Round Two

So after running to work a couple of months ago I realized three things: one, I am not a runner; two, three miles might as well be twenty; and three, man invented the wheel for a reason.

A couple of weeks ago I got a free bike from a co-worker. Well, we all know nothing is free; I had to put some money into it to get it rideable but it was still cheaper than a new bike. After I had it all together, and got a helmet and lights I was ready. The day had arived and disaster struck, I woke up to the sound of roaring rain. I did plan on riding in the rain with my rear fender and a rain coat, but I was expecting Seattle rain not Pheonix rain. Besides, I was all ready unsure of the ride, I didn't need to fight the rain. The next day was the day to shoot for. I awoke to a dry morning, darn that means I have to go through with it. So my travel begins again with the hill, the dreaded hill that claims cars in the winter and skateboarders in the summer. I was bound and determined to make it up the hill without walking. Good thing I had an 18speed, cuz I made it. My legs were all ready on fire and I was winded. I had only a short break before another hill that was much longer but not as steep. I thought about the missionary days and how it seemed much easier, then I realized the there were no hills in the Arizonan desert. I would gladly take +100 degrees over hills. Luckily at the end of my second hill I hit a red light, the only red light the whole trip (someone was watching out for me). I had time to rest. I realized how much more energy it took to stop and restart especially downhill. The rest of the ride was mostly down hill, a fact I would dreadfully learn on the way back home. When I made it to work my shirt was wet from sweat and my legs had that jello wraped in barbed wire feeling, I had to walk around for a few minutes to recover. Durring which I was paged into the parts department because they purchased doughnuts, I never have been repulsed by a raspberry filled powdered ring of goodness before, and when I turned them down everyone's mouths dropped to the floor. One of the guys in parts called the receptionist and announced to her the news, after about 5 minutes everyone in the dealership knew that Earl Bennett had refused a doughnut, I think they almost closed the dealership down just in case the world was truly gonna end. So here it is my first 3 mile trip in 5.5 minutes on video, brought to you by the EARL CAM. (camera affixed to the handle bars with packaging tape).

Can I just say what a sight it was to see Earl on this bicycle! He rides up in his bright red helmet, dripped in sweat, twigs stuck in parts of his make-shift bicycle and please, please take note of the chip clips around the ankle of his pants! I'm just sorry that I missed seeing our nice Kodak camera taped to the handlebars. -Lisa