Peddling Myself Around Town

Admit it dear reader. You thought I was full of crap when I proclaimed that I would start riding my bike to and from work. Don't worry, I don't blame you. Lots of my hair brained schemes never come to fruition. Especially my fitness schemes as is evident by my consitent weight loss of 0 pounds.
You will then be shocked and amazed that yesterday in the blazing heat of June I peddled myself across town and home.
Thats right. I rode all four point three miles home. A full mile of which was up the steepest hill in the entire city. It never looked as steep or as long from my vantage in air conditioned vehicles. Let me tell you, my legs were so tired and my muscles were so shocked that I couldn't straighten my sad lumpy legs and required several rests.
On the way home I rode past what had to have been a 65 year old woman, riding her bike with ease down the road past me as I, at 24, huffed and puffed like I was going to die. Pathetic.
But dear reader, all showy old ladies aside, I did it.
And I will do it again.
Tomorrow.
If my legs work.

The not so effective plan.....

Okay Okay, you all guessed it. I of course did not actually ride my bike to work this morning. I am spoiled and lazy, but I did get a good practice run in preparation.
Last night I carefully ironed my business casual clothes, packed my high heels and downloaded the perfect mix of heavy metal and Fleetwood Mac on to my iPod. I packed my wallet, keys, sunglasses and set out my riding clothes.
The problem? I think I freaked myself out too much because I could not fall asleep last night until around 1:00 a.m. even after reading for hours. Reading usually knocks me out about two pages in.
So, tonight I will prepair again, and hopefully fall asleep in time to get enough sleep before rousing myself at a chipper 5:30 am.
We shall see.

Here is the plan Stan.

Here is the plan.
I am feeling rather out of shape, and in order to get in shape I have decided to start riding my bike to work. I have not actually done it yet, but I went on a test run yesterday and things are looking hopeful (enter sarcasm here).
John and I bought bikes last summer during a very short (at least on my part) pact to start doing our errands on bike and taking little rides up the canyon. For those of you who know me, this enthusiasm did not last and the bike was hung up after a brief christening of two rides.
This year I saw it again, as I started to get my yard cleaned out for the impending summer. It hung there, full of promise. Promises of less spending on gas, healthier lifestyle, cosy early morning rides to work, and the stomach and thighs that I had in high school which have since disappeared. As a dear friend of mine once told me, I look like I must have eaten my former high school self.
So, yesterday I got the bike down, hosed it off, and attempted my third bike ride in the last ten years.
It was all going well until I attempted to transition from the street to a parking lot. It all came down to a little concrete bump no higher than one inch. I came at it from the wrong angle, and WHACK, landed face first in a gas station parking lot. A car full of snickering children pulled up and the driver asked between laughs if I was okay.
Today I have one purple hip and elbow, scrapes on my hands and feet, and a new resolve that no matter how much I like flip flops, they are not for riding bikes in.
So, even though I biffed it big time and shocked the crap out of myself, I am planning to attempt riding the 4.3 miles to my work tomorrow. Yes, that is right. It should be an interesting tale.