Somehow the entire month of January got past me. There were weekends I had something else going on, like the visit to the snake shrine. I was all set to ride last weekend when I discovered it was far too windy to ride. And there were times I simply didn’t feel up to it.
For the past two weeks I’ve been trying to convince myself to commute by bike, but it’s always the same story when I’m preparing for work: not today.
On Friday evening, Nana asked if I’d be cycling this weekend. I checked the forecast: clear and mild on Saturday, rain on Sunday. (An early forecast of snow on Sunday turned out to be exaggerated — the temperature never dropped below about 2C.) So I said I’d go on Saturday, and she prepared the rice for onigiri.
I took my time getting ready Saturday morning. I was basically waiting for it to warm up a bit. At last I was ready, and so were Nana’s world-famous onigiri.





The ride started out well enough. I’ve put on some weight over the past year and I was really feeling it as I climbed the first gentle hill by Central Park. The bike was behaving well and I just concentrated on traffic and the lights until I got to the river. I checked for buds on the kawazuzakura trees as I passed, but it’s too early yet. As I neared the bay, the wind really picked up and the sky cleared. By the time I reached Haneda I had a headache from the bright glare of the sun, despite my sunglasses.
I’d picked up a tail on the last 10km to the bay, someone who knew a good slipstream when he saw one, and so I took extra effort with my hand signals to prevent any misunderstanding. When I reached the shrine I looked around to see who had been following me but there was no one. Either they’d continued on towards Tamagawa Sky Bridge or they’d turned around to head back without taking a break.




On the way home I stopped almost immediately at Haneda Shrine for a few photos. Then I continued onward, unhindered by the wind but feeling the effects of the headache. My thighs and bum were starting to ache as well, testament to the long break I’d had from being in the saddle.
When it came time to climb out of the Tamagawa river valley, I quickly reached for my lowest gear. But I was able to continue up the modest climb without pausing for a break, proving that my previous experience was a fluke. Still, it was effort enough to show that I’ve got a ways to go to get back into shape, whatever that may be defined as.
I had my one remaining onigiri as I rested at the top of the climb. After checking the time I messaged Nana I would be home by 2:30. I took it easy, nursing my thighs and bum and aching head, dealt with some construction when the occasion arose, and was home at 2:09.

On a moving time of 3:25:44, I averaged 18.6km/h. It’s far from a record, but I wasn’t trying for one. Neither is it hugely off the pace, so I’m satisfied.

I’d installed a new bell last weekend, and it’s working fine. It took a bit of getting used to the position of the ringer, but it lets people know I’m coming. (As always, a number of them choose to ignore the warning.)
The bicycle worked great the whole ride. I confirmed that the dynamo lights are not working. I’m going to have to have Kuroko back in the Workshop in the Sky for some troubleshooting. But not today — it’s too cold and rainy.
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