After nearly four months of the new year, it is getting tougher and tougher to keep that New Year’s resolution of being healthy and working out more – especially when the McNiff Gym is almost always filled with people who look much more athletic than me. So instead of spending another three o’clock alone in the stuffy, crowded gym, I decided to take advantage of the cool weather with a friend and Bike UT, the University of Tampa’s free student bike rentals. I mean, what could be more glamorous than a ride along Bayshore Boulevard in between classes? Right?
“So, I am actually a horrible bike rider,” I admitted to my friend Megan McDevitt, a freshman here are UT, as we were handed our bikes. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” said Megan. “I actually have never ridden on Bayshore, so don’t worry about it. Besides, you never forget how to ride a bike.”
Realizing the last time I had even touched a bike was a good seven months ago, and before that a good seven years, I sincerely hoped that the old saying would be true to form. My first go on the old white cruiser was wobbly at best, but after a moment I started to pick up speed.
Crossing the streets down towards the Boulevard was considerably treacherous for someone like me – clumsy and balance impaired. Think Urkel but without the snort. At one point, I took a turn too fast and almost fell in to the street right as a silver SUV was speeding on by.
“Oh God,” said Megan. “Can we please make it to Bayshore alive?”
“I’m okay!”
Once we finally made it to the beautiful waterside, the bike ride was easy- and even relaxing. We definitely were not the only girls taking advantage of the Bike UT program, either. During our ride, I spent a bit of time people watching and saw at least four other girls on the white cruisers or red mountain bikes that Bike UT offers.
Despite an unseasonable chill, and a wind that burned nearly as badly as my thighs, the cloudless sky made it a nice day to go out for a ride. Megan, a former triathlon participant, became a speck along the view as I quickly gave up trying to match her pace. Thankfully I came with my iPhone and earphones, so it was not all too difficult to enjoy the ride alone.
I hadn’t realized how stressful going to the gym actually could be in comparison to the alternative. In McNiff, there was always someone on the treadmill I had to beat, or a boy I had to prove something to. Yes, I am a girl who knows how to use the pec fly machine. On a bike ride, I could just take time to watch the scenery, while still getting an awesome workout.
Although, I will say this – those bike seats are totally unforgiving. Don’t plan on sitting on anything that isn’t cushioned after that 10-mile bike ride.
Doha Madani can be reached at doha.madani@spartans.ut.edu.