about getting from point A to point B in the most interesting ways possible

If you're a large woman in America, your whole life is an opportunity to feel self-conscious, embarrassed, resentful and way too big. You can hide in the corner or on the couch, you can go to therapy, or you can put on your lycra bike shorts and get out there and move.
—Jayne Williams, Slow Fat Triathlete

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August 22, 2006

Slow, it's the new fast permalink

bird sticker or wheatpasteSo. It's been weird since I returned the Trek. For a couple days, I felt like I didn't have a bike to commute on.

When I'd think about the Townies, it wouldn't seem right. I can't ride the 24 because it's not mine (not that he would care, probably, but). And it doesn't have a front basket. I can't ride the 3speed because it's a 3speed.

But I finally got back in the saddle last Wednesday. I rode Pinky the three speed, mostly because it had the basket in front. I just love the basket. And the ride in was good.

But I had something happen at work that was bad, so on the ride home I was battling tears. Trying really hard to not be the fat lady on a bike who's crying. And I decided then and there that I was going to go very slow. Because things were bad enough as they were.

That night, I started thinking about it. I started really making progress walking when I slowed down. When I quit pretending each walk was a race. When I decided that each walk would be its own reward.

So, hey, as Misty says, Slow is the new fast. My goal is to not need to lay down at the end of the commute home.

So, I've been going slower. Trying to enjoy the ride, which is always easy in the morning and quite a bit more difficult in the afternoon.

And knowing, while I'm taunted with images of Dutch bikes, that somewhere, my ideal commuter waits. I just gotta find it.

Posted at August 22, 2006

Comments

I admit, I'm a hypocrite. I do the "slow, it's the new fast" thing in defense of my wholly abysmal running pace...yet, I'm out there as often as possibly, just aching to break that 10 minute-per-mile barrier.

Posted by: Misty at August 24, 2006 1:43 PM

I agree with Misty - I try to enjoy slow, but frequently find myself berating myself for not being "faster." Hey - I'm a work in progress. :-)

Posted by: neca at August 25, 2006 11:44 AM