May 18th, 2020:

	I took Amandine, my early 1970s-vintage Peugeot NS 550 Pliant 
folding bike, out for her maiden voyage this afternoon.  In retrospect, it 
wasn't a good idea to have done so.

I'd just gulped down the last half of my second cup of coffee when I 
released the Peugeot from my bike shed, and I was still feeling a little 
bloated.  I should have waited a while before riding, but I'd been waiting 
for the opportunity for too long to let it slip away to household chores 
or family responsibilities!

I whipped out the floor pump, inflated the tires to their recommended 
pressure, and pedalled off.  I got to the end of my street, stopped at the 
stop sign, and turned right/south toward my "proving ground", the 
bourgeois new subdivision that sprang up over the past year.  It's a 
relatively quiet ride, normally, but today the area was teeming with 
cyclists.

I certainly turned a number of heads on my ride.

I guess I looked out of place amongst my fellow cyclists; the lycra-clad 
folks and the trailhoppers certainly did stare at the large, relaxed, 
middle-aged guy whistling "Quand On se Promene au Bord de L'Eau" riding 
upright on an old French folder.  I do tend to want to make a 
spectacle of myself...

All I needed to complete the stereotype was a beret, pencil moustache, and 
perhaps a basket with a baguette and a bottle of wine!

But the fun came to an end once I hit the 55 KM/H headwind from the south.  
An upright riding position, relaxed gearing, and my own lousy aerodynamics 
 made things more difficult than they should have been.  Figuring I'd pull 
off the road and hit the Harte Trail toward my traditional photo spot, I 
headed West at the trail, only to find my spot crowded with others who had 
the same idea.  I was out of breath by the time I reached the trail's end, 
so I took a quick break, answering a couple of questions about my bike 
before heading back home.

The ride home was quick, but the effort of the ride left me sick to my 
stomach.  I ended up puking my morning coffee up once I reached my front 
porch.  Next time, I'll eat a substantial breakfast and let my meal digest 
a little before I head out riding again...

Despite the experience, I really enjoyed riding the Peugeot.  It gives a 
relaxing, perhaps more dignified ride, more suited to picnicking or 
pleasure rides than commuting or riding in traffic.  For taking my time 
and enjoying the ride.