SmellsLike's Journal: Riding the bike to Merri Creek

I was pretty excited on Sunday morning. I had a dream during the night that I was riding the bike on the Moonee Ponds Creek track up north. Then I was riding through the streets and into a school that had a bowl shaped ground so I could ride around. Rob Sitch and friends were playing cricket with a tennis ball and invited me to play square-leg. Dream going good until I had to bat. My brain couldn't accept the reality of me playing the ball with any degree of skill and I subsequently woke up.

Pen thought we could go to the Merri Creek bike track so we went that way. Decided to ride for 45 minutes then turn back. Getting to the track scared me. We went up Prospect street, which was uphill, then through some back streets till we hit Gaffney street. Gaffney has a bike-lane but I was still fairly new and scared. I wobbled less than last time I went on a road which I was pleased with. After Sydney Rd., Gaffney goes downhill and loses the bike lane so Pen and I went on the footpath. A car drove past with people screaming at us. I was expecting that sort of thing so wasn't too bad but Pen got a fright and nearly had an accident. Sucks that people do that kind of thing.

I liked the bike trail to begin with, lots of down-hill that I enjoyed. I seem to be getting better at higher speeds but still nowhere near as fast as Pen. Coming back nearly killed me though as there was a lot of long uphill areas. I got to the point where I was pedaling and nearly going backwards, with a person walking overtaking me. So I got frustrated and walked the rest of the way to Sydney Rd. From there I pedalled but I had no power in my legs so felt too chicken to push-off at the round-about or most of the lights.

Coming back down Prospect street was painful too as my ass bounced on the seat for every speed-bump. Pen stood in her bike but I don't feel confident enough for that yet.

At the end I felt like I'd been terrorised but I'm pleased I did it as I need to get better at riding on the road and Merri Creek looks like a fun track too.