I turned the wheel past 50 a few days back and all I want to ask the Lord for my next 50 is to grant me the blessing to pass on my love for biking to the next generation which is addicted to video games and avatar like experiences in etherial worlds. (yes – I did see Avatar! – “I can see you”).
What are my goal list items for next year?
1. Accomplish my 10% body weight challenge with Opti before the deadline next September
2. Reach the Alabama -Georgia line on my bike riding the Silver Comet.
3. Learn to pedal using clip ons…. (before this year end).
4. Learn to layer warm clothes properly and conquer winter riding.
5. Conquer the fear of night riding.
6. Dabble in Mountain Biking.
7. Ride while at my time sharing adventures this year (Anaheim, San Diego, New Orleans, Destin, FL )
8. Take my grand-kids on bike rides (non powered).
9. Ride to work daily for a week (250 total miles). Want to average at least once a week for the full year (about 2000 total miles).
10. Ride with my wife (need to teach her to use the Opti since she can’t exercise due to her lungs).
* * * * * * * * *
This past year I broke through many self created limitations and I want to thank our Lord for allowing me to go past them. If this past January 2009 I would have been asked these questions I would have laughed all the way to the floor:
1. Eric will buy a $10K bike
2. Eric will lose 10 lbs in 6 weeks.
3. Eric will ride 300 miles in 8 weeks
4. Eric will ride 30 miles in a day and over 50 miles in a weekend.
5. Eric will bike from work.
6. Eric will enjoy exercising.
7. Eric will bike successive days.
8. Eric will dress in lycra.
9. Eric will ride a bike in the rain.
10. Eric will wake up early to exercise using a stationary bike daily.
Those who know me would have agreed and would have bet real money against me completing any item on that list.
Thanks to Craig @ Opti who assisted me in pursuing a joyful activity that will repay itself in dividends of health and joy.
Thanks also to my loving wife Nancy for supporting me on this re-kindled love affair with biking.
Comments
2 responses to “All about lists”
Thank you Eric. I purchased a Schwinn Electric Bike and have thus far ridden over 2,000 miles lost almost 30lbs. At almost 55 years old I still like the wind across the spokes and my hair. When I found OPTI-BIKE I was dissapointed that I purchased the wrong bicycle. After The economic down turn people are less likely to spend much keep there automobiles running. Sad day for auto mechanics. Any way I know things will turn around and I will purchase my Opti-Bike with the Rolhoff 14 speed hub and touring battery. I may have enough saved up by summer.
My New Years resolution is to live without a car. I turned in my leased car last November and decided to go carless for the first time since high school. Without a car I am saving at least $100 a week in car payments, insurance, maintenance, license, gas, and other costs. I have not received my Optibike yet, but now I am forced to use my regular bike nearly everyday, carpool, and use public transportation as much as possible. I am the weirdo in my community because all my friends have cars and even my dad criticized me for not having a car. Hopefully, with the Optibike the transition can be made easier, especially in a city like mine with limited bike lanes and a public transportation system that doesn’t reach many surrounding cities effectively. Maybe with the Optibike I can try bike routes that I would not have been able to use before because of time constraints and lack of bike lanes. I am lucky that my Dental Office was able to drive me to my dental appointments this year. Hopefully, with the help of the Optibike, living without a car will get easier as time goes on.
Isaac P.