)