Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Bike Experiment Day 3

Bluebell gets stolen.

This does not bode well. Need I say more?

5:15 am
The alarm blares for UCSD masters. I switch it off. I slept like crap because of my cold, and I opt for to swap the workout for more sleep.
10:15 am
Feeling a bit better, I roll out the door on Bluebell. Now that I've skipped masters swim, my backpack only weighs 7.5 lbs. I also readjusted my backpack so it sits lower on my back. It's waaay more comfortable. I may have hit upon something here.
10:25 am
I curse and hate life again as I toil up Torrey Pines hill. Sweat drips down my face. I realize I actually am battling a low-grade fever along with my cold. The sky is gray and thick with clouds and the air is damp.
10:45 am
I reach my final destination at lab. I start to feel a bit better. My sinuses feel more clear, and I have a bit more energy.
11:40 am
I turn down a ride from my professor to a seminar at UCSD, hop on Bluebell and roll towards campus.
11:55 am
I arrive at the same time as she does, feeling quite proud of myself. I lock her to the bike rack with my cable lock...afterall, I'll only be gone an hour. Little do I know, it's the last time I'll ever see her again.
1:05 pm
I walk out to the bike rack and can't find Bluebell. I look around, confused. Slowly, reality sinks in. I hit the big blue button on the Emergency call box and report Bluebell as stolen to the police. It has now started to rain.
1:30 pm
The police arrive, and I give them a full description. My collegue from lab comes to pick me up. I reluctantly accept a ride back to lab in his vehicle....

Miles Biked:
7.5
(total this week: 46)
Gas $ Saved (gas is $4.45 today!):
$1.78
(total this week: $10.13)
Total Calories Burned:
250
(total this week: 1750)


The rest of the day, it rains steadily, almost unheard of this time of year in San Diego. My cold is coming on really strong now--I can hardly breathe and my fever is building steam. Plus, I have a 6:30 pm appointment. It's as if God is telling me not to bike today. Between the weather, the oncoming darkness, my stolen bike, and my cold, I get a ride home from Brent and drive to my 6:30 appointment. I feel defeated. I know the battle has been lost but the war is not over yet.



Me on Bluebell at the Devil Dog Duathlon in 2006. She was my first road bike. I did my first triathlon on her in St. Louis in June 2004. I did my first half-Ironman on her. She will be deeply missed.

19 comments:

MJ said...

That blows. A lot.

Don't you hate people sometimes....

It would be so nice if those big bike lockers were more common. These days I think you have to ride a real junker not to have it stolen.

Try not to let it get you down. I'm looking forward to the resumption of the experiment.

MJ

don said...

Man that sucks. Where is the karma in that? Here you are trying to do the right thing for the planet and this is the payback? I have to believe that this event is a stepping stone to something much greater for you.
Hang in there Rachel.

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

Oh, no! That so totally sucks!

Highwaymunky said...

Gutted for you. Bike thieves should be named, shamed, shaved and neutered & be placed in old English style stocks for the public to throw rotting food at them.

I dislike bike thieves! I know what it's like & it's horrible.

Keep strong!

Leah said...

That completely blows. I'm so sorry! I'll keep my fingers crossed that she'll somehow magically reappear.

Wes said...

WTF? Grrrr :-(

:) said...

SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS...I am so sorry. That is the suckiest thing I have read all week!!! :(

Renee said...

I am so sorry!! That really blows. That is always my biggest fear when riding my bike and I always check that it is still there compulsively. I will keep my fingers crossed that she shows up somewhere!

Kevin said...

That really sucks. Some people are just fargin aisholes

Marcy said...

Are you serious?!?! WHAT in the?!?! Seriously chica, I'm so so so sorry. Just ridiculous :-(

Unknown said...

Seriously? Do people really think there isn't something wrong with that when they are taking someone else's belongings? I'm so sorry to hear about Bluebell - and don't feel defeated - you are doing what you can!

Lisa said...

That makes me sad. Maybe somehow you'll get her back?

RoadBunner said...

I'm so sorry! Jerk! I hope you feel better soon.

Sara said...

That is so sad. I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you can get her back somehow!!

I say rest rest rest or else that cold will get way worse! Feel better!

triguyjt said...

the world is filled with a-holes and i am sorry that they found your bike to prove what jack-butts they are...

sorry to hear that rachel

Backpacker said...

That's crap. A premature consolation, but I got my bike stolen last summer. Lucky for insurance, I was able to get a new bike--that I love way more than my last bike. Still sucky though

Sarah said...

I'm so sorry to hear this! Ugh, WTF man. People are dirty.

TriGirl Thea said...

:(

Poor you!
Poor Bluebell!

Stef0115 said...

Oh Rachel I'm just catching up on your last few entries and I am so sorry to hear about this. Sorry and angry. It is so sad that people feel they are entitled to steal.

Really feel for you on this and I think you are handling it extremely well. Stopping now before I start to curse on your blog . . . . .