Earlier yesterday, I went on what I consider my first commute. It wasn't my first commute to work, but it was the first time I rode around in traffic without the sole purpose of practicing but to actually get some personal errands done. It was fun. It was quite an experience, riding into shopping plazas, locking up my bike in public for the first time (and dismayed to see other bikes locked up in pretty poor ways), and entering familiar local businesses in a way other than the usual car. I rode around with a backpack on and wore my reflective vest both over myself and the backpack. It looked hilarious but seemed to be a simple solution to the concern of my backpack covering most of the reflective vest from behind. I jokingly referred to myself as a reflective hunchback. It just looks ridiculous to see a skinny guy like me with a reflective vest stretched over a backpack and his body.

I found it a bit of a hassle to lock up my bike, remove my bike equipment (helmet, gloves, mirror, lights, vest), put it away in my backpack, perform an errand, and get outfitted for riding again. On one hill (the second one I've ridden as a newbie commuter), I was taking up the rightmost lane and ascending very slowly, eliciting the first honk I've received from a motorist as the car passed. Unless there's an easy sidewalk option, I think I'd rather go around the small block to avoid such a hill. Thankfully, traffic was pretty light that day. One time, when I returned to my locked-up bike, I realized that I'd left the lights on it. I hope that never happens again.

All in all, it was a great experience.

Update: What the heck, I'm already considered a "Senior Member"?