Well here I am getting on a bike. I feel like a kid with a new toy! The thought of cycling after hanging up my pedals more than 25 years ago is a bit exciting. It is something that I thought was past but as I cycle different distances most every day it has come to be quite enjoyable and I am so glad that I have taken it up again. Of course, it could all be a simple desire to recapture my youth!
The catalyst that got me on the wheels again was the thought I might be able to do a ride as a fundraiser in aid of curing the subsidence problems at St. Augustine. Of course, an idea like this, once it is in my head, that's it. I want to get on with it so before even getting on a bike I choose the date of leaving: September 16, after the Sunday service. Of course telling my wife about the idea has been the worst. I often have whacky ideas for things to do or places to go. This is just another on a long list (which I hope will get even longer).
To begin I had to buy a bike and I literally looked (both physically and virtually) at about 75 makes and models available from racers, to tourers to hybrids and in the end decided upon a Trek Pilot 1.0. I got a great deal on last years model but when I consider what I spent which included things like a back rack, a lock etc. the total has come to three and a half times the cost of my first car here in the UK. It is also just under half of what I paid for my current car. But that says more about the kind of cars I drive than the cost of the bike. My wife has shared her thoughts on the matter. Suffice to say I better put on 500 miles or more on the bike each month for many years to come! I am glad to say that she is very supportive and encouraging as I prepare for the Paris trip. Now if the London traffic would be just as supportive and let me live long enough to make the trip...
The catalyst that got me on the wheels again was the thought I might be able to do a ride as a fundraiser in aid of curing the subsidence problems at St. Augustine. Of course, an idea like this, once it is in my head, that's it. I want to get on with it so before even getting on a bike I choose the date of leaving: September 16, after the Sunday service. Of course telling my wife about the idea has been the worst. I often have whacky ideas for things to do or places to go. This is just another on a long list (which I hope will get even longer).
To begin I had to buy a bike and I literally looked (both physically and virtually) at about 75 makes and models available from racers, to tourers to hybrids and in the end decided upon a Trek Pilot 1.0. I got a great deal on last years model but when I consider what I spent which included things like a back rack, a lock etc. the total has come to three and a half times the cost of my first car here in the UK. It is also just under half of what I paid for my current car. But that says more about the kind of cars I drive than the cost of the bike. My wife has shared her thoughts on the matter. Suffice to say I better put on 500 miles or more on the bike each month for many years to come! I am glad to say that she is very supportive and encouraging as I prepare for the Paris trip. Now if the London traffic would be just as supportive and let me live long enough to make the trip...
2 comments:
Hi Steve, I hope your tour went well and I'm sure you met a lot of great people. I'm writing because I've got a bit of irony here. I just finished a 4 month, 5000 mile solo bicycle tour from Alaska to Florida for LIVESTRONG.
The funny part is my name is...
Steve Laskey! No lie. Go to www.effortinspireseffort.com
Take care Steve. Steve
Are you still on this Blogger site Steve? I'm not sure I saw this comment before from so long ago. Congratulations on your rides. I just read the article in the Boston Herald from 2018 that was a rewrite from a 2014 article. Well done!
Cheers!
Steve
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