Ok, so as I posted before I purchased my first bike last week. A very old and cheap (and probably pathetic to you big time riders) Schwinn. But I am comfortable with that. . So anyway, I rode it for the first time on Thursday. Let me tell you about my experience:
I leave my house @ 6:20 am, as i have to be at work at 7:30. It is a 4 mile commute. Simple enough. I strap on my helmet and my backpack and take off. Here were my fears... everything. I refuse to ride on the road. I know people do it, but I am so scared. So i took sidewalks and the paved trails. I did have to jump on the road the last half mile and I totally see why it's better, but i am still too scared. All in all the ride there was not so bad. A few pine cones and uneven pavement, but it was ok. It took me a total of 24 minutes. yes I am fairly slow, but there were also a couple of stop light and a tree smacked me in the face. Anyway i made it in plenty of time to shower and get ready for work. But I felt like, compared to running (which is my main source of exercise) it was fairly easy.

So at lunch I did some running. I was planning on only doing a quick 2 miles to get the heart rate up and sweat a bit, but some coworkers had other plans. Saw me running and "encouraged" <<<< I use that term loosely<<< to run further. Altogether, we ran 4.7 miles. Normally a good run. But not the best plan on your first day of riding.

About 2 hours later I am DRAGGING at work and wishing I had my car at work and not the damned Schwinn. My legs are screamin and the "girly bits" aren't so happy either. So I am definitely dreading the "short" commute home.

So at 5 pm I hop on the Schwinn and start the commute. Half a mile in, whew, the top of my thighs are on fire! and I am not kidding, no matter what direction i was headed the blasted wind was blowing against me. Halfway home a REAL biker passes me at mach speed and i swear he was laughing at me. I know he was laughing at my bike and the fact that he was braving the road where i was bumping along on the sidewalk. Finally, 23 minutes after I start, I reach the gates of heaven, i.e. my house.

I hand it to you bikers. I thought it was easy. WRONG. I will say that I still think running is physically more difficult, but biking is MORE appealing to me. You get a great leg work out and it's more entertaining.

All in all, I enjoyed myself. And though it's a cheap bike, the previous owner did me a huge favor by getting a fab seat for it. I am a little sore down there, but nothing unbearable. If you read this far, I apologize for the bore and the run on sentences. I am not great at organizing thought. Prob why I am a Marine and not a writer. Tomorrow I will try again. Not to commute, but just to ride. So we will see...