Time To Shape Up

I decided to get into shape - a better one than I have now anyways. I have been working on and off over the past 4 years to loose that stubborn 20 lbs that has been showing up on me in the most unwelcome places. My biggest problem seems to be doing some sort of exercise every day, I think I'm eating sensibly (OK I had too many goodies over the holidays) so I have to be more consist in working out every day. I have been running a few times a week (about 4 miles each time) but not enough to get control of my uncooperative body. Fact is I just don't like running enough to get up and do it before work. I do like riding a bike though...

So I ordered a hybrid road bike (Giant FCR3) with the commitment to ride it most every day to work - about a 24 mile round trip. On days I don't bike, I will run a 4 mile circuit at work. There is a very nice jogging trail and we have showers at work - so that part is going to be great.

I am very concerned about getting hit by a car, I know too many people who have been injured or killed (some of them seriously) I used Google maps to find a route that included a bike path most of the way and avoids heavy traffic. The mapping function even has street level views of the route you pick - very cool. I also researched bike lights and picked a couple of reasonably priced ones based on the reviews on Amazon. For the rear light I got a Planet Bike Blinky Super Flash 1/2-Watt Blaze LED Plus 2 Xtreme
It runs on 2 AAA batteries for up to 100 hours

For the front light I got the Planet Bike 3044 Blaze 1 Watt LED Headlight. It runs on 2 AA batteries for up to 20 hours. I plan on getting some rechargeable batteries eventually and then we'll be set.


Ryan and I clipped the lights on his bike the other night to see how bright it was at night. I had him ride it to the end of the street and back. 2 words - Retina Burn! These lights can easily be seen for a half mile - I need to get Ryan a set for his bike.

My old bike got stolen a while back, so I decided that I would get a beefy lock to make the would be thieves at least have to work up a sweat. I got a U shaped bar style with a heavy cable so I can lock the frame, wheels & chain.

I rode my daughter's heavy metal mountain bike to work this past weekend for a test run.
It took about an hour each way which is doable. We'll see how much faster the new bike is. It should be here by the end of the week - I can't wait!