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So we went to the LBS - the wife, kid and I first thing in the morning. He must've loved us as
customers since we walked in knowing, or thinking we knew, what we wanted. Within 20 minutes we had
fingered the bikes we wanted (even the wife got a new one) and had them setting them up.
For me, I'm very uncomfortable on the bike right now... Aside from the saddle, which I think is
poorly sized, there just the general yuckiness of sitting on a bike after so many years. I feel like
I'm so high up, not coordinated enough to really keep steady, etc.
When we got home, we decided to take the first spin... We loaded the kid on the wife's bike and had
her spin around the yard just to get a feel for having the child seat on board. I waited patiently
and then followed her out onto the road.
The very first time I ever tried to shift a bike. I never had a multi-speed bike before. And what
happens the first shift I ever make? That's right! The chain pops off the front sprocket and grinds
along the frame. So much for the simplicity of it all. As my wife happily headed forth, I was
waddling back to the house to call the LBS and ask them what to do.
Chain re-seated, I set out again on my own after the wife got back. I'm thankful that we live inthe
boonies since I would be dangerous on any *real* road. I'm unsteady and weave a fair bit on the
shoulder... And turning is not my strong point, either.
At that point, I decided to try my first shift... I guess I was really confused as to what shifting
on a bike would be. I expected a nice smooth whir and instead met with a *clank* and my first fall.
With the sound, I was sure something else had broken and that I was *going* to fall - so I just went
ahead. After brushing off, I realized that everything looked like it was where it should be, so I
got up and tried again. Sure enough, I think that's just what shifting sounds like. Also interesting
is that there's a slight delay in shifting on the levers and actually hearing the shift down below.
Fascinated, but more enlightened, I pedaled the few hundred yards back home.
As I zinged across the road and back into my yard, I met with fall number 2, and the end of my first
day of riding. Our front yard has a slight rise that I decided to ride up. I *severely*
miscalculated the speed/gear/force that I'd need to get up and stalled. Stalling on a bike on an
incline appears to be something for advanced bikers only and down I went. My left ankle planted
awkwardly on the lower side of my body and buckled under my girth. From there a chain of events
unfolded that sent me tumbling over backwards and dragging the inside of both legs along the pedal
and causing much bleeding.
To add more injury to injury, the frame then came down on top of my heap and clanked again my knee
and the only-just-sprained ankle.
And then I hear my 18 month old son laughing and saying 'Daddy dance'.
*sigh*
So.... we'll see how it goes tonight when we try it again.
Thanks for letting me vent.
Nony Mouse
