Yesterday I rode my gorgeous Trek road bike. A beautiful symmetry of blue and white contoured together into a single tiny frame from which I can view small portions of my equally small world. I love my bike. Last year I was riding another Trek, but a hybrid instead of a road bike. The hybrid, being a cross between a road and a mountain bike, was significantly heavier. It was a struggle to get that bike up and down the flights of stairs in my third story apartment residence; requiring two hands and a lot of maneuvering. My new road bike, in contrast, is so light I can carry it with one hand and practically throw it over my shoulder.
So yesterday I was out, participating in what I can now call my passion, cycling. Its an excellent sport and pastime. To get good, cycling requires rather large time commitments, of which I can easily afford being that I'm single and relatively available most of the time. But with that time spent in the saddle comes much discovery, both of the world around as well as the world within. I have explored my neighborhood in ways I'd never imagined and I have also tested the limits of my mind in corners I couldn't otherwise have reached. Its all very new and exciting.
Again, yesterday. These last two weeks of cycling has led me to experience both my personal worst ride, and my personal best. Yesterday's ride was rather average however. Just a short loop up Jackson Quarry road and then down and back through North Plains. I went with a couple friends who seemed determined to leave me in the dust at every straight-a-way. I had to keep reminding myself to do my own ride, as the books recommend. I always do what the books recommend.
In the end we went close to thirty miles in about two hours. A fifteen mile an hour pace, which is pretty awesome for me although most likely casual for my friends. Still, ride with the best and you'll get better, they say. So I'm encouraged. This year I have already participated in a metric, and mileage, century and have signed and paid for the Seattle to Portland ride in July - 200miles. Its been a great season on my new road bike; truly one of the best investments I have made. I love my bike!
So yesterday I was out, participating in what I can now call my passion, cycling. Its an excellent sport and pastime. To get good, cycling requires rather large time commitments, of which I can easily afford being that I'm single and relatively available most of the time. But with that time spent in the saddle comes much discovery, both of the world around as well as the world within. I have explored my neighborhood in ways I'd never imagined and I have also tested the limits of my mind in corners I couldn't otherwise have reached. Its all very new and exciting.
Again, yesterday. These last two weeks of cycling has led me to experience both my personal worst ride, and my personal best. Yesterday's ride was rather average however. Just a short loop up Jackson Quarry road and then down and back through North Plains. I went with a couple friends who seemed determined to leave me in the dust at every straight-a-way. I had to keep reminding myself to do my own ride, as the books recommend. I always do what the books recommend.
In the end we went close to thirty miles in about two hours. A fifteen mile an hour pace, which is pretty awesome for me although most likely casual for my friends. Still, ride with the best and you'll get better, they say. So I'm encouraged. This year I have already participated in a metric, and mileage, century and have signed and paid for the Seattle to Portland ride in July - 200miles. Its been a great season on my new road bike; truly one of the best investments I have made. I love my bike!
2 comments:
You wrote a blog! Welcome back sis--I liked it a lot. You biker you...
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