RESISTANCE!

Today in my teenage angst, I experienced an incomprehensible level of resistance. 

As I stated yesterday, I ride my bike to work. I've also stated that I've really come to like it. It gives me that boost of energy I need to make it through the morning. I have not, however, described the hill that faces my bicycle commute every day. At first I was pretty convinced I was never going to be able to breach that hill with ease. But over the past few weeks I've felt myself getting stronger and that hill getting easier. Today was a different case.

As I mounted my bike, I noticed that my lock was hanging in a an unconventional way that I didn't remember having left it. No matter, I thought. As I started off, my newly washed pants were restricting me a little and the ride was harder than usual. I geared down. Still difficult. Here came the hill. This was so much harder than yesterday and the day before combined. I finally got to the top of the hill after having geared down to the lowest one. What is wrong with me, I thought? Is this seriously just my pants? On top of all of these thoughts of self doubt, my bike was making a high pitched singing sound that I had never heard before. Great, I thought, who rode my bike and managed to break it in the process? 

I then looked down and discovered that my lock - hanging in its unconventional way - had wedged its way in between my bike tire and its frame creating a level of resistance that I simply could not overcome. I stopped and removed the lock with a little force. It was hot from the intense friction. When I finally arrived at work, I was sweating more than I thought possible and elated at the blog opportunity I had just created.

The moral of the story: NEVER let your bike chain hang in an unconventional fashion. It will screw you over.