So this is my first post on MMM forum....Have been following for a while...just recently paid off last bit of debts, have amassed a few grand in my "stache" and decided to take up biking to work instead of running the rat race. Now, this probably isn't your typical topic in this category, as it is more of a "don't make the dumb mistakes I did" rather than "learn from my awesome ways"...but here it is:
My commute is pretty long to bike - 18 miles one way - so I was a little hesitant to get started, but saw a decent road bike on craigslist for cheap so I picked it up for $60....figured even if I sank a little into a few newer parts to get it working great I'd still be doing pretty good if I can cut my $80-100 a month gas bill for my car....but I didn't run the bike through all the gears before buying it [rookie MM mistake #1], and the chain had been run through the derailer incorrectly (I think that's what it's called...its those 2 little wheels that add tension to the chain), so the chain wasn't tight enough and made it so I could only really use 1 gear. This is an easy fix and I plan on doing some work on it over the weekend, but was frustrating on my first run at commuting by bike.
Anyway, aside from the bike...
Now I haven't done ANY physical activity for years aside from carrying kids around (not since I ran a half marathon with my wife after our first baby was born) and I work a desk job so I'm pretty much a useless lump of flesh at this point. I knew I'd have to ease into it, so I thought...I'll bike in on Friday for the first time so I can rest over the weekend, then I will start with only 1 or 2 times a week. Part of me was thinking that I should work up to it, but I'm pretty stupid when it comes to holding myself back on crazy things (ran the half marathon WAY faster than I had trained for and couldn't walk for a week afterwards, went hunting with a brother and ended up stuck on the edge of a cliff and had to use our clothes to make a rope to repel down...pretty crazy...but shouldn't have been in the situation cuz should've turned back hours before that...but that's beyond the point...just gives some reference into my stupidity/craziness I guess)...So I've always been of the mindset that mental toughness means more than conditioning anyways and that I can usually push through crazy things in spite of being out of shape (albeit regretting it later)...So I figured I could ride the whole 18 miles in one go [mistake #...I dunno...its been a few now]. I started out all gung-ho and riding like a banshee, trying to make good time so I wasn't 2 hr+ on the bike.
After about a mile my legs were burning and I thought, "maybe I should turn around.".....UHHHH.....YUH THINK.....but no...that would be embarrassing if I only made it a mile (looking back it was way less embarrassing than what happened). So I kept pushing on and got feeling a little better.....Oh, wait, backtrack a little...I started the morning with 2 huge bowls of cereal (definitely needed the energy), but only let it sit for a half hour before riding like a maniac. Also, in recent years milk has started not sitting well with me....so there's a couple more mistakes...Also should have thought back to early morning high school wrestling practices when I had to wake up an hour and a half early to eat breakfast so that it'd digest before working out. But hey, I apparently wasn't thinking much. Back to the commute. After a couple more miles I was feeling like I was getting a really intense workout, was panting like a dog, sweating like CRAZY, but still pushing on. after a bit longer though, I realized I wasn't even a third of the way there, and that I probably should ease into it more, ride a little in the evenings and on weekends to build up to the full trip. So I actually used my head and turned around to head home (Note that I was on the brink of vomiting before I turned around).
On the way back I stopped at a light and there was a sewer vent up ahead and the wind was blowing it right into my face. Well, I had already pushed myself to the point of vomiting, and that smell was almost more than I could take....but I managed to hold it in for the longest minute of my life until the light turned green and I was able to continue down the road. a hundred yards later...I lost it...all over the road (had the sense to keep it off myself and the bike though). I pulled over to catch my breath and rest for a minute and realize how stupid I was. Bike wasn't working very well, legs were like jello, just vomited, a little light headed...and more than 10 miles from work and still a long ways from home. All the while getting passed by bikers of all ages (I mean ALL ages, a couple of kids, some 60+ yr old men...I'm 27, 6'0 and 180 lbs so I didn't think I was out of shape...I mean, I knew I wasn't in good shape, but didn't think I was THAT bad), and here I was sitting on the side of the road. Had to call my wife to pick me up and take me home.......
I lost track of how many stupid mistakes were in there...but thought i'd share my experience so that any of you who are in my position and ambitious as heck, but just getting started...Don't try something stupid that might deter you from biking in the future. Note I will be working up to it, cuz now I'm embarrassed and mad that I am so out of shape...gotta correct this situation...but I will be taking it one step at a time rather than trying to bite off my whole commute at once. So if this helps anyone avoid making the mistakes I did and having a better experience it will be a success.
Oh, and I'm sure you are looking at my 18 mi commute and saying, "need to move closer or change jobs.''...we live at my wife's work so that isn't an option...we manage an apartment complex we live in in exchange for rent (which is pretty steep out here in the SF Bay Area) so that my wife can be home with the kids while still working part time...so one commute is completely eliminated, and I also just started this job and am committed to a couple of years at least. I know it isn't ideal, but 18 miles should be doable on a bike since 90% of it is on bike trails or through neighborhoods with no traffic..should be able to cruise pretty quickly once I'm in shape.