A couple of weeks ago I bought a Bike. Exciting times. Since buying the out-of-stock-but-then-in-stock recommended lock last weekend, I've been biking to work everyday.
Previous to this, I hadn't ridden a bike for around 15 years. They say you don't forget how to ride a bike, but for the first 5 minutes of my test drive I'd have to disagree. This is also my first time riding in the city as well (I lived in a small town and then the countryside growing up) and I must say that it's pretty daunting. My route to work isn't that exciting but on my first few days I was hopping off my bike at almost every junction, however on Friday I managed the way in without getting off once (well until I get to my work where the tram works have closed the road so I have to concede the fenced in pavement to pedestrians) but on the way back, turning right at the Blockbuster/Papa Johns junction still defeats me.
I'm also pretty pleased that I biked in the horrible weather on Friday instead of being weak and taking the bus. I need to get some wet weather clothes (wet arse at work wasn't nice). I'm going to try a longer ride tomorrow - I'm still too unfit to be unfazed by hills but I'll see how it goes. I hope eventually to do a wee bit of off road stuff eventually - I used to love that when I was a teenager and is the reason I got a full on mountain bike instead of a hybrid.
In other consumer-tastic news I also bought a Canon EOS 400d. At £340 it'd be rude not to.
on Apr 19 at 14:00
Turning right's a bitch at first, I used to be very bad at it when I started cycling properly in first year of uni. I'm pretty lucky now, I only ever have one right turn on my whole route to work, though bizarrely I've come to the conclusion I prefer going round the big roundabout under the A4 to going the quiet back route - the risk of being parked on by commuters returning home is worse than the risk of people changing lanes without thinking, though only just!
I'm getting tempted to go back to the off road stuff myself, but it will mean having a fourth bike...
on Apr 20 at 22:56
Have you considered one of these to go with the camera? Nice big aperture = nice short depth of field!
http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Cameras/EF_Lenses/Fixed_Focal_Length/EF_50mm_f18II/index.asp
on Apr 21 at 7:20
Wooooooo,
a real post. none of this facebook thatbook stuff :)
Congrats on the bike duder you'll be fine in a months time with it all.
on Apr 21 at 10:04
That's the lens I'm buying first. I borrowed George's at the weekend and it's awesome. The kit lens isn't too good to be honest - I'm not feeling that much improvement over my IXUS.