Friday, September 4, 2009

Pedal Power Update - September 2009

Somehow September snuck up on me and here we are at another Pedal Power post! It's been a really cool month. I joined Chile's "Park You Car Challenge" and was inspired by all her readers' progress at leaving the car at home and biking, walking, or using public transportation. Although I still rode shotgun on some weekend trips, I challenged myself to take some further rides this month (one that was 15+ miles round trip) and MAN did it feel good!

This month, I'm going to try to go a little further - biking to a new place at least once a week and to one of my appointments later in the month (a 20 mile round trip on the bike) - the furthest I've gone at one time.

I have been humbled by the heat, having come down with a case of heat exhaustion a couple weeks ago. Silly of me not to have water with me even on the shorter rides. But that was all the reminder I needed and now every time I stop for an errand, I chug some water. Easy cheesy and my rides are now better than ever!

So here's to another month of biking all over town and the amazing freedom (not to mention simple-green-frugal-ness) of life on two wheels.

4 comments:

Chile said...

I'm glad I inspired you to expand your riding to new places, Heather. I, too, learned to take water on every trip no matter the length. You never know when you might get a flat and that short 10 minute ride turns into half an hour in the heat. Or, in the case of a friend of mine, you see a runner obviously suffering from the heat and in need of water.

I've unfortunately been off the bike for a couple days to excessively sore muscles from a hard workout this week and due to heavy downpours. Sprinkles are fine, downpours and rivers in the street are not.

Keep on pedalin'!

hmd said...

It started raining here too (yeah!) so I had to take the vehicle to my doctor's appointment. :( You can only do so much...

Hope you recoup quickly!

Sam said...

Good work Heather!

I too was thrilled to see how many people were reducing their car usage on Chile's challenge.

The heat is something to watch out for. Here my problem is dehydration. Coastal desert = very very dry. I'm constantly parched and drink a lot of water throughout the day.

hmd said...

Beany - Yeah, I remember hiking through the Grand Canyon we were forever drinking water and eating lots of salty snacks. Ah. Good memories...