First Bike Ride

This afternoon, I finally got out on my new bicycle for a short ride which was after a very disappointing and frustrating day.

My morning started with a couple of packages arriving at the house.  This should have been good news because it was two packages for my new bicycle but both products are being returned.  I wasted about two hours screwing around with both of these products only to realize that they must be returned.

The first product was a nice bicycle seat post that has a suspension within the post.  I installed it on my bicycle and road down the driveway and up and down our bumpy road a few times and quickly realized that this suspension was doing nothing.  I noticed absolutely no difference between having this suspension seat post and having a normal solid seat post.  I packaged it up again and then set up the return online.

The second product was a rack for the car to carry the bicycle so I can bring the bicycle to a few other areas on my bike.  After mounting this on the car three different ways and mounting my bicycle on it countless ways, I realized that this product also will not work.  This carrier simply did not fit our car all that well nor did it have any way to adjust angles of the carrier.  It was one solid piece of junk with no adjustments.  Also, I didn't like where the bike rested on the carrier.  This spot on my bicycle could easily break apart one of my hydraulic brake lines.  I disassembled the bike carrier, carefully re-boxed it in its original box and then set up the return online.

So, tomorrow I'll be heading to The UPS Store in Stowe to return these two lousy products.  I hate returning things and typically avoid this at all cost but these two products are useless to me.  

At this point, it was lunchtime so I took my lunchtime dose of medications and made lunch.  I was feeling frustrated for sure.

As the sun was getting low in the sky, I finally had an opportunity to pack a backpack with some emergency medications and photography gear, put on some biking clothes and go for a short bike ride.  Here are a few photos from this first ride on this bike...

On the positive side, the bike was fine.  The only problem I had was with my strength and endurance!  That being said, after two months of COVID, I suppose that should be expected.  I know I'll be feeling the consequences of today's activity tomorrow...  well...  probably for a next few days!