Low Gear

I'm the kind of person that if I'm going to bother doing something, then I'm going to do it well, dammit. Or at least get the greatest calorie burn I can out of it. I've never been that interested in being the fastest or the strongest, just the fittest I can be. I've tried running, biking, swimming, triathlons, biathlons, and lifting. And with everything, I try my hardest. 


I've been riding my bike with Lily in the front bike seat for a while now. And usually I consider it part of my exercise for the day, so I try to make it count. I'll go up a few hills, pedal fairly quickly, and use higher gears so I'm working harder the whole way. 


But it was starting to feel like hard work. Really hard work. So much so that I wouldn't ride the bike. I would walk, or worse, drive, instead. Which is so stupid. So with rising gas prices and rising temperatures I've embraced the lower gears on my bike. 


It turns out I'm loving it. Riding the bike is fun again. When Lily yells "Weeeeee!" as the wind is blowing through her hair (through the helmet of course), I feel the same. Turns out I can go farther, have more energy for more frequent trips, and I don't dread it. And I'm doing it more often. 


This seems like just the thing I need to focus on this summer: Do it in low gear. I try so hard to make every moment count or be productive, and in reality, I don't have to. In fact I probably get more done because I'm less tired, less stressed, and more open to possibilities. 


Here's to kickin' it in low gear and coasting through the summer!