I finally got to bike to work again yesterday!
The last time I did was so long ago (months!), somebody put away my helmet and I almost didn't find it the night before.
I've been planning to bike-commute for at least a couple of weeks now. But I came down with a bad cough and couldn't risk it getting worse. I'd already prepped my bike, cleaning it, lubing the chain, and changing the tires and tubes.
About 2 weeks ago, I was awakened by a loud Bang! which distinctly sounded like a tire blowing up. I figured, in my half dozed state, that it was most likely my bike's tire, as I had aired them up the night before, hoping to bike to work the next day. True enough, when I went downstairs after breakfast to check on my bike, the rear tire was shot. Bike-commute postponed!
I discovered later that week as I was about to change the tube, that a section of the wire bead somehow broke away from the main bead. The exposed wire tore through the inner tube, creating a long gash. I thought to myself, good thing I have a lot of extra inner tubes... but after having stored them for so long, four of them already had tears/holes in them! Good thing I had a pile of them and finally found a usable one. I had to mount the only spare tires I had (2.1 Nanoraptors) . I just aired them up to 54-58 psi to roll faster on-road.
My body and the weather finally proved cooperative yesterday, so I headed out with much anticipation. I decided I'd take things easy and target a 1-hour travel time (I can do the whole trip in about 35 minutes). But traffic wasn't so bad (why couldn't it be like that when I take the car???), and for some reason, despite my lack of fitness, I was cycling along at a good clip. I also noticed that the Nanos rolled noticeably easier than the unbranded 1.5 slicks they replaced. Go figure...
I rolled down into the office basement and gave a quick nod to the guard, mentioning my company name and sped down to the lower levels. Apparently the guard was caught "off guard," so to speak, and didn't have time to question me further.
Only when I got down to the 3rd basement, when I was locking up my bike, did I find out that the first guard (or the "OIC" manning the security cams) had the 3rd basement guard question me. The security detail this time all looked unfamiliar to me (probably a new agency), so I must've looked unfamiliar to them, too. The guard who approached me asked if I had any sort of proof on my person (a letter or whatever) that allowed me to park where I was parking. I thought to myself, of course not! Why would I bring around something like that when I had already received clearance from the building admin ages ago. I even had to write a letter to them, asking permission to park my bike in the basement. Such heartless creatures!
Anyway, I told the guy I wouldn't dream of parking my bike there if I didn't get prior permission; that I'd submitted the letter a long time ago (2004?) and have been occasionally parking my bike there since.
Apart from the insulting welcome into the building, my ride to work once again proved very rejuvenating.
The ride home was just as enjoyable. Since my headlight wasn't available (no batteries), I had to leave the office earlier than usual so I could still ride with the sun up. My trip was even faster this time (I dunno why that's usually the case. Is Sampaloc generally downhill from Pasig?). But since I am out of shape, I felt the tiredness more.
With my energy sapped, I couldn't wait to go to bed that night. But the fun and exhilaration, endorphins, and muscle-burn-after-a-good-long-workout was well worth it.
Sa uulitin!
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